Hunter Biden Set to Plead Guilty: What Will Be His Punishment?
Hunter Biden, 53, the son of President Joe Biden, has reached a tentative agreement with federal prosecutors regarding his legal case, according to court papers filed on Tuesday.
The agreement would involve pleading guilty to two minor tax crimes and admitting to the facts of a gun charge. If approved by a federal judge, this plea deal would likely result in him avoiding jail time, per Washington Post.
Hunter Biden's attorney stated that the agreement resolves the long-running criminal investigation involving the president's son.
However, Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, the lead prosecutor in the case, mentioned that the investigation is still ongoing, suggesting that other matters may be being investigated beyond the tax and gun issues.
The investigation was initiated in 2018 during the administration of President Donald Trump. Republican politicians have accused Hunter Biden of broader wrongdoing in his overseas business dealings, and some have questioned whether the Biden administration would actively pursue the case.
The proposed deal, negotiated with Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration, was swiftly dismissed by congressional Republicans who pledged to continue investigating the Biden family.
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Hunter Biden Tax Case and Gun Charge
Hunter Biden's background includes working as a lawyer and lobbyist in countries like China and Ukraine. In 2014, he was discharged from the US Navy after testing positive for cocaine, according to BBC.
The plea deal reached with federal prosecutors concludes a lengthy investigation by the Justice Department into allegations of improper income reporting and false statements related to a firearm purchase in 2018.
The two misdemeanor tax charges are based on his failure to pay over $100,000 in taxes for 2017 and 2018.
These amounts typically result in misdemeanor charges that could carry a potential jail sentence. However, it is unclear if jail time will be pursued in this case, according to a former justice department official.
Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has agreed to enter a Pretrial Diversion Agreement regarding the gun charge, according to the court filing. This means he would not formally plead guilty to the firearm offense.
Pretrial diversion is often offered to nonviolent offenders, particularly those dealing with substance abuse.
It allows individuals to participate in specific rehabilitative programs or fulfill certain requirements instead of facing traditional prosecution.
By entering into this agreement, Biden's case for the gun charge would be handled through this diversion program rather than a guilty plea.
Hunter Biden Could Face 12-18 Months for Tax Charges
Hunter Biden could face a sentencing range of 12-18 months for the tax charges, with the possibility of serving about half of that time in prison, said Tess Lopez, a sentencing expert.
However, experts believe that the likelihood of him being sentenced to prison is low, per Reuters.
Factors such as the amount of tax loss, his status as a first-time offender, and his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions could work in his favor.
Michael Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, stated that while facing prison time, the practical and realistic outcome may differ, suggesting that Hunter Biden is unlikely to serve a prison sentence.
The White House has not commented on the charges against Hunter Biden or the proposed plea deal.
Spokesperson Ian Sams stated that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden love their son and support him as he works on rebuilding his life.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax, gun case - From Fox Business
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