Prosecutors announced on Tuesday that Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has agreed to plead guilty to two charges related to his failure to pay federal income tax. Additionally, he has admitted to unlawfully possessing a firearm, as per the prosecutors’ statement.
US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of failure to pay federal income tax, and admitted to illegally owning a gun, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Hunter Biden, whose business dealings have been under attack for years from Republican lawmakers, acknowledged possessing a firearm despite being a drug user.
The plea agreement between the 53-year-old and the US Attorney’s Office in his home state of Delaware will still need to be approved by a federal judge.
The president’s son is unlikely to face any prison time.
US Attorney David Weiss said Hunter Biden had agreed to plead guilty to “two counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax.”
According to the charges, Biden failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018.
In both years he owed more than $100,000 in taxes on those earnings.
Each count brings up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 or double what he stood to gain by breaking the law.
Hunter Biden has admitted to struggles with drugs in the past.
He will not be prosecuted on the gun charge but will enter what is known as “pretrial diversion,” which often involves counseling or rehabilitation.
Christopher Clark, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, in a statement to US media, said “Hunter will take responsibility for two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP