In a court filing on Tuesday, it was revealed that Hunter Biden has reached an agreement with the Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges. The agreement also allows him to avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge. This development marks the nearing conclusion of a long-running investigation into the finances, drug use, and international business dealings of President Biden’s son, which has been politically contentious.
According to the agreement, which was worked out over several months between Hunter Biden’s legal team and federal prosecutors, he will plead guilty to the misdemeanor charges of failing to pay his taxes on time for the years 2017 and 2018. As part of the deal, he will be placed on probation.
The Justice Department will charge Hunter Biden but refrain from prosecuting him in connection with his purchase of a handgun in 2018 during a period when he was using drugs. The agreement stipulates that Biden must remain drug-free for 24 months and agree to never possess a firearm again.
The approval of a federal judge is still required for the agreement to be finalized. It is expected that Biden will appear in federal court in Delaware in the coming days for his arraignment on the misdemeanor tax charges and to plead guilty.
Christopher Clark, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, stated, “With the announcement of two agreements between my client, Hunter Biden, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, it is my understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved.” Clark added that Hunter Biden takes responsibility for the two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments on time, acknowledging the mistakes made during a period of personal turmoil and addiction. He expressed Hunter Biden’s commitment to continue his recovery and move forward.
Assuming there are no last-minute changes or complications, the agreement is likely to resolve the investigation without Hunter Biden facing a federal prison sentence.
Nevertheless, the political implications surrounding the case are expected to persist. Republicans have long sought to make the case that Hunter Biden committed various crimes deserving of imprisonment, aiming to cast doubt on the integrity of his father. The agreement allowing Hunter Biden to avoid further prosecution is likely to draw criticism from the right and intensify efforts by House Republicans to portray the Justice Department and the FBI as biased.
During his presidency, Donald J. Trump sought to link Hunter Biden’s business dealings and personal issues to his father. Trump’s first impeachment stemmed from his efforts to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Hunter Biden’s work for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden continued after President Biden took office, overseen by U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss, a Trump appointee who remained in his position to conclude the inquiry. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland testified to Congress that Weiss had complete authority and independence to determine whether to bring a case against Hunter Biden.
Apart from resolving the main legal matters surrounding Hunter Biden, the agreement represents a victory for his lead lawyer, Christopher Clark, a former federal prosecutor known for his tenacity. Over the past year and a half, Clark presented evidence to Justice Department officials to demonstrate the potential weaknesses of any prosecution against his client.
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Source: Becker News Rephrased By: InfoArmed