Hunter Biden, Son of President Joe Biden, Faces Tax and Gun Charges

After months of speculation, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been charged with tax and gun offenses. According to court documents, Biden is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges as part of a plea deal. The charges, referred to as “Informations,” indicate that Biden has accepted the charges and is cooperating with the investigation.

The tax charges against Biden focus on failure to pay taxes for the 2017 and 2018 tax years. While failure to pay typically results in fines rather than jail time, it is still considered a crime. The court documents reveal that Biden’s tax liability for those two years amounted to a combined income of $3 million, or $1.5 million per year. Although he claimed to have paid the IRS what he owed in 2021, the fact that he paid the liability after the due date does not absolve him of the offense.

Biden’s decision to cooperate with authorities and his payment of the tax liability likely influenced the decision not to bring felony charges. Failure to pay can be escalated to a felony if it involves acts of evasion or obstruction, but in this case, misdemeanor charges were filed.

It is important to note that criminal investigations for tax offenses are not commonplace, as most civil matters do not transition into criminal investigations unless there are indications of fraud. The IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division collaborates with various law enforcement agencies to handle tax-related investigations. In 2022, IRS-CI focused on general tax crimes, leading to numerous investigations, prosecutions, and sentences. Taxpayers who voluntarily address their tax obligations or cooperate with tax authorities are less likely to face criminal charges, as demonstrated by the statistics.

In addition to the tax charges, Biden also faces a gun charge. However, this charge is being treated differently as a diversion case. Instead of pleading guilty to gun charges, Biden will enter a diversion program. This alternative sentencing approach is often offered to nonviolent offenders with substance abuse issues, focusing on rehabilitation and reduced recidivism rates. Biden’s reported substance abuse problems align with his eligibility for the diversion program. The court documents indicate that he purchased a gun while using drugs, and the weapon was later discarded by his sister-in-law.

Biden is expected to appear in court to officially answer the charges, and the plea deal will require approval from a judge. The White House has released a statement expressing support for Hunter Biden, emphasizing the President and First Lady’s love for their son.

The court proceedings and the ultimate resolution of the charges will be closely watched as the case involves the son of the sitting President.