U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has pleaded guilty to a string of tax fraud charges in the state of California.
Prosecutors accused Hunter of spending $US1.4 million ($AU2.1 million) between 2016 and 2019 on an “extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills.”
Hunter previously denied the allegations.
However, his guilty plea means he could face jail time or fines.
Hunter Biden
Hunter Biden worked on the board of a Ukrainian industrial company and a Chinese equity fund between 2016 and 2019.
His father, Joe Biden, was U.S. Vice President from 2009 until January 2017.
In his 2021 memoir, ‘Beautiful Things’, Hunter opened up about his history of illicit substance and alcohol use, and mental ill-health.
Tax charges
California prosecutors accused Hunter of failing to pay more than a million dollars in taxes.
He was also accused of falsely claiming certain business deductions in order to pay a lower rate of tax.
Hunter eventually paid around $US2 million ($AU3 million) in taxes and penalties.
He initially pleaded not guilty to the tax evasion charges. The trial was due to kick off over the next few weeks.
Guilty plea
Hunter’s lawyers had tried to negotiate a plea deal to avoid a criminal trial, which later collapsed.
Earlier this year, Hunter was found guilty of lying about his history of drug use when he bought a gun in the U.S. state of Delaware in 2018.
He faces up to 25 years in jail and $US750,000 ($AU1.13 million) in fines on these charges.
In a statement explaining his guilty plea, Hunter said: “I went to trial in Delaware not realising the anguish it would cause my family, and I will not put them through it again.”
Judge Mark Scarsi said Hunter faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and around $1 million in fines.
U.S. Presidents can ‘pardon’ people convicted of certain crimes, clearing their name.
The White House has repeatedly denied that Biden will pardon his son.
