In a significant development, Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, has entered into a tentative agreement with the U.S. Attorney in Delaware. The arrangement stipulates Hunter's admission of guilt to two misdemeanor tax infractions and a felony gun possession charge, according to a Justice Department document.
Hunter Biden's agreement acknowledges drug usage as a contributing factor to the gun-related crime. In a pretrial diversion agreement that spans two years, Hunter will be required to maintain a drug-free lifestyle and refrain from committing additional offenses. If the conditions are fulfilled, the gun charge will be dismissed, although this does not equate to a formal guilty plea.
Hunter's failure to pay taxes for the years 2017 and 2018 resulted in the two misdemeanor charges. Over these years, he amassed over $1.5 million in income annually, but has since repaid the back taxes and penalties, totalling around $2 million.
Sources close to Hunter revealed that the decision to enter the plea agreement came from his acceptance of the consequences of his drug abuse during the time when the taxes remained unpaid1. Chris Clark, Hunter Biden's attorney, expressed his anticipation that his client would be "released without conditions" after the court hearing, and emphasized Hunter's intent to "take responsibility for these mistakes" made during a turbulent period of his life.
The investigation, which began in 2018, was overseen by David Weiss, a U.S. Attorney appointed by former President Donald Trump. President Biden retained Weiss in his position to avoid potential allegations of interference in the ongoing probe into his son. The investigators' independence has been fiercely defended by the Justice Department, despite criticism over the length of the investigation.
The plea agreement follows recent attacks on the Justice Department from Republican presidential candidates and Congress members, who claim that the department has been "weaponized" by the Biden administration against Republican rivals. These allegations were intensified following the indictment of Trump on felony charges related to alleged "willful retention" of classified documents.
The case, which initially included a broader examination of Hunter Biden's international business ventures, is expected to conclude with this agreement, according to a source familiar with the terms. The White House has refrained from commenting further on the matter, with President Biden expressing his pride in his son's efforts to rebuild his life.