Hunter Biden pled guilty to nine federal charges related to tax crimes.
Abbe Lowell, Biden’s lawyer, said, “Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation.”
“This plea prevents that kind of show trial that would not have provided all the facts or served any real point in justice. He will now move on to the sentencing phase, while keeping open the options to raise the many clear issues with this case on appeal.”
Biden’s lawyers considered entering an “Alford plea,” which would have led to the president’s son pleading guilty but maintaining his innocence.
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi told Biden that the charges will result to up to 17 years in prison and a maximum fine of over $1 million.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, Biden “engaged in a four-year scheme in which he chose not to pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019 and to evade the assessment of taxes for tax year 2018 when he filed false returns.”
The release adds that when Biden did “finally file his 2018 returns, included false business deductions in order to reduce the very substantial tax liability he faced as of February 2020.”
Biden’s sentencing is scheduled for December 16.
Some speculate that Biden will be pardoned by his father.
