Hunter Biden to be Arraigned on Tax Charges in Los Angeles
Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, is set to be arraigned on Thursday afternoon in California on nine federal tax charges. The charges stem from allegations that Hunter Biden engaged in a "four-year scheme" to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. If convicted, he could face up to 17 years in prison.
Allegations and Indictment Details
According to the 56-page indictment, prosecutors claim that Hunter Biden earned over $7 million in gross income but failed to pay taxes on it. They allege that he funded an extravagant lifestyle by classifying personal expenditures, such as luxury hotel stays, luxury vehicle rentals, and escort services, as business deductions The charges include three felony and six misdemeanor counts related to his alleged failure to file and pay taxes, evasion of assessment, and filing a false or fraudulent tax return.
Background and Previous Charges
This is the second federal indictment brought against Hunter Biden. Previously, special counsel David Weiss, who was appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware by former President Donald Trump and named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023, charged Hunter Biden with three felony gun charges in Delaware related to his alleged unlawful possession of a firearm. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the gun charges in October.
Congressional Investigations and Impeachment Inquiry
Republican-led congressional committees have been investigating Hunter Biden's personal finances and foreign business dealings, which have led to an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The investigation aims to determine whether senior officials in the Biden administration impeded criminal probes into Hunter Biden and whether President Biden personally benefited from his family's business dealings. So far, no evidence of wrongdoing by the president has been uncovered, and he has referred to the impeachment inquiry as a waste of time and a "baseless political stunt".
IRS Whistleblower Claims
IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who were previously assigned to investigate Hunter Biden's finances, alleged that they recommended federal charges be brought against him for tax evasion and other violations but faced resistance. They claimed that then-U.S. Attorney Weiss denied them special counsel status and that there was intentional slow-walking and preferential treatment in the federal investigation into Hunter Biden Weiss disputed these claims and stated that he had never been blocked or impeded in pursuing charges.
Recent Developments
On Wednesday, Hunter Biden made an unexpected appearance before the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and Judiciary committees. The committees voted to advance resolutions to hold him in criminal contempt for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena for a closed-door deposition Hunter Biden had offered to appear in an open hearing but did not want to submit to an interview behind closed doors.
Hunter Biden is set to be arraigned on nine federal tax charges in Los Angeles. The charges allege that he engaged in a scheme to avoid paying taxes and funded an extravagant lifestyle through fraudulent deductions. These charges come after previous charges related to gun possession. Republican-led congressional committees are investigating Hunter Biden's finances and foreign business dealings, which have led to an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. IRS whistleblowers have claimed resistance and preferential treatment in the investigation. Hunter Biden recently appeared before congressional committees and is facing criminal contempt charges for refusing to comply with a subpoena.