Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been indicted in California on nine new charges related to his alleged failure to pay taxes, according to documents made public on Thursday. The charges include three felonies and six misdemeanors, marking a significant escalation in the legal troubles facing the younger Biden.
The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accuses Hunter Biden of engaging in a four-year scheme to evade paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019. The document alleges that instead of fulfilling his tax obligations, Biden spent millions on an “extravagant lifestyle,” including membership in sex clubs and over $188,000 on adult entertainment.
According to the indictment, Hunter Biden’s expenditures increased as his income increased in 2018. In that year alone, he spent more than $1.8 million, including $722,000 in cash withdrawals, approximately $383,000 in payments to women, around $151,000 on clothing and accessories, and about $78,000 on miscellaneous retail purchases and other payments. None of these funds were used to pay his taxes.
This new indictment comes as Hunter Biden already faces federal firearms charges in Delaware over his purchase of a firearm in 2018, despite being a substance abuser. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in October.
Special Counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating possible criminal tax charges against Hunter Biden, has been using a federal grand jury in Los Angeles to gather evidence. Weiss’ criminal investigation was expected to conclude with a plea deal, but negotiations fell apart over the summer.
The agreement that was on the table would have seen Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax evasion charges and reaching a separate agreement on the gun charge. Instead of jail time, he would have served two years of probation. However, the deal fell through, and now the latest charges have been brought against him.
The timing of these charges is significant, as House Republican leaders are expected to vote next week on a measure that would formally initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden over possible ties to his son’s business dealings. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer recently released subpoenaed bank records showing that an entity owned by Hunter Biden made direct monthly payments to Joe Biden.
While the White House has maintained that President Biden did nothing wrong and had no knowledge of his son’s business dealings, House Republicans have threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he fails to appear for a closed-door deposition on December 13. Hunter Biden has expressed his willingness to testify publicly, citing concerns about selective leaks and misinformation that can occur from closed-door testimonies.
This is a developing story, and further updates are expected. Bradford Betz, a Digital breaking reporter covering crime and political issues, will continue to provide the latest information on this case. Stay subscribed to receive updates on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content.
