Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, intends to plead guilty to federal tax evasion charges, US television stations reported on Thursday. As Reuters writes, the move would avoid a potentially embarrassing trial shortly before the presidential election in early November.
NBC News, Fox News and CNN reported that Biden's son will plead guilty in federal court in Los Angeles, where his trial was set to begin on Thursday.
Hunter Biden previously pleaded not guilty in a criminal case in which he was accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, while spending “vast sums” of money on drugs, luxury hotels and rental properties, cars, and clothing, among other things, Reuters reports.
As Reuters writes, Biden has spoken openly about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Biden's guilty plea would avoid a weeks-long trial that is likely to reveal compromising details about his life just before the November 5 presidential election, in which Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and the Republican candidate – former president Donald Trump. Joe Biden withdrew from running for re-election in July.
It also recalls that Hunter Biden is appealing his June conviction in another case involving illegal gun purchases.
Main image source: EPA/CAROLINE BREHMAN