Hunter Biden has been charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally possessing a weapon and has reached an agreement with the Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, a deal that will likely avoid any jail time.
According to a letter filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware on Tuesday, the president’s son will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses and is expected to reach an agreement with prosecutors on the felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user.
David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, said in a court notice that Mr. Biden “has agreed to enter a Pretrial Diversion Agreement with respect to the firearm Information.” The resolution indicates Hunter Biden will not be prosecuted for the gun charge if he honors the terms of the agreement, such as staying off drugs.
The notice from Mr. Weiss asks the federal court in Wilmington to set a hearing date for Mr. Biden to appear before a judge and enter his plea.
The deal also suggests that the Justice Department will not pursue charges related to Hunter Biden’s business dealings with foreign entities or other wrongdoing.
Several Republican-led congressional inquiries allege that Hunter Biden engaged in years of criminal conduct with individuals tied to the Chinese government and with companies in Ukraine and other countries, including alleged $5 million bribes paid to Hunter Biden and his father.
Republicans called the development a sweetheart deal for Hunter Biden and said it will not deter their probes of his financial dealings.
“Let’s be clear: the Department of Justice’s charges against President Biden’s son Hunter reveal a two-tiered system of justice,” said House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, Kentucky Republican.
“Hunter Biden is getting away with a slap on the wrist when growing evidence uncovered by the House Oversight Committee reveals the Bidens engaged in a pattern of corruption, influence peddling, and possibly bribery. These charges against Hunter Biden and sweetheart plea deal have no impact on the Oversight Committee’s investigation.”
He vowed, “We will not rest until the full extent of President Biden’s involvement in the family’s schemes are revealed.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, said the deal highlights a “two-tier” justice system in which the president’s son gets favorable treatment. He told reporters that the agreement “will have no impact on our investigations.”
A representative of former President Donald Trump said his prediction that Hunter Biden would get off easy has come true.
“As President Trump predicted, Biden’s Justice Department is cutting a sweetheart deal with Hunter Biden to make their bogus case to ’get Trump’ appear fair,” said Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman for Make America Great Again Inc. “Meanwhile, Biden’s DOJ continues to turn a blind eye to the Biden family’s extensive corruption and bribery scheme. The American people need President Trump back in office to appoint a truly independent special prosecutor that will finally bring justice.”
Mr. Trump has been indicted by the Justice Department on dozens of counts of mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice, with a trial date tentatively set for August. On his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said Tuesday, “People are going wild over the Hunter Biden Scam with the DOJ!”
It is somewhat unusual to resolve a federal criminal case at the same time the charges are filed in court, though it is not totally unheard of.
The deal ends a five-year federal investigation of Hunter Biden, who has acknowledged struggling with addiction following the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden. It also averts a trial that would have generated days or weeks or distracting headlines just as President Biden is gearing up his reelection campaign.
“The president and first lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment,” said White House spokesman Ian Sams.
Mr. Weiss, a Trump appointee, has agreed to recommend probation for Hunter Biden on his tax violations, NBC News reported.
Chris Clark, attorney for Hunter Biden, said in a statement: “With the announcement of two agreements between my client, Hunter Biden, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, it is my understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved.”
“Hunter will take responsibility for two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments when due pursuant to a plea agreement,” Mr. Clark said. “A firearm charge, which will be subject to a pretrial diversion agreement and will not be the subject of the plea agreement, will also be filed by the government. I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”
Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware Democrat and one of President Biden’s closest allies in the Senate, expressed approval of the deal.
“A five-year-long thorough investigation by a Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney has reportedly concluded with Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and entering pretrial diversion on a gun-related charge,” Mr. Coons said in a statement Tuesday. “From press accounts, I am encouraged that Hunter is taking responsibility for his actions, paying the taxes that he owes, and preparing to move on with his life.”
But Trump allies said the plea deal shows a double standard from the Justice Department.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, tweeted that Hunter Biden’s deal is “a stunt to make him look like he is just cooperating with the DOJ.”
“Meanwhile the pathetic and weaponized DOJ who protects their puppet President and refuses to prosecute Joe Biden and Hunter for taking bribes from Ukrainian oligarchs and raking in tens of millions of dollars from foreign countries [because] the Big Guy makes policy decisions [to] help his customers are the real crimes the Biden’s should be charged with!” she said. “Oh but hey, look at [special counsel] Jack Smith trying to throw President Trump in jail for 100 years for legally possessing documents he’s allowed to [possess] under the Presidential Records Act. We are controlled by COMMUNISTS!!”
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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