Name: Hunter Biden Enters Surprise Guilty Plea, Avoiding Trial on Tax Charges
Uploaded: 2024-09-06T06:56:00.000Z
Description: Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in his federal tax case on Sept. 5, a surprise move that allows him to avoid a trial.

Sean Marshall is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, primarily covering business and technology trends. 

Sean Marshall

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Swatch Watch Release Causes Global Hype Frenzy

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

‘No Pandemic Potential’ for Hantavirus or Ebola: Jeffrey Tucker

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens React to Violent Teen Gatherings in DC

Lawrence Wilson covers politics for The Epoch Times.

Lawrence Wilson

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

US News

Politics

Executive Branch

TrumpRx Expanded to Offer 600 Generic Drugs

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

NBA Playoffs Resume as Spurs, Thunder Ready for Game 1

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

State News

California

3 Killed, 2 Teen Suspects Dead After Shooting at San Diego Mosque: Police

Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.

Jill McLaughlin

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Los Angeles Woman Charged With Paying Homeless People to Register to Vote

Rachel Acenas is an experienced journalist and TV news reporter and anchor covering breaking stories and contributing original news content for NTD's digital team.

Rachel Acenas

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

New York

Both Sides Secure Wins During Key Evidence Hearing in Luigi Mangione State Murder Trial

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Trump Drops $10 Billion Lawsuit Against IRS

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Drone Strikes Damage High-Rise Building Near Moscow

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 18)

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Chris Beers

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 17)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 16)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in his federal tax case on Sept. 5, a surprise move that allows him to avoid a trial.

The change of plea came hours before jury selection was set to begin and ahead of his sentencing in a separate case in Delaware.

“I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment,” Hunter Biden, 54, son of President Joe Biden, said in an emailed statement after he entered his plea. “For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty.”

The choice to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges came without a plea deal, which typically includes benefits such as dropped charges.

"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've not provided all the facts or served any real point in justice. He will now move on with us to the sentencing phase," defense attorney Abbe Lowell told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.

Hunter Biden quickly responded “guilty” as the judge read out each of the nine counts. The charges carry up to 17 years behind bars, but federal sentencing guidelines are likely to call for a much shorter sentence. Hunter Biden also faces up to $1.35 million in fines.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 16. U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, who is overseeing the case, will sentence Hunter Biden after hearing recommendations from the parties.

Scarsi in August rejected a bid to dismiss the charges.

The guilty plea came Thursday after defense lawyers proposed entering an unusual plea under which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction. Prosecutors with special counsel David Weiss's team objected to the proposal, and Hunter Biden and his lawyers then decided to plead guilty.

Hunter Biden <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/hunter-biden-pleads-not-guilty-to-tax-charges-5563474">pleaded not guilty</a> to all nine counts in January.

President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Thursday but did not comment on the guilty plea. The White House has said the president, who recently opted not to run for another term, will not pardon his son.

Hunter Biden failed to pay taxes between 2016 and 2019, a period of time during which he owed at least $1.4 million, <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/hunter-biden-indicted-on-9-tax-evasion-charges-in-special-counsel-probe-5543458">according to</a> Weiss. Instead of paying his taxes, Hunter Biden “spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature," the indictment states.

That included more than $683,000 to various women and about $72,000 to fuel a drug and alcohol addiction, <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/heres-what-hunter-biden-spent-millions-of-dollars-on-5544181">according to</a> court filings.

During the timespan, Hunter Biden made $7 million from work for Ukrainian-based Burisma Holdings and other firms, according to bank records obtained by prosecutors.

A jury convicted Hunter Biden of three gun charges in Delaware earlier this year.

Hunter Biden illegally bought a gun while addicted to drugs and falsely claimed on his application for a firearm that he was not a drug user. He also illegally possessed the gun for 11 days, according to the verdict.

Hunter Biden had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He faces up to 25 years in prison for the charges and is set to be sentenced in that case in November.

Hunter Biden said in his memoir and interviews that he was addicted to drugs for years but that he became sober in 2019.

“As I have stated, addiction is not an excuse, but it is an explanation for some of my failures at issue in this case," Hunter Biden said on Thursday. “When I was addicted, I wasn’t thinking about my taxes, I was thinking about surviving. But the jury would never have heard that or know that I had paid every penny of my back taxes including penalties.”

<em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/hunter-biden-signals-surprise-plea-in-bid-to-avoid-trial-on-tax-charges-5718667">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

Breaking News

01_Lead Story

04_Top Stories

case

Latest Clips

Hunter Biden

Plea

Management

Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at zack.stieber@epochtimes.com

Zachary Stieber

02_Second Lead

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.