Why did Hunter Biden, the US President's son, suddenly plead guilty to tax evasion?

During a trial on September 5, Mr. Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty to nine charges of evading $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019.

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty because he did not want to affect his family. (Source: AP)

According to AFP news agency, Mr. Hunter explained that this surprise move was to help his family avoid another embarrassing criminal trial in Los Angeles before the US presidential election.

That trial is expected to yield more potentially explosive evidence, as well as details about Hunter Biden’s many overseas business dealings that Republicans are using to paint the president’s family as corrupt.

In an emailed statement after pleading guilty, President Joe Biden's son said: "I will not put my family through any more pain, invasion of privacy, and unnecessary embarrassment. Given all that I have caused them over the years, I can help them avoid this, so I have decided to plead guilty."

The decision came after Mr. Hunter failed to reach a deal with prosecutors in Los Angeles Federal Court that would have put him facing up to 17 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $1 million.

Federal Judge Mark Scarsi is expected to issue a final ruling on December 16.

In addition to years of tax evasion, Hunter Biden has also been accused of gun ownership and drug use. He has previously denied all charges.

The case against Hunter Biden was brought by US Justice Department Special Counsel David Weiss. Weiss charged the defendant Hunter Biden with three felonies and six misdemeanors in the state of California, accusing him of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019.

The case makes Mr. Hunter Biden the first case of a sitting US President's son being convicted.

“Today, Hunter put his family first. It was an act of courage and love,” Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said after his guilty plea.

Earlier in June, when a jury in Wilmington, Delaware federal court convicted Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden pledged to "respect the judicial process."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/vi-sao-hunter-biden-con-trai-tong-thong-my-dot-ngon-nhan-toi-tron-thue-285194.html