Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has been indicted for evading federal income tax and unlawful possession of a firearm, and has struck a deal with the Justice Department, as disclosed in a document submitted to the U.S. District Court in Delaware.
The deal, which was revealed on Tuesday morning, will have Hunter Biden admitting to misdemeanor tax crimes. He is also anticipated to reach a settlement with prosecutors regarding the felony accusation of owning a firearm while being a substance abuser.
Settling a federal criminal lawsuit concurrently with its filing in court is somewhat of a rarity, although not completely unprecedented.
The agreement concludes a prolonged inquiry by the Justice Department into Biden’s younger son, who has publicly admitted to battling addiction issues, particularly after the loss of his brother, Beau Biden, in 2015. It also prevents a trial that could have produced a stream of disruptive headlines over an extended period, something the White House has been eager to avoid while maintaining a clear separation from the Justice Department.
The announcement arrives at a time when GOP members in Congress are conducting their own probes into practically all elements of Hunter Biden’s business activities, including international payments and other financial matters. This news also emerges just days after a 37-count indictment was issued against former President Donald Trump for improperly handling classified papers on his estate in Florida, an event with even more significant political fallout.
In addition, President Joe Biden has faced inquiries regarding his son’s business ventures and struggle with drug addiction.
