Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has entered a not guilty plea to nine felony and misdemeanor tax charges during his initial appearance in a California courtroom on Thursday.
Hunter Biden Enters Not Guilty Plea
According to ABC News, Hunter Biden personally entered the plea during an arraignment at Los Angeles federal court following his surprise appearance at a Capitol Hill hearing on whether to hold him in contempt of Congress.
Biden was arraigned on nine tax-related charges, accusing the president's son of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Judge Mark Scarsi at the First Street US Courthouse set a June 20 trial date for Biden's case on Thursday.
Although the government did not oppose the trial timing, the younger Biden's legal team expressed uncertainty, citing a separate indictment in Delaware about felony gun charges.
Frustration was evident during the 30-minute hearing as one of Biden's lawyers expressed annoyance with the failed plea deal that led to last month's tax indictment, saying they had a resolution of the tax case in 2023, "and then things happened."
In response, the government argued that "pleas fall apart all the time." The next hearing is scheduled for March 27, with motions due on February 20.
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Tax Indictment of Hunter Biden
Hunter Biden was granted release under the same conditions outlined in the Delaware case, including no possession of any firearm as well as no alcohol or bond.
He must also submit to an alcohol or drug test if necessary. The president's son was charged with tax crimes in December, out of Special Counsel David Weiss' probe.
Weiss, a Trump-appointed US attorney in Delaware, alleged that Biden earned millions of dollars from foreign entities in China, Ukraine, and Romania and "spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle" but did not pay his federal income taxes from "tax years 2016 through 2019," while also filing a false or fraudulent tax form.
According to ABC News, the back taxes were paid in 2020 by the younger Biden's attorney and confidant, Kevin Morris. The president's son faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted.
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