It was shaping up to be a big reveal. Hunter Biden finally pleaded guilty to tax fraud at the last second in a California court on Thursday, as a potentially embarrassing trial for his entire family began. Joe Biden’s son will find out his fate on December 16, after the American election. And he faces a lot, with charges punishable by fifteen years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million, Judge Scarsi told him – a press release from the Department of Justice spoke of a sentence of up to seventeen years.
In the scorching heat of Los Angeles, with temperatures hovering around 40°C, Joe Biden’s lawyers first tried a gamble with a Alford plea. This is a plea in which a defendant does not explicitly admit guilt but acknowledges that the evidence is sufficient to convict him. Faced with refusal from prosecutors, and while the judge said he was ready to begin jury selection, Hunter Biden finally changed his mind and pleaded guilty. Nine times, he answered “guilty” when the charges were read.
Another sentence expected on November 13
This is not a deal negotiated with prosecutors to get a more lenient sentence. He is simply admitting his guilt, and Judge Scarsi, appointed by Donald Trump, will decide his sentence. While she will not reach the maximum for a first offense, a prison sentence is far from out of the question. Hunter […] Read more