Hunter Biden indicted on tax charges and faces up to 17 years in jail if he loses second criminal case against him | The Sun
8th December 2023

HUNTER Biden has been indicted for the second time in months and the latest charges could land him in prison for up to 17 years.

Hunter, 53, was hit with nine charges in California in a federal tax fraud case, the second criminal filing against President Joe Biden's son that has been brought by special counsel David Weiss.



Hunter is facing three felonies and six misdemeanors, including failure to file and pay taxes, evasion of assessment, and false or fraudulent tax return.

Weiss accused Hunter of spending "millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills.”

The charges involve at least $1.4 million in taxes that Hunter owed between 2016 and 2019, the time period during which Hunter has admitted to struggling with addiction.

The back taxes have already been paid off.

'LAVISH PURCHASES'

The indictment, handed down in Hunter's home state of California, claims he splashed out on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels, exotic cars, and clothing.

“In short, everything but his taxes,” prosecutor Leo Wise wrote.

More than $683,000 in payments were made to "various women" over the three-year period, the indictment alleges.

Another nearly $400,000 was spent on clothing and accessories and $189,000 went toward "adult entertainment," according to the charging documents.

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Hunter also spent $71,869 on rehab during the timeframe.

He is also accused of using a business line of credit for personal expenses, including a $10,000 membership in a sex club and $27,316 spent on an online pornography website.

The indictment included quotes from Hunter in which he explained some of the expensive purchases.

"I stayed in one place until I tired of it, or until it tired of me, and then moved on, my merry band of crooks, creeps, and outcasts soon to follow," he said.

"Availability drove some of the moves; impulsiveness drove others. A sample itinerary: I left the Chateau [Marmont] the first time for an Airbnb in Malibu. When I couldn’t reserve it for longer than a week, I returned to West Hollywood and the Jeremy hotel.

"There were then stays at the Sunset Tower, Sixty Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Roosevelt. …

"An ant trail of dealers and their sidekicks rolled in and out, day and night. They pulled up in late-series Mercedes-Benzes, decked out in oversized Raiders or Lakers jerseys and flashing fake Rolexes. Their stripper girlfriends invited their girlfriends, who invited their boyfriends.

"They’d drink up the entire minibar, call room service for filet mignon and a bottle of Dom Pérignon. One of the women even ordered an additional filet for her purse-sized dog."

YEARS-LONG INVESTIGATION

Prosecutors have inquired about Hunter's finances since 2018 with Weiss, an attorney appointed by former President Donald Trump, being designated to special counsel in August of that year.

The second indictment comes after Hunter's legal troubles were almost resolved in July before a plea deal fell apart.

Over the summer, Hunter agreed to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and was looking at no jail time.

Prosecutors agreed that a gun charge would be dropped in two years if he stayed out of legal trouble.

However, the deal fell through after there were disagreements over the fine print.

Hunter was indicted by Weiss in September on three charges related to him purchasing a gun at a shop in Delaware in 2018 when prosecutors said he was an illegal drug user.

He has pleaded not guilty in the gun possession and false statements case.

Hunter's attorneys accused Weiss of "bending to political pressure" from Republicans, saying that his actions "present a grave threat to our system of justice."

“Based on the facts and the law, if Hunter’s last name was anything other than Biden, the charges in Delaware, and now California, would not have been brought,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement.

Hunter’s purchases from 2016 to 2019

Prosecutors laid out in the indictment a summary of purchases that Hunter Biden is said to have made instead of paying his taxes.

  • $1.66 million in ATM withdrawals
  • $683,212 in payments to various women
  • $397,530 for clothing and accessories
  • $237,496 on health, beauty, and pharmacy products
  • $236,634 on miscellaneous retail purchases
  • $214,923 on food, groceries, and restaurants
  • $188,960 on adult entertainment
  • $71,869 on drug and alcohol rehab
  • $42,856 on home improvement
  • $24,445 on entertainment
  • $23,567 on sports and recreation

Hunter made millions in private equity deals, corporate consulting, and legal fees in Ukraine, China, Romania, and other countries.

Prosecutors argued that he had money to buy luxury cars despite being warned about his tax payments by accountants and associates.

The charges come as congressional Republicans have pursued an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, claiming he was part of an "influence peddling" scheme with his son, said Rep. James Comer.

Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued subpoenas on the Biden family last month.

"Now, the House Oversight Committee is going to bring in members of the Biden family and their associates to question them on this record of evidence," said Comer in a statement.

The House is expected to vote next week on formally authorizing the inquiry.

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It all comes as Biden is vying for a second term in the White House.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the White House and Department of Justice for comment.




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