Federal prosecutors and attorneys for Hunter Biden last week reached a plea agreement that will allow the president’s son to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges while admitting to the facts on the federal gun charge in exchange for no jail time, the Washington Post reported.
Hunter’s attorney claimed that the plea agreement will put an end to the years-long investigation into his client. However, US Attorney for Delaware David Weiss said the investigation into Hunter is “ongoing,” a clear indication the probe extends beyond the tax and gun issues.
According to court papers filed in federal court in Wilmington, Hunter will agree to plead guilty to two misdemeanors for failing to pay federal income tax in 2017 and 2018 when he earned over $1.5 million and owed over $100,000, which he failed to pay on time.
Prosecutors are expected to recommend probation on the tax charges, according to people familiar with the deal.
In the second filing on the gun charge, Hunter agrees to enter a “Pretrial Diversion Agreement.”
A diversion agreement in place of jail time is typically given to nonviolent offenders with substance abuse problems. By handling the gun charge as a diversion case, Hunter is not technically pleading guilty. After Hunter completes the diversion program, the federal gun charge will be removed from his record.
Responding to the news on Tuesday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters that the plea deal is further proof of the “two-tier system” of justice in the United States.
McCarthy added that for President Biden’s “leading political opponent,” the DOJ will “give you prison time,” but for the president’s son, the Justice Department gives a “sweetheart deal.”
McCarthy said the plea agreement will not affect the ongoing House investigation into the Biden family. Instead, Tuesday’s plea will “enhance our investigation” since the Justice Department will no longer be “able to withhold any information” from the House by citing a “pending investigation,” McCarthy said.
