Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has agreed to plead guilty to two criminal tax charges and one gun-related felony charge in a deal with federal prosecutors in Delaware.
The plea deal, announced on Friday, will allow Hunter Biden to avoid a trial and a potential prison sentence. He will pay a $500,000 fine and serve two years of probation.
The charges stem from Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine and China, which have been under scrutiny since his father launched his presidential campaign in 2019. Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing and said he acted appropriately.
The plea deal has triggered a political firestorm, with Republicans accusing the Biden administration of interfering in the investigation and protecting Hunter Biden from accountability. They have also questioned the timing of the announcement, which came after President Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.
“This is a clear example of political interference and double standards,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. “Hunter Biden gets a slap on the wrist while ordinary Americans face harsh consequences for similar crimes.”
Democrats have defended the plea deal as a fair and independent outcome of a long-running investigation that began under former President Donald Trump. They have also accused Republicans of politicizing the case and spreading false information about Hunter Biden’s activities.
“This is a vindication of Hunter Biden and his family,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a close ally of President Biden. “He has cooperated fully with the authorities and accepted responsibility for his mistakes. He deserves respect and privacy, not baseless attacks and conspiracy theories.”
