Los Angeles:
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to tax evasion charges when he appeared in federal court on Thursday, in a case that puts further pressure on US President Joe Biden as he prepares for an election rematch with scandal-plagued Republican Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden is a lightning rod for Republicans, who have targeted the recovering drug addict by claiming — without evidence — that he and his father were partners in a criminal family business.
The younger Biden's appearance in Los Angeles came a day after he appeared unannounced on Capitol Hill, where two Republican-dominated House committees discussed contempt resolutions over his refusal to testify behind closed doors about his business dealings last month.
The 53-year-old was indicted Thursday on nine counts of refusing to pay federal taxes.
The indictment, issued on December 7, alleges that money that should have gone to state coffers was instead wasted on financing an “extravagant lifestyle.”
Between 2016 and October 2020, “the suspect spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything except his taxes,” said the 56-year-old suspect. page indictment says.
“We are here today because you have been charged with a criminal offense,” U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi told the defendant, who wore a dark suit and appeared relaxed during the hearing.
Asked how he pleaded, Biden simply said, “Not guilty, your honor.”
He remains free, but was told by Scarsi that he is not allowed to possess firearms or use alcohol or drugs.
The next court hearing was scheduled for March 27, with Scarsi saying he was aiming for the trial to begin on June 20.
Hunter Biden faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted of all three felonies and six misdemeanors.
He also faces federal gun charges in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018.
– 'Cruel' –
Last year, a deal that would have seen him plead guilty to two tax charges and admit to a firearms violation collapsed amid a barrage of Republican criticism that the Justice Department was watering down the case out of deference to the president.
Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in December that the opposite was true.
“Based on the facts and the law, if Hunter's last name were anything other than Biden, the charges in Delaware, and now California, would not have been filed,” he said.
On Thursday, Lowell said he would raise the issue of “undue influence” by Congress over the prosecution.
Republicans and powerful right-wing media outlets such as Fox News have turned Hunter Biden into a bogeyman, repeatedly releasing salacious details of his past life as a drug addict and claiming almost daily – without providing evidence – that he was involved in criminal affairs with his father.
The Republicans are using the allegations to support an impeachment inquiry against the president.
The investigation has virtually no chance of ending in a conviction in the Senate, but is serving as a platform to damage Biden ahead of November's presidential election — and is a distraction from Trump's many criminal and civil charges, including a alleged conspiracy to overthrow the president. Elections 2020.
US First Lady Jill Biden condemned Republican attacks on her son on Thursday.
“I think what they're doing to Hunter is cruel. And I'm really proud of how Hunter has rebuilt his life after his addiction,” she told the MSNBC talk show “Morning Joe.”
“You know, I love my son. And it's hurt my grandchildren, and that's what I'm so worried about. It also affects their lives.'
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)