They are headlines that US President Biden doesn’t really need in the middle of the election campaign: Further charges have been brought against his son Hunter for several tax crimes. Now there is a risk of up to 17 years in prison.
In the USA, US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has been charged with tax evasion in federal court in Los Angeles.
According to the US Department of Justice, Biden is said to have evaded taxes totaling $1.4 million over four years. He was charged with nine counts – three felonies and six tax offenses – and faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison if convicted, the ministry said.
Indictment highlights extravagant lifestyle
The indictment said Biden spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle instead of paying tax bills. He earned well as the board member of a Ukrainian industrial conglomerate and a Chinese private equity fund.
In 2018 alone, according to the document, he spent “more than $1.8 million, including approximately $772,000 in cash withdrawals, approximately $383,000 in payments to women, approximately $151,000 in clothing and accessories.” The Justice Department said the investigation is ongoing. Biden’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Also proceedings for the purchase of weapons
This is the second trial against Hunter Biden, who was charged with illegal weapons possession in September of this year. Special counsel David Weiss, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, accused the president’s son in the trial in the Delaware court of concealing the fact that he was a drug addict when purchasing a gun, which according to the law precludes the possession of a weapon. Biden pleaded “not guilty” in this trial.
It was the first time in US history that the son of a sitting president was indicted. The 53-year-old, who now works as an artist, has lived in Los Angeles since 2018.
Hunter’s legal problems are likely to accompany the election campaign
Hunter Biden is also in the sights of the opposition Republicans. They accuse him of having in the past exploited his father’s important position as Vice President of Barack Obama (2009 to 2017) for business in Ukraine and China.
The allegations serve as the basis for Republican efforts to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Biden. They accuse him of being involved in his son’s foreign business and of lying to the public. They have not yet been able to provide clear evidence of this; the president has firmly rejected the allegations.
The 81-year-old has repeatedly publicly supported his son, who has had serious drug problems in the past. The allegations against his son are likely to overshadow the election campaign of the US Democrat, who wants to be re-elected for a second term in November next year.