September 5, 2024
As his trial was about to start, today in a twist that surprised everyone — Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to 9 federal tax-related counts. And in this video you’re going to hear what the White House says about a possible pardon.
Yeah. That all happened today. Let me explain.
Special Counsel David Weiss has been investigating the president son’s finances and foreign deals since 2018 and in December of 2023 Weiss filed the nine-count indictment accusing Hunter of many things including failing to pay $1.4 million in federal taxes and being involved in a tax-evasion scheme. Hunter pleaded not guilty and said he paid back all of that tax money and blamed his lifelong struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse for the delay. His legal team has also said these charges are politically motivated and if hunter’s last name wasn’t Biden, he wouldn’t have been charged.
Well today Hunter’s trial was supposed to start in California. But instead of picking a jury, hunter and his team walked into court and said it was Biden’s interest and the interest of the public to finish this today. They said Biden wanted to enter an unusual Alford plea. That would have allowed the president’s son to maintain his innocence and not admit to the criminal act but also accept a sentence.
Well – special counsel Weiss was having none of that. Rejecting Biden’s Alford plea saying they had no idea it was coming. So Biden’s legal team came back and said fine – we’ll just plead guilty to make this whole thing be over and just accept sentence with no deal.
The judge was like are you sure? Do you understand these charges and the fact that these charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 17 years in prison and fines up to $1 million? And Hunter Biden was like yep. The judge accepted his guilty plea and said he will sentence Biden on – December 16th.
So you’re probably thinking – well – hunter pleaded guilty because he has an ace up his sleeve. His father – President Joe Biden who as the President of the United States has the absolute unquestionable power – like every other president to issue a pardon in federal cases just like this.
But the white house has repeatedly said President Biden will not pardon his son nor would he commute his sentence. In fact, here is the press secretary just today while she was talking to reporters on air force one.
Now – that’s what they’re saying today. But it’s important to note – that December 16th sentencing date is well before President Biden leaves office and usually presidential pardons are released on the very last day a president is in office.
