Allegations of Scheme to Evade Taxes
The son of President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, has been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors related to tax crimes. Special Counsel David Weiss has accused Hunter of engaging in a four-year scheme to evade paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes for the years 2016 through 2019. The alleged scheme involved filing false returns and subverting the payroll and tax withholding process of his own company.
Extravagant Lifestyle and Failure to Pay Taxes
Weiss contends that Hunter Biden spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle instead of fulfilling his tax obligations. It is alleged that in 2018, he stopped paying his outstanding and overdue taxes for the year 2015. Additionally, Hunter willfully failed to pay his taxes on time for the years 2016 to 2019, despite having access to funds to cover these expenses. He also failed to file his tax returns on time for the years 2017 and 2018.
Details of the Charges
The charges against Hunter Biden include counts for failure to pay taxes and failure to file tax returns for specific years. Specifically, counts one to four relate to unpaid taxes for the years 2016 to 2019, while counts three and five pertain to failure to file tax returns for the years 2017 and 2018. The indictment highlights Hunter’s gross income of over $2.1 million and alleges that he evaded assessment and filed false and fraudulent tax forms in an attempt to reduce his tax liabilities.
Response from Hunter Biden’s Defense Attorney
Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, has criticized Special Counsel David Weiss, accusing him of succumbing to Republican pressure. Lowell argues that if Hunter’s last name were not Biden, these charges would not have been brought against him. The defense plans to fight the charges.
These developments come amidst ongoing scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s business dealings, and House Republican leaders are expected to vote next week on whether to initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden based on possible connections to his son’s business activities.