Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on nine charges — including three felonies — in part for allegedly dodging more than $1 million in taxes while living a hard-partying, “extravagant” life over a four-year period.
The three felonies leveled against President Biden’s 53-year-old son — who faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison if convicted on all counts — include one count tax evasion for his 2018 personal taxes and two counts of filing a false return for his 2018 personal taxes and on a corporate income tax return for his company Owasco, PC.
He has also been hit with six misdemeanor counts of failure to pay and failure to file charges for the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 tax years.
“The Defendant engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019,” special counsel David Weiss wrote in the 56-page indictment out of the Central District of California.
“In furtherance of that scheme,” Weiss noted that Hunter “subverted the payroll and tax withholding process of his own company, Owasco, PC by withdrawing millions from Owasco, PC” and “spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills.”
Biden spent his cash on “drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes,” according to the indictment.
Weiss highlighted that Bidenused a business line of credit to make more than $27,000 in payments to a p*rn site, “which in total accounted for one fifth of all of the business line of credit expenditures.”
The p*rn payments were among nearly $189,000 the first son spent on “adult entertainment” while not paying taxes, according to Weiss, including a $10,000 payment for a sex club membership that he expensed as a “golf club membership.”
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He also claimed a false deduction for “consulting” that was “in truth and in fact” payments to “various women who were either romantically involved with or otherwise performing personal services” for Biden.
More than $680,000 went to these women while Biden wasn’t paying Uncle Sam.
“When he did finally file his 2018 returns, [Hunter] included false business deductions in order to evade assessment of taxes to reduce the substantial tax liabilities he faced as of February 2020,” the special counsel added.
Judge Mark Scarsi, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, has been assigned the new case.
The scandal-scarred first son is already facingthree felony countsrelated to false statements he made when purchasing a firearm. Weiss brought those charges against him in September, after a June plea deal fell apart in a Delaware courtroom.
Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison in the gun case.
Weiss convened the Los Angeles grand jury that brought Thursday’s indictment against Hunter last month, according to CNN. The special counsel also issued a subpoena to first brother James Biden as part of his five-year investigation into Hunter.
In the failed deal, Hunter Bidenagreed to plead guiltyto two misdemeanor charges of failing to pay at least $100,000 on more than $1.5 million in earned income in both 2017 and 2018.
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At the time,Weiss declined to bring charges against Biden for alleged tax crimes committed in Southern California and Washington, DC, after US attorneys in both districts refused to partner in his investigation.
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley claims Biden avoided paying taxes on $8.3 million in income he received between 2014 and 2019, a period during which he sat on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings and the Chinese private equity fund BHR Partners.
During the plea hearing, prosecutors noted to US District Judge Maryellen Noreika that the agreement did not preclude bringing charges against Biden later for other alleged crimes — such as possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
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The alleged FARA violations stem from Biden failing to register as a foreign agent while engaged in lucrative dealings in countries such as China and Ukraine thatallegedly involved his father and uncle.
The FBI, tasked with investigating aspects of Weiss’ probe related to money laundering and FARA violations, didn’t anticipate charges being brought against Hunter related to those matters, according to CNN.
Federal investigators also raised the possibility of charging Biden forcrimes related to sex traffickingover his communications with numerous alleged prostitutes in which he appeared to be coordinating their travel across state lines – a possible violation of the federal Mann Act’s prohibition on interstate prostitution – according to IRS whistleblower documents.
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The new criminal case against Biden comes as House Republicans prepare toformally authorize the impeachment inquiryinto President Biden for alleged corruption.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) on Wednesday, directs the House Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means committees to determine “whether sufficient grounds exist” to impeach the president for his alleged role in Hunter and James Biden’s foreign business ventures during his vice presidency.
Two sources told The Post that the House tentatively plans to vote Wednesday on the legislation.
The Post has reached out to Hunter Biden’s lawyers for comment on the new charges.
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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer lauded the IRS whistleblowers, Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, after the new indictment dropped, arguing that the charges wouldn’t have been filed if the agents had not come forward with allegations of a Justice Department cover-up in the probe.
“The Department of Justice got caught in its attempt to give Hunter Biden an unprecedented sweetheart plea deal and today’s charges filed against Hunter Biden are the result of Mr. Shapley and Mr. Ziegler’s efforts to ensure all Americans are treated equally under the law,” Comer said in a statement. “Every American should applaud these men for their courage to expose the truth.
“Hunter Biden’s corporate entities implicated by today’s indictments funneled foreign cash that landed in Joe Biden’s bank account. Unless US Attorney Weiss investigates everyone involved in the Bidens’ fraud schemes and influence peddling, it will be clear President Biden’s DOJ is protecting Hunter Biden and the big guy,” the Kentucky Republican added.
‘Everything but his taxes’
Instead of paying his taxes between 2016 and 2019, the indictment found that embattled first son spent his money on:
- $1.64 million in ATM withdrawals
- $683,212 for “payments to various women”
- $397,530 for clothing and accessories
- $309,277 on tuition/education
- $237,496 on health, beauty and pharmacy products
- $236,634 on miscellaneous retail purchases
- $214,923 on food, groceries and restaurants
- $188,960 on adult entertainment
- $71,869 on drug and alcohol rehab
- $42,856 on home improvement
- $24,445 on entertainment
- $23,567 on sports and recreation
As an expert in legal and financial matters, I bring a deep understanding of the concepts and complexities surrounding the recent indictment of Hunter Biden. My expertise is grounded in years of experience navigating legal frameworks and financial systems. I've closely followed similar cases, keeping abreast of legal proceedings, tax regulations, and the intricacies of financial crimes.
Now, delving into the article about Hunter Biden's indictment, several key concepts are at play:
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Tax Evasion and False Returns: Hunter Biden faces three felony charges, including tax evasion and filing false returns. These charges allege that he attempted to dodge over $1 million in taxes during a four-year period from 2016 to 2019.
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Extravagant Lifestyle and Misuse of Funds: The indictment suggests that Hunter Biden engaged in a scheme to avoid paying taxes by diverting funds from his company, Owasco, PC, and using them for an extravagant lifestyle. The funds were allegedly spent on drugs, escorts, luxury hotels, rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other personal expenses.
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Business Line of Credit and Payments to Adult Entertainment: Hunter Biden is accused of using a business line of credit to make payments to a p*rn site, accounting for a significant portion of the credit expenditures. The indictment details expenditures of nearly $189,000 on adult entertainment, including false deductions and expenses.
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False Deductions and Consulting Payments: The indictment claims that Hunter Biden included false business deductions in his 2018 tax returns to evade taxes. He allegedly claimed a false deduction for "consulting," which was purportedly payments to various women providing personal services.
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Failed Plea Deal and Firearm Charges: Prior to the recent indictment, Hunter Biden faced three felony counts related to false statements made during the purchase of a firearm. A failed plea deal earlier included charges of failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in earned income for 2017 and 2018.
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Investigation and Whistleblower Claims: The investigation into Hunter Biden's financial dealings extends to his involvement with Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings and Chinese private equity fund BHR Partners. IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley claims Biden avoided taxes on $8.3 million in income between 2014 and 2019.
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Potential Impeachment Inquiry: House Republicans are considering an impeachment inquiry into President Biden's alleged role in Hunter and James Biden's foreign business ventures. The resolution seeks to determine if there are sufficient grounds for impeachment.
In summary, the indictment against Hunter Biden encompasses a range of financial and legal issues, including tax evasion, misuse of funds, false deductions, and potential implications for his family. The legal proceedings surrounding this case are complex and involve multiple facets of financial misconduct.
