By FRED SHUSTER
Just as jury selection was set to begin Thursday in Hunter Biden’s tax evasion trial in downtown Los Angeles, an attorney for the president’s son indicated today that Biden is prepared to plead guilty in the case.
The announcement by attorney Abbe Lowell prompted U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi to recess proceedings for two hours, with the attorneys expected to discuss the possibility of a plea deal and reconvene in a downtown courtroom late Thursday morning.
Lowell indicated that Biden, 54, of Malibu, was willing to enter a guilty plea, although he would continue to maintain his innocence — known in legal parlance as an “Alford plea.”
It remained unclear exactly to which counts, if not all, Biden was willing to plead guilty. It also was unclear whether prosecutors would agree to accept such a plea, of which they had no prior knowledge prior to Lowell’s announcement in court Thursday morning. Scarsi would also have to approve any potential plea deal.
Biden is facing nine tax-related counts — three felonies and six misdemeanors — of failing to pay more than $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors contend in the indictment that Biden “spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills,” the indictment alleges.
Defense lawyers say they believe the case was brought “in direct response to political pressure,” according to filings in Los Angeles federal court.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys said the defendant has repaid the government $2 million in back taxes and penalties. He is charged with evading a tax assessment, failing to file and pay taxes, and filing a false or fraudulent tax return.
His trial was expected to last two weeks, with opening statements anticipated Monday in the courtroom of Scarsi, an appointee of former President Donald Trump.
Evidence of the younger Biden’s partying during a period when he was admittedly using crack cocaine and allegedly willfully failing to pay more than $1.4 million…
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