Hunter Biden indicted for tax evasion

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The Department of Justice on Thursday filed new criminal charges against U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, accusing him of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending millions of dollars on a lavish lifestyle.

Hunter Biden, 53, was hit with three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

He faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted. The Justice Department said its investigation into Biden is ongoing.

"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," the indictment read.

It added that he had instead spent huge sums "on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature" including over $70,000 on drug rehabilitation.

Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in statement that his client had repaid his taxes in full, accusing U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, who is leading the probe into Hunter Biden, of reneging on a previous agreement, U.S. media reported.

Prosecutors said that between 2016 and October 2020, he received more than $7 million in total gross income.

That included nearly $2.3 million from his position on the board of directors of Burisma between 2016 and 2019, the filing says.

Hunter Biden's affiliation with Burisma has been the focus of years of attacks from Republican lawmakers who have accused him of leveraging his family name to make money overseas.

"The Defendant had a legal obligation to pay taxes on all his income, including income earned in Ukraine from his service on Burisma's Board, fees generated by deal-making with the Chinese private equity fund, as well as income derived from his work as a lawyer and other sources," the indictment said.

Adding to Hunter Biden's income was work for CEFC China Energy Co Ltd, a Chinese energy conglomerate.

As Hunter Biden's income increased, so did his spending, according to the filing.

In 2018 alone, the indictment read, Hunter Biden "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 indictment added: "The Defendant did not use any of these funds to pay his taxes in 2018."

Prosecutors said that between 2016 and October 2020, he received more than $7 million in total gross income.

That included nearly $2.3 million from his position on the board of directors of Burisma between 2016 and 2019, the filing says.

Hunter Biden's affiliation with Burisma has been the focus of years of attacks from Republican lawmakers who have accused him of leveraging his family name to make money overseas.

"The Defendant had a legal obligation to pay taxes on all his income, including income earned in Ukraine from his service on Burisma's Board, fees generated by deal-making with the Chinese private equity fund, as well as income derived from his work as a lawyer and other sources," the indictment said.

Adding to Hunter Biden's income was work for CEFC China Energy Co Ltd, a Chinese energy conglomerate.

As Hunter Biden's income increased, so did his spending, according to the filing.

In 2018 alone, the indictment read, Hunter Biden "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 indictment added: "The Defendant did not use any of these funds to pay his taxes in 2018."

Could you imagine the embarrassment that Joe feels. "Happy 4th of July, by the way my son is a tax dodger!"