Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is being charged by the Department of Justice with two minor tax offenses and one weapons offense, according to a court document released Tuesday.
Hunter Biden is expected to plead guilty to tax evasion charges, according to the filing. He has agreed to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement in connection with the charge of unlawful carrying of a firearm “by a person who is an unlawful user or addict of a controlled substance.”
It was not immediately clear when Hunter Biden, 53, will appear in court.
In a statement to Spectrum News, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Chris Clark, said that “with the announcement” of the plea deals, “it is my understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved.”
“Hunter will take responsibility for two counts of felony failure to file tax payments when due pursuant to a plea agreement,” Clark continued. “A firearm complaint, which will be subject to a pretrial diversion agreement and will not be subject to a plea agreement, will also be filed by the Government.”
“I know Hunter feels it’s important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life,” Clark’s statement concluded. “He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”
A White House spokesman said President Biden and first lady Jill Biden “love their son and are supporting him as he continues to rebuild his life.”
The first couple “will have no further comment,” White House spokesman Ian Sams said.
The settlement ends a long-running Justice Department investigation into Biden’s second son, who has acknowledged struggling with addiction after the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden. It also avoids a trial that would have generated days or weeks or distracted headlines for a White House that has tried to keep its distance from the Justice Department.
The news comes as congressional Republicans continue their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden’s business dealings, including examining foreign payments and other aspects of his finances. President Biden has faced numerous questions about his son’s addiction and business dealings.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
Cassie Semyon of Spectrum News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
