Hunter Biden to Plead Guilty to Federal Tax Charges Ahead of Election

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, plans to plead guilty to federal tax-related charges, thus avoiding a potentially embarrassing trial before the presidential election. His plea will sidestep airing messy personal details and allegations of corrupt business dealings linked to a Ukrainian gas company and a Chinese equity fund.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, intends to plead guilty to federal tax-related charges, U.S. television networks reported on Thursday. This move will prevent a potential trial just before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

NBC News, Fox News, and CNN have reported that Biden will enter his guilty plea in a federal court in Los Angeles, where his trial was initially scheduled to commence on Thursday. His legal team and the Justice Department have not provided immediate comments.

The younger Biden allegedly failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending heavily on drugs, sex workers, and luxury items, according to previous court entries. He was charged last December in a probe into his finances and business activities, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to face criminal accusations. He is also appealing a separate gun-related conviction from June in Delaware.

A guilty plea will prevent a prolonged trial that could expose uncomfortable details of his personal and financial life ahead of the election between Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump. The indictment notes Biden's spending on drugs and luxury goods while also questioning his work with a Ukrainian gas company and a Chinese private equity fund. Despite accusations, Republican-led investigations have not directly implicated President Joe Biden.

(With inputs from agencies.)