President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, stood before a Los Angeles court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges, including serious felonies. These charges stem from a long-running investigation into his taxes and other financial dealings.
Hunter, 53, already faced misdemeanor charges for failing to pay taxes and a separate felony charge for illegally owning a gun. The December indictment added nine more charges, accusing him of owing the government at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors claim he spent "millions on an extravagant lifestyle" involving drugs, escorts, fancy hotels, and fast cars.
If convicted of all charges, Hunter could face up to 17 years in prison.
The investigation into Hunter began in 2018, initially focusing on his business dealings with foreign companies. This became a hot topic in the 2020 presidential election, with former President Donald Trump frequently bringing it up.
However, the investigation has since widened to include Hunter's taxes and paperwork for a gun purchase in 2018. On that form, he denied being addicted to any drugs, despite publicly acknowledging past struggles with addiction.
In recent weeks, Republicans in the House of Representatives have launched their own investigation into Hunter as part of an impeachment inquiry against his father. They asked Hunter to answer questions in a private meeting, but he said he'll only testify publicly.
Hunter revealed that federal prosecutors in Delaware were investigating his taxes about a month after his father's election victory. He later told CBS News that he was "being completely cooperative" with the investigation.
While Hunter has no official role in the White House and didn't work on his father's campaign, he became a central figure in the 2020 election. President Trump frequently attacked Hunter's past addiction issues during debates.
Hunter has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction, which came to light during his 2017 divorce. His ex-wife alleged in court documents that he spent money on drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, and strip clubs.
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