'Daddy's people will look after it': Internet skeptical as Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to tax charges
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, January 11, to federal tax charges, setting the stage for a high-profile criminal trial during the 2024 campaign.
The charges include nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses, stemming from a four-year scheme to evade paying $1.4 million to the IRS, allegedly funding an extravagant lifestyle involving drugs and alcohol.
Addressing Hunter directly, Judge Mark Scarsi stated, "We're here today because you've been accused by the United States of a criminal offense." The judge, during the half-hour-long hearing, tentatively scheduled the trial for June 20.
Simultaneously, Hunter Biden faces charges in Delaware related to a federal form for gun purchasers. In October 2018, he claimed on the form not to use or be addicted to illegal drugs, a statement contradicted by his later admission of addiction to crack cocaine at that time. Hunter pleaded not guilty to illegally possessing the gun.
Social Media Eruption
Social media platforms were inundated with reactions following his not-guilty plea.
"He knows his daddy's people will look after it," one posted on Facebook.
"He just like his daddy," another wrote.
"He's pulling the white privilege card," someone else added.
"Mommy they're saying mean things about me. Mommy, I'm scared," a comment read.
"He knows a guy," another quipped.
The genesis of these legal challenges lies in a prolonged federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax and business dealings. Initially, the investigation seemed poised to conclude with a plea deal, which critics, including former President Donald Trump, labeled a "sweetheart deal."
Trump, facing his own legal battles, including accusations of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, had expressed disdain for Hunter's proposed deal.
Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell raised eyebrows in court, referencing potential congressional interference in the failed plea deal and accusing special counsel David Weiss of capitulating to Republican pressure. Lowell informed the judge, "We had a resolution of this case in the summer of 2023, and then things happened."
In response, Weiss dismissed the need for additional hearings, stating, “Pleas fall apart all the time.”
Impeachment Inquiry and Testimony
Republicans, seizing the opportunity, have sought to link Hunter Biden's business dealings to his father. The pursuit has led to an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, with claims of an influence-peddling scheme.
Hunter Biden, defying a congressional subpoena for closed-door testimony, insisted on public testimony and made a surprise appearance at a congressional hearing, prompting House Republicans to consider contempt of Congress charges.
Despite the scrutiny, concrete evidence is yet to be established to prove that Joe Biden abused his role or accepted bribes, though questions persist regarding the ethical implications of the Biden family’s international business dealings.
In a candid interview on MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe', first lady Jill Biden expressed her frustration with the GOP's treatment of her son, labeling it as “cruel.”
She praised her son's recovery from addiction and expressed concern for her grandchildren, stating, "I’m really proud of how Hunter has rebuilt his life after addiction. You know, I love my son. And it’s had — it’s hurt my grandchildren. And that’s what I’m so concerned about, that it’s affecting their lives as well.”
As the legal saga unfolds, the potential consequences for Hunter Biden are rather significant. If convicted of the tax charges, the 53-year-old could face a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. The collapse of the plea deal led Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel, showcasing the perceived conflict of interest within the Justice Department, the New York Daily News reported.
