The Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, with non-payment of federal income tax and for illegal possession of a weapon, according to letter filed in US District Court in Delaware.
The development comes amid long-running investigation and controversy over Hunter. The Republicans are also pursuing Hunter and his father for alleged of abuse of position by Hunter that he had because of the high office of his father.
Besides the offences he has been charged for, Hunter has also been in controversy of extra-marital affair with his siter-in-law and drug abuse in the past.
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Outlook earlier noted, "Personally, Hunter has a history of drug abuse. While his father is a teetotal, Hunter began drinking in teens and proceeded to cocaine in college years. He also had a rocky separation with his former wife Kathleen Buhle, who has said he had a "massive" addiction issue. He also had an affair with his sister-in-law — late brother Beau's wife Hallie...Professionally, Hunter has been accused of using his father's name to get lucrative jobs and for being associated with companies accused of corruption and having shady business deals. He is also under federal tax evasion investigation since 2018."
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As part of the agreement, made public on Tuesday, Hunter will plead guilty to misdemeanour tax offenses and is expected to reach an agreement with prosecutors on the felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user.
It is somewhat unusual to resolve a federal criminal case at the same time the charges are filed in court, though it is not totally unheard of.
The deal ends a long-running Justice Department investigation into Biden's second son, who has acknowledged struggling with addiction following the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden.
It also averts a trial that would have generated days or weeks or distracting headlines for a White House that has strenuously sought to keep its distance from the Justice Department.
The news comes as congressional Republicans pursue their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's business dealings, including examining foreign payments and other aspects of his finances.
It also comes days after a 37-count indictment came down against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents on his Florida estate, another case with even more dramatic political implications.
Joe Biden has also faced questions about his son's business dealings and drug addiction.
(With AP inputs)
