Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges on the same day jury selection in his trial was scheduled to begin, The Associated Press reports.
This was a surprise move as Biden had previously pleaded not guilty in January to nine tax-related crimes, including filing a false return, tax evasion, failure to file and failure to pay.
The charges against Biden carry a maximum penalty of up to 17 years in prison. However, the Justice Department has noted that sentences issued for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Biden is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
The president’s son was accused of engaging in a four-year scheme to evade paying taxes totaling at least $1.4 million and falsifying some of his tax returns by claiming personal spending as business expenses.
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