Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to federal tax charges

First son Hunter Biden on Thursday pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges brought by special counsel David Weiss, CNN reported.

Biden entered the plea during his arraignment at a Los Angeles courthouse on nine felony and misdemeanor tax charges that Weiss filed in December, described an alleged "four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019."

The charges followed a botched plea agreement that would have ended the years-long federal investigation and case against Hunter. Judge Maryellen Noreika raised constitutional concerns about the deal in light of its link to a pre-trial diversion agreement involving a firearms charge.

Prior to the deal's collapse, IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler came forward with allegations that Biden-appointed officials had intervened to stifle the probe and prevent the bringing of more severe charges against the first son. Attorney General Merrick Garland named Weiss special counsel to continue the case after the plea agreement fell apart.

If convicted, Biden faces 17 years in prison.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.