Jury selection for Hunter Biden's criminal tax trial, resulting from special counsel David Weiss' investigation, is set to commence in California. The trial, overseen by United States District Court Judge Mark Scarsi, was initially scheduled for June but was postponed to September at the request of Biden's attorneys, which was approved by Scarsi.
Weiss has charged Biden with three felonies and six misdemeanors related to $1.4 million in unpaid taxes, which have since been settled. The allegations include a 'four-year scheme' where Biden purportedly evaded federal income taxes and submitted false tax reports. Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The indictment accuses Biden of engaging in a scheme from 2016 to 2019 to avoid paying $1.4 million in federal taxes, manipulating his company's payroll and tax withholding process to withdraw funds improperly. Weiss further claims that Biden spent lavishly instead of settling his tax obligations, including failing to pay taxes for 2015 and delaying payments for subsequent years.
This trial marks the second legal proceeding for Biden this year stemming from Weiss' investigation. In a previous case in Delaware, Biden was found guilty on charges related to false statements during a firearm purchase and possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. The combined maximum penalty for these charges could result in up to 25 years in prison, fines, and supervised release.
President Biden has stated that he will not pardon his son in connection with these legal matters. The upcoming trial in California will involve jury selection on Thursday and Friday, with opening arguments expected to be presented by Weiss and Biden's defense team the following Monday.
