Hunter Biden hit with new charges for tax evasion

STORY: U.S. President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, is facing new criminal charges – for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, while spending millions on a lavish lifestyle. The Department of Justice on Thursday filed the indictment in a California court, slapping the younger Biden with three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses. He faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted. According to the indictment: "The Defendant engaged in a 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 document said Biden earned “handsomely” during this time, serving on the boards of a Ukrainian industrial conglomerate and a Chinese private equity fund, among other roles. But instead of paying taxes, he “spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature.” A lawyer for Hunter Biden did not immediately reply to a request for comment, while the White House declined to comment. This is Special Counsel David Weiss’ second indictment against Biden, after an earlier plea deal was rejected by a judge. In October, Biden had pleaded not guilty to charges that he lied about his drug use while buying a handgun, in the first criminal prosecution of a sitting U.S. president's child. The Justice Department said its investigation into the 53-year-old is ongoing.The indictments push the country towards an unprecedented spectacle next year: The son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father campaigns for re-election, likely against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who faces at least three upcoming criminal trials of his own.