HUNTER BIDEN TO PLEAD GUILTY TO TAX CRIMES AND ADMIT GUN OFFENCE

UNITED STATES (BBC NEWS ) US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanour tax crimes and admit to illegally possessing a gun while a drug user, after a five-year investigation.

The US Attorney in Delaware has filed papers indicating a plea agreement has been reached.

He is expected to agree to drug treatment and monitoring.

*Hunter Biden is expected to avoid jail time under a plea agreement*

The terms of the agreement are likely to keep him out of jail. In theory, he still faces a maximum penalty of a year in prison on each of the tax charges and 10 years in prison onthe gun charge, the justice department said in a statement. The proposed deal would need to be approved by the judge in the case, who will also determine the sentence.

It is unclear when Hunter Biden will appear in court to enter his guilty plea on the tax charges.

He will admit to felony gun possession as part of a “pre-trial diversion agreement” that is separate from the plea deal, his lawyer Chris Clark said in a statement.

“I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life,” Mr Clark added. “He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”