Hunter Biden unexpectedly pleads guilty to avoid tax trial

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges on Thursday, a surprise move designed to spare his family another painful and embarrassing criminal trial after he was convicted of a weapons offense just months ago.

His decision to plead guilty to the misdemeanors and felonies against him without the benefit of a plea agreement with prosecutors is the culmination of a long saga of his legal troubles that have cast a shadow over the political career of his father, Joe Biden.

This came just hours after jury selection was due to begin in the case in which he is accused of failing to pay at least $1.4 million (£1.1 million) in taxes.

The president’s son was already facing prison time after being found guilty of a weapons charge in June. The trial revealed unflattering and salacious details of his struggle with crack cocaine addiction.

The tax trial was expected to reveal even more potentially sensational evidence, as well as details about Hunter Biden’s foreign dealings, which Republicans have seized on to portray the Biden family as corrupt.

“I will not subject my family to further pain, further invasion of privacy, or further unnecessary embarrassment,” Hunter Biden said in an emailed statement after entering his plea.

“After everything I have done to them over the years, I can spare them that and have therefore decided to plead guilty.”