Politics
Hunter Biden’s lawyer wants an ‘Alford plea.’ What does it mean?
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer)
Hunter Biden’s criminal tax case took an unexpected turn on Thursday, Sept. 5. Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, told a federal judge, right before jury selection, his defendant wished to change his plea to an “Alford plea.”
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91 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
91
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10
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17
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12
Last Updated
7 months ago
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An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them. If the judge were to accept the plea, Biden would be convicted of the crimes he is charged with in the case.
Lowell said to the judge that there is “no agreement” with prosecutors but one is not required under an Alford plea.
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However, prosecutors were reportedly surprised, arguing that they would accept nothing less than a guilty plea.
“This is the first time we’ve heard of this,” prosecutors added.
A last-minute plea deal would allow Biden to avoid a high-profile trial.
Biden previously pleaded not guilty to three felony counts and six misdemeanors connected to at least $1.4 million in unpaid federal taxes from 2016-2019. Prosecutors alleged that Biden purposely avoided paying taxes by rigging his company’s own payroll system.
Although Biden eventually paid all his back-taxes and penalties with the help of a third-party, the judge would not allow the defense to use that evidence at trial.
Thursday’s court appearance comes months after Biden was convicted on felony charges connected to the purchase of a firearm in 2018 while he was allegedly addicted to drugs. His sentencing for that conviction is set for Nov. 13.
President Joe Biden has yet to comment on the new developments in the case.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
HUNTER BIDEN’S CRIMINAL TAX CASE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN THURSDAY.
HIS LAWYER, ABBE LOWELL, TELLING A FEDERAL JUDGE, RIGHT BEFORE JURY SELECTION, BIDEN WISHES TO CHANGE HIS PLEA TO A SO-CALLED ALFORD PLEA– WHICH ALLOWS BIDEN TO MAINTAIN INNOCENCE BUT ACKNOWLEDGES PROSECUTORS HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT HIM.
IF THE JUDGE ACCEPTS THE DEAL– BIDEN WOULD BE CONVICTED.
LOWELL SAID TO THE JUDGE THERE IS “NO AGREEMENT” WITH PROSECUTORS BUT ONE ISN’T REQUIRED UNDER AN “ALFORD PLEA.”
SHE SAID THE EVIDENCE AGAINST BIDEN IS “OVERWHELMING” AND ADDED “THIS CAN BE RESOLVED TODAY. IT’S NOT A COMPLICATED ISSUE.”
PROSECUTORS APPEARED SURPRISED– ARGUING THEY WOULD ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN A GUILTY PLEA– ADDING– “THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE’VE HEARD OF THIS.”
A LAST-MINUTE PLEA DEAL WOULD ALLOW BIDEN TO AVOID A HIGH-PROFILE TRIAL.
BIDEN PREVIOUSLY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THREE FELONY COUNTS AND SIX MISDEMEANORS CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN UNPAID FEDERAL TAXES FROM 2016-TO-2019.
PROSECUTORS ALLEGE BIDEN PURPOSELY AVOIDED PAYING TAXES BY RIGGING HIS COMPANY’S OWN PAYROLL SYSTEM.
ALTHOUGH BIDEN EVENTUALLY PAID ALL HIS BACK TAXES AND PENALTIES WITH THE HELP OF A THIRD-PARTY– THE JUDGE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DEFENSE TO USE THAT INFORMATION AT TRIAL.
WE’LL BE FOLLOWING THIS CASE CLOSELY AND YOU CAN TOO.
JUST DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 26%
Center 44%
Right 31%
Bias Summary
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- Adipiscing suspendisse litora dis phasellus massa torquent lorem integer convallis fringilla habitant inceptos, fames est consequat placerat dictumst egestas nunc hac ligula cras nullam.
- Lobortis et quisque dictum torquent libero facilisis cras integer luctus mollis, leo dis mauris pellentesque condimentum conubia facilisi laoreet venenatis sit, metus sodales sapien erat commodo aliquam urna inceptos dolor.
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The Center
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91 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
91
Leaning Left
10
Center
17
Leaning Right
12
Last Updated
7 months ago
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