Staff Reports
Hunter Biden’s recent decision to change his plea to guilty in a tax evasion case not only set off alarm bells for the Biden family but also raised eyebrows among legal experts who argue he might be in for a long stay in prison—if the feds choose to push for it. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley voiced some rather frank observations, suggesting that Hunter’s lawyers may have bungled the timeline like a toddler in a candy store.
Initially, Hunter Biden insisted on his innocence, pleading “not guilty” to two misdemeanor tax charges and a felony gun charge. However, after some legal gymnastics, the plea deal fell apart, leading to a last-ditch effort by Biden’s attorneys to cut a deal and avoid the looming trial. The timing of this shift is critical, according to Turley, who likened Biden’s late plea to waiting for the Titanic to sink before deciding it might be time to learn how to swim. The law professor humorously remarked that waiting too long to negotiate typically leads to less favorable outcomes—and if there’s anyone familiar with dubious timing, it’s Hunter Biden.
'Legal Death Wish': Jonathan Turley Says Hunter Biden Likely Headed To Jail pic.twitter.com/jmTV8mOdxb
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 5, 2024
With the charges stacked against him, Biden faces potentially up to 17 years behind bars for his alleged tax indiscretions from 2016 to 2019, which includes his failure to pay a whopping $1 million. Turley indicated that if the Department of Justice opts for jail time, a federal judge will likely oblige. Biden may end up relying on President Biden for a pardon if the legal waters get too deep, but that’s a gamble that doesn’t seem particularly promising considering the mounting evidence against him.
After the indictment took many twists and turns, Biden had the opportunity to plead guilty much earlier in the process. Observers suggest that riding on a good old-fashioned Hail Mary strategy might not have been the best play, especially when the case against him appears so straightforward. Many legal experts—Turley among them—seem to think the case against Hunter Biden is easier to prosecute than a two-for-one sale on a box of donuts.
Comments from Turley underscore his impression that this situation could lead to serious ramifications. The probability of Hunter facing jail time is growing, especially after a judge scrutinized the original plea agreement. In a political climate where every misstep of the Biden family is scrutinized, a guilty plea now could mean that Hunter may very well find himself serving time, while his father navigates the fallout in the political arena.
With his options dwindling, Hunter Biden’s fumbled legal saga serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of timely pleas and wise legal counsel. It’s shaping up to be a classic case of keeping one’s ducks in a row—or in this case, avoiding a family trip to the slammer. The stakes are high, and any misstep could lead to a final verdict that doesn’t just impact Hunter, but sends ripples through his father’s presidency as well.
