Biden's son Hunter makes surprise guilty plea in tax evasion case

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.

In a surprise move, the plea avoids a potentially embarrassing trial weeks before the presidential election.

Hunter Biden, 54, had been set to stand trial on criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4m in taxes while allegedly spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items.

Instead, he pleaded guilty to all nine counts he faced.

Judge Mark Scarsi told him he faces up to 17 years in prison and up to $450,000 in penalties - although guidelines are likely to call for a much shorter sentence.

He will be sentenced on 16 December, more than a month after the election on 5 November.

In June, Hunter Biden was convicted of three firearm charges in the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president's offspring.

Prosecutors said he lied on a form when buying a pistol in October 2018 by stating he was not a drug user or addict, despite a problem with crack cocaine.

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