Hunter Biden, US President Joe Biden’s son, is expected to plead guilty to two tax crimes according to a court filing on Tuesday.
Hunter is also reportedly striking a deal with federal prosecutors regarding a separate felony gun charge while he was a drug user.
The 53-year-old has previously worked as a lawyer and a lobbyist abroad, including in China and Ukraine. He was discharged from the US Navy in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine.
The US justice department had initiated an investigation into whether he properly reported his income in 2017 and 2018, and made false statements on paperwork used to purchase a firearm in 2018.
Although the terms of Hunter’s agreement with the prosecutors reportedly have good chances of keeping him out of jail, a judge would still need to review the terms.
It is unclear when he will appear in court to enter his guilty plea.
Hunter’s plea deal comes as some Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have accused Biden, who is running for a second term, of “weaponising” the justice department against political opponents.
Critics of Biden’s governments have alleged that Hunter’s dealings and repeated run-ins with the law indicate a pattern of corruption.
Donald Trump, former US president who has also declared his intention to return to the White House, criticised Hunter’s plea deal on Truth Social, his social media platform.
“Wow! The corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere ‘traffic ticket.’ Our system is BROKEN!,” Trump wrote.
Ian Sams, a White House spokesperson, said President Biden would not be discussing his son’s deal.
“The president and first lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment,” Sams said.
