During a San Francisco conference focused on artificial intelligence, President Biden addressed reporters' questions about his son, Hunter Biden, and expressed pride in him following the recent news of a plea deal on federal tax charges. This marked the President's first public statement on the matter since the deal was announced.
Following his speech on AI, a reporter asked if he had spoken with his son that day. President Biden responded with a smile, stating, "I'm very proud of my son," echoing a sentiment previously released by the White House.
The plea deal involves Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income taxes. As outlined by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, David C. Weiss, Hunter Biden failed to pay over $100,000 in taxes owed for two consecutive years. Furthermore, a pretrial diversion agreement will address a separate felony charge related to firearm possession by a user of controlled substances.
While the President's visit to San Francisco primarily centered on the administration's approach to artificial intelligence, the timing coincided with the breaking news of his son's plea deal. After the AI conference, President Biden attended several campaign fundraising events.
The White House issued a brief statement earlier, expressing the President and First Lady's love and support for their son as he works on rebuilding his life. They declined further comment on the situation.
Hunter Biden's legal counsel, Chris Clark, confirmed that the plea agreement and pretrial diversion agreement resolve the five-year investigation into Hunter Biden. Clark stated that Hunter acknowledges the importance of taking responsibility for his actions during a challenging period marked by personal struggles and addiction. He emphasized Hunter's focus on recovery and moving forward.
