Hunter Biden goes on trial in Los Angeles over charges of tax evasion

President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, goes on trial for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes — even as he spent millions of dollars on what prosecutors say was an "extravagant lifestyle."

The trial, which opens Thursday with jury selection in federal court in downtown Los Angeles, comes three months after Hunter Biden was convicted of felony gun charges in Delaware. Both cases were brought by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss.

Hunter Biden's two federal criminal prosecutions have put a spotlight on the sordid details of his life when he was addicted to crack cocaine. They were also once viewed as a possible political liability for President Biden in the middle of a tight 2024 reelection campaign.

Now, with the elder Biden no longer seeking reelection, the potential political impact of his son's legal troubles has faded. But the trial could dredge up even more of the painful and embarrassing details of one of the darkest periods of Hunter Biden's life. He also remains in legal peril, although he could still get a pardon from his father.

President Biden has previously said that he will not pardon his son, but that was before he withdrew from the presidential race. It's unclear whether his earlier statement still stands now that he's no longer running for office.

Hunter Biden faces nine counts in the Los Angeles case: three felony counts for tax evasion and filing false returns, plus six misdemeanor counts. He has pleaded not guilty.

"An extravagant lifestyle"

Prosecutors say Hunter Biden failed to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019 despite having made more than $7 million in total gross income between 2016 and 2020.

Instead, prosecutors say, Biden spent millions "on an