Hunter Biden wants to change plea in tax case, lawyer tells judge

• A lawyer for Hunter Biden told a federal judge in Los Angeles that there was no reason to proceed with jury selection in his criminal tax case because the son of President Joe Biden intends to change his plea.
• Hunter Biden had previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
• The lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said Hunter Biden wants to enter a so-called Alford plea, in which a defendant maintains they are innocent of the accused crimes, but concedes prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.

A lawyer for Hunter Biden told a federal judge in Los Angeles there was no reason to proceed with the scheduled start of jury selection in his criminal tax case Thursday morning because the son of President Joe Biden intends to change his plea.

The lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said Hunter Biden wants to enter a so-called Alford plea, in which a defendant maintains they are innocent of criminal charges but concedes prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.

If U.S. Judge Mark Scarsi accepts the Alford plea, Biden would be convicted.

Lowell's announcement caught prosecutors by surprise. Scarsi gave them time to digest the development and to discuss it with Biden's defense team.

Under Department of Justice guidelines federal prosecutors "may not consent" to an Alford plea "except in the most unusual circumstances and only after the Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, or a higher Departmental official, has approved a written request."

President Biden, as he left the White House on Thursday to travel to Wisconsin, ignored shouted questions about Hunter Biden and if he was glad was changing his plea.

Hunter Biden, 54, previously pleaded not guilty in the case, where he is charged with three felony counts and six misdemeanors related to failing