HUNTER Biden has pleaded not guilty to a swell of finance crimes just 24 hours after making a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill and sparking a fierce confrontation with Republican lawmakers.
Biden appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday to enter a plea on his nine tax-related charges, including failure to file and pay taxes, and tax evasion.
Seated at the defense table with his legal team, Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, entered the not-guilty plea for his client.
Prosecutors claim that between 2016 and 2019, Biden spent millions on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his taxes.
He's accused of failing to pay more than $1 million in taxes during a time when Biden had previously admitted to having been struggling with drug addiction.
R&B star Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies aged 74
Biden, 53, faces a maximum of 17 years in prison if convicted.
The president's embattled son is already facing a separate criminal indictment in Delaware, where he's accused of owning a firearm while being an active drug user in 2018.
The gun charge possession carries a sentence of up to 10 years.
CONFRONTATION WITH GOP LAWMAKERS
Biden's hearing comes a day after House Republicans grilled him for making a surprise appearance at the House Oversight and Accountability Committee meeting.
President Joe Biden's eldest child strolled onto Capitol Hill on Wednesday, sparking a fierce reaction among lawmakers.
Two House committees voted to hold Hunter Biden in contempt for defying subpoenas.
Members of both the Judiciary and Oversight committees seethed remarks at Biden, calling him a coward and other names.
South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace called for Biden to be arrested on the spot.
"You're the epitome of white privilege, coming to the Oversight committee and spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed," she said.
"What are you afraid of? You have no balls. I think Hunter Biden should be arrested right here, right now, and go straight to jail."
Ken Block’s craziest Top Gear stunts from biker race to drifting as star dies
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called the president's son a coward, saying: "I think it's clear and obvious for everyone watching this hearing today that Hunter Biden is terrified of strong, conservative Republican women."
The full House will now consider the vote, which recommends the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against Biden.
However, the vote is not expected to be elevated to a criminal penalty.
In an interview with CNBC's Morning Joe, First Lady Jill Biden called the treatment of Biden by GOP lawmakers cruel.
"I think what they are doing to Hunter is cruel," the first lady told the outlet.
"And I'm really proud of how Hunter has rebuilt his life after addiction. I love my son, and it's hurt my grandchildren, and that's what I'm concerned about. It's affecting their lives as well."
