Hunter Biden has to supply his probation office with his income tax returns as part of his bond conditions, court records have shown. He must also sign a waiver to allow their disclosure.
This comes as his father, President Joe Biden, runs for reelection. President Biden won the New Hampshire primary this week as a write-in candidate and faces no serious opposition in seeking the Democratic nomination. On December 5, President Biden told a fundraising event in Massachusetts that he might not have sought reelection had Donald Trump not been running for president.
The condition opens up the prospect of public access to Biden's tax returns as he battles prosecutors' claims that he took huge payments from foreign business interests.
Biden pleaded not guilty to nine felony and misdemeanor charges during an arraignment hearing in Los Angeles, California, on January 11. The president's son is accused of attempting to evade payment of $1.4 million in personal taxes owed from 2016 to 2019.
The Department of Justice announced the indictment on December 8, saying that, instead of paying his taxes, Biden spent huge sums "on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature" including over $70,000 on drug rehabilitation.
The indictment says Hunter Biden "earned handsomely" while serving on the boards of Burisma, a Ukrainian industrial conglomerate, and a Chinese private equity fund.
The indictment states that between 2016 and October 2020, he received more than $7 million in total gross income.
He has now agreed to nine conditions to remain on bond while awaiting trial.
Newsweek sought phone comment from Hunter Biden and email comment from his attorney, Bryan Sullivan, on Wednesday.
Hunter Biden's Bond Conditions
The only specific condition written into the bond form is that Biden hand over his income tax returns and give an accurate account of his finances ahead of his tax evasion trial.
He has to sign a document to allow the disclosure of his state and federal income tax returns to a probation officer and supply "an accurate financial statement" showing "all assets, income, expenses and liabilities."
He must also notify them in advance of any travel plans.
Other conditions include no guns or ammunition; staying off alcohol and drugs and "controlled substance analogue" such as heavy medication; undergoing drug and alcohol testing and seeking or maintaining employment.
Specifically, the bond document states that Biden will:
- Provide the Probation and Pretrial Services Officer with 1. federal and state tax returns and a signed release authorizing their disclosure 2. An accurate financial statement with supporting documentation as to all assets, income, expenses and liabilities 3. Communicate in writing all international travel plans and provide supporting documents if requested.
From the long list of over 50 possible bond conditions on the document, the eight other conditions that Biden must comply with are:
- Maintain or actively seek employment.
- Do not use alcohol.
- Submit to alcohol testing and, if directed, participate in outpatient treatment.
- Do not use or possess illegal drugs or state-authorized marijuana.
- Submit to drug testing and pay for all or part of the testing, depending on ability to pay and, if directed, undergo outpatient drug treatment.
- Do not use "for purposes of intoxication" any "controlled substance analogue" or any "street, synthetic or designer psychoactive substance capable of impairing mental or physical functioning."
- Do not possess firearms or ammunition or "destructive devices".
- Remain under Probation and Pretrial Services supervision.
U.S. District Judge Marc Scarsi, nominated to the bench by former President Donald Trump multiple times before taking office in September 2020, announced a tentative trial date of June 20 the January 11 hearing.
Biden signed the bond document on January 20 and it was approved by Scarsi on January 22.
Biden gives his address as Malibu, California, on the document.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
fairness meter
To Rate This Article
About the writer
Sean O'Driscoll is a Newsweek Senior Crime and Courts Reporter based in Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. law. ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
