Hunter Biden entered a sudden guilty plea to tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles. He pleaded guilty to nine charges related to failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years. His attorney initially suggested an Alford plea, but prosecutors objected. An Alford plea allows a defendant to assert innocence while accepting guilt. The Justice Department typically does not approve of Alford pleas, citing that individuals must admit guilt.
The name “Alford plea” originates from a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case. Most states allow this type of plea, but traditional guilty pleas are more common. In past cases like that of John Dylan Adams in Tennessee and the “West Memphis Three” in Arkansas, individuals entered Alford pleas as part of their legal strategies. Despite these examples, prosecutors generally prefer traditional guilty pleas over Alford pleas.
