Hunter Biden pleads guilty in tax case after day of back-and-forth

US president's son, who earlier pleaded not guilty, avoids potentially embarrassing trial on day it would have begun

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday, after a day of legal wrangling and in a dramatic move that will avoid a potentially embarrassing trial for Joe Biden's son.

Biden, 54, pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges on a day of courtroom twists and turns, after prosecutors earlier objected to his surprise intention to enter an Alford" plea, an unusual legal maneuver where a defendant pleads guilty but does not acknowledge wrongdoing. Following prosecutors' objections, lawyers said Biden was ready to change course and enter an open" plea, where a defendant pleads guilty to the charges and leaves his sentencing fate in the hands of the judge.