In a surprising turn of events, Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, pleaded guilty to a tax evasion case in order to spare his family from further embarrassment. The unexpected decision came just as jury selection was about to begin in a Los Angeles courtroom.

"I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy, and needless embarrassment," Hunter Biden said in a statement. "For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty."

Prosecutors had intended to call several members of the Biden family to testify and present evidence of Hunter Biden's crack cocaine addiction, as well as allegations of lavish spending on strippers and pornography while evading taxes amounting to $1.4 million.

The revelations of Hunter Biden's troubled past were previously brought to light during a gun trial in Delaware, where his former partners testified about his addiction to crack cocaine. Additionally, during his divorce proceedings, his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle claimed that he indulged in excessive spending on alcohol, strip clubs, luxury cars, and hotel rooms.

Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, explained the abrupt change of plea as an effort to shield his loved ones from further pain and humiliation. "Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation," Lowell said outside of the court.

The charges against Hunter Biden include failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes for the years 2016 to 2019. Allegedly, he diverted his funds towards extravagant parties and attempted to categorize expenses on pornography and strippers as business-related.

Although Hunter Biden repaid the outstanding taxes after discovering the investigation, Lowell downplayed the severity of the case, stating that he was simply late in filing and paying his taxes, a common occurrence among millions of Americans. Lowell emphasized that the tax failures occurred during the depths of his client's addiction, which he has since rectified.

Hunter Biden now faces potential sentences of up to 25 years for the gun case and an additional 17 years for the tax evasion case. However, it is anticipated that he will receive lighter penalties than the maximum.

Sources close to the matter suggest that President Biden is expected to pardon his troubled son. The family has already experienced hardship and this decision could offer some relief in a tumultuous time.

As the legal process unfolds, many will be closely watching to see how these developments impact the Biden family and the broader political landscape.