In a surprising turn of events, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has proposed an Alford plea in his federal tax case. An Alford plea allows the defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the evidence presented by the prosecution could likely result in a guilty verdict. The proposal was made as jury selection was about to begin.

However, prosecutors objected to the unexpected plea offer, as they had not been informed of it in advance. The decision of whether to adjourn the proceedings until Friday or allow more time for the two sides to reach an agreement now rests with U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi. The judge is expected to make a ruling later this afternoon.

Leo Wise, an attorney representing special counsel David Weiss, vehemently opposed the Alford plea, stating, "I want to make crystal clear: the U.S. opposes an Alford plea... Hunter Biden is not innocent, he is guilty. We came to court to try this case." Wise emphasized their determination to proceed with the trial.

Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, defended the Alford plea option, noting that it is available to all criminal defendants, although relatively rare. Lowell stated, "All over the U.S. people do this... It's not that [Hunter Biden] seeks special treatment, but that he gets the same rights as everyone who is charged."

Last year, Weiss charged Biden with nine tax-related counts, accusing him of failing to pay a minimum of $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019. The charges include failing to file and pay taxes, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. Three charges are felonies, while the remaining six are misdemeanors.

In addition to the tax charges, Hunter Biden is also facing three felony gun counts in Delaware. He was convicted on all three charges in June and is scheduled for sentencing in November. These indictments follow a lengthy investigation into Biden's business dealings during his father's tenure as vice president. However, no evidence has yet emerged to suggest any wrongdoing by President Joe Biden himself.

The ongoing trial in Los Angeles is expected to delve into Hunter Biden's extravagant spending and personal life at the time, as chronicled in his memoir. The indictment also alleges that Biden claimed payments to sex workers as business expenses on his tax forms.

An Alford plea, named after the North Carolina v. Alford case, allows a defendant to formally admit guilt while maintaining their innocence concerning the charges they face. Accepting an Alford plea is a rare occurrence and requires the consent of United States attorneys, who consult with top officials at the Department of Justice.

Though interest in Hunter Biden's legal troubles has somewhat diminished after his father withdrew from the presidential race, the trial remains significant for the Biden family. Last summer, Hunter Biden had agreed to a plea deal covering both the gun and tax charges. However, the deal fell through due to concerns about any potential future charges and Biden's immunity.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly stated that he believes the criminal charges against his son are politically motivated and has firmly stated that he will not pardon Hunter Biden's convictions. While some allies of Hunter Biden hope the president will change his mind and issue a pardon after the November election, there is no indication of this happening.

As Hunter Biden appeared in court for the trial, President Joe Biden left the White House to attend an event in La Crosse, Wisconsin, highlighting his administration's economic policies. On Air Force One, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that the president will not pardon or commute Hunter Biden's sentence.

This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.