Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has agreed to a plea deal on charges of tax evasion and illegal gun possession. This agreement includes a pretrial diversion program for the felony firearm charge and guilty pleas to two misdemeanor tax charges. Federal prosecutors are recommending probation, a move that has sparked controversy and raised questions about potential preferential treatment. While the deal avoids jail time for Hunter Biden, it still requires approval from a judge. The potential sentence for the firearm charge, without the plea agreement, could have been up to 10 years in prison, with an additional 12 months for each tax charge.

The response from prominent Democratic gun-control advocates and organizations has been notably muted. Despite multiple inquiries from Fox News Digital, representatives from the offices of several Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Pete Aguilar, James Clyburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Jerry Nadler, Abigail Spanberger, Eric Swalwell, and Mike Thompson, have not commented on the matter. Similarly, gun-control advocacy groups such as Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, March for Our Lives, and Moms Demand Action have remained silent on whether they believe the plea deal and the avoidance of jail time constitute appropriate accountability for the alleged gun crime.

One exception to the silence was Rep. Eric Swalwell, who stated that Hunter Biden took "responsibility" and that the investigation disproved certain claims made by critics. The gun charge originates from allegations that Hunter Biden provided false information during a 2018 firearm purchase. This incident is part of a broader federal investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings, including scrutiny of his financial activities with entities in China and other countries. Republican lawmakers have accused Hunter Biden of leveraging his father's political position for personal gain during Joe Biden's vice presidency.

Several Republican representatives have expressed their opinions on the plea deal. Rep. Clay Higgins criticized the agreement, suggesting that Hunter Biden should have faced incarceration. Rep. Andy Biggs called the deal a "deflection" that creates a false impression of justice. Rep. Darrell Issa contrasted the handling of Hunter Biden's case with the recent indictment of former President Trump, highlighting what he perceives as a disparity in the Department of Justice's approach.

This developing story continues to draw attention to the intersection of politics, justice, and gun control, raising questions about accountability and potential disparities in legal treatment.