Why is it taking so long for Hunter Biden to face consequences?

When is Hunter Biden actually going to face consequences for his lawbreaking?

His trial for tax evasion was finally set to start jury selection Thursday, but Hunter’s lawyers threw a Hail Mary and sought to enter an Alfred plea — a rare move that lets the defendant plead guilty while maintaining innocence — without even giving the prosecutors a heads-up.

Oh, please.

The maneuver is thoroughly on-brand for Hunter: In both this case and his gun-charges trial earlier this year, his lawyers blamed his drug addiction for his decision to commit these crimes.

An Alfred plea would admit the prosecution has him dead-to-rights (it does), but still claim it wasn’t really his fault.

Nothing ever is, it seems.

You can hardly blame him for trying: For years Hunter saw his bad behavior excused, minimized and ignored by the media, his family and even the feds.

First, the Justice Department dragged its feet on pursuing charges: Delaware US Attorney David Weiss started investigating Hunter way back in 2018, but IRS whistleblowers had to come forward and testify in front of Congress that Justice had slow-walked the prosecution, allowing the statute of limitations to expire on $145,000 in unpaid taxes from 2014.

When Weiss did bring charges, his office tried to secure Hunter an unprecedented sweetheart deal that ensured the first son would get blanket immunity for pretty much any crime he’d ever committed.

Sharp-eyed US District Judge Maryellen Noreika squashed that.

And we still don’t know if Hunter will ever face the music for his years of lucrative influence-peddling while his father was vice president.

Meanwhile, most media have taken a He’s just a kid! approach to the 54-year-old, either completely ignoring Hunter’s lawbreaking or offering teary-eyed fluff pieces about how inspiring it is that Joe Biden still loves his screw-up son.

Why should Hunter believe in accountability now, when he’s avoided it most of his life?

Even with the guilty verdict in his gun case, and a near-certain one in the tax case, he surely figures Joe will pardon him after Election Day, despite his claims otherwise — since his political career is over come Jan. 21.

The general public has no way to ensure Hunter suffers the full consequences of his actions.

But Americans have every right to demand accountability for everyone who’s shielded him from justice.