Hunter Biden’s Legal Issues Intensify with Special Counsel Appointment
United States Attorney General Names Special Counsel to Investigate President’s Son
The United States attorney general has named a special counsel in an ongoing investigation into President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden. This indicates that a criminal trial may be in the offing.
A plea deal on tax and gun charges against the president’s son collapsed earlier this month. Hunter Biden had previously reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to the tax charges and admit the gun offense to spare himself prison time. However, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika wiped out the deal due to “non standard terms” and the “unusual” nature of the proposed resolution for the gun charge.
Hunter Biden has since been charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses for allegedly not paying income taxes in 2017 and 2018, years in which he earned in excess of $1.5m, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Delaware. He faces an additional felony charge for allegedly possessing a firearm while addicted to and using illegal drugs.
Since then, Hunter Biden and prosecutors have engaged in further plea negotiations but remain at an impasse. In a court filing on Friday, Mr. Weiss’s team said they now expect the case to go to trial – and could potentially file new, more serious charges in Washington DC or California.
The special counsel, David Weiss, a federal prosecutor who has been handling the younger Biden’s case, has expanded his investigative authority. Weiss is endowed with special investigative powers – as well as the ability to prosecute – and acts independently of the department’s day-to-day management, though he is subject to the same rules.
The Justice Department falls under the executive branch, and Weiss’s appointment to special counsel could indicate the Biden administration is attempting distance itself from a much-expected trial of the president’s son.
A Political Firestorm
Hunter Biden has been accused of leveraging his family’s political status to win lucrative contracts in countries such as China and Ukraine. He also faces misdemeanors for tax evasion and a felony charge for illegally possessing a gun during his longtime struggle with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
Some Republicans have also sought to tie Hunter Biden’s business dealings to his father’s presidency, but so far no evidence has emerged linking the two, and the White House has dismissed such claims as “insane conspiracy theories.”
Conservative political figures have long pointed to Hunter Biden’s scandals as evidence of a double standard in the treatment of President Biden and former President Donald Trump. Trump, the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race, was dogged by allegations of wrongdoing during his time in office and was impeached twice: once for abuse of power and obstruction and the second for inciting the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Conclusion
The appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden’s legal issues has escalated the political firestorm surrounding the president’s son. With a criminal trial expected, the case is sure to continue to dominate the headlines and fuel the partisan divisions in Washington.
FAQs
Q: What is the nature of Hunter Biden’s legal troubles?
A: Hunter Biden faces charges of tax evasion and illegally possessing a gun while addicted to and using illegal drugs.
Q: Why was a special counsel appointed?
A: The US Attorney General appointed a special counsel to investigate President’s son Hunter Biden to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Q: What does the appointment of a special counsel mean for the trial?
A: The trial is expected to go to court, and the special counsel has the authority to file new, more serious charges in Washington DC or California.
Q: Will this scandal affect President Biden’s presidency?
A: It is unclear how much of an impact this scandal will have on President Biden’s presidency, but it is likely to continue to be a major political controversy.