Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, may be facing a criminal trial, according to U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss. This development could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election, as it would involve the son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father campaigns for re-election, potentially against Republican Donald Trump, who himself faces multiple upcoming criminal trials.
Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2019, filed misdemeanor criminal tax and gun charges against him in June. However, a federal judge rejected a proposed plea deal. In a court filing on Friday, Weiss stated that talks between the two sides have broken down and that the government believes the case will not be resolved without a trial.
Shortly after this filing, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel status, granting him additional authority and independence to pursue the investigation. Weiss may bring different charges against Hunter Biden in Washington or California, where the alleged criminal conduct took place.
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty in July to charges of failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018, despite owing more than $100,000. He also faces a separate charge of unlawfully owning a firearm while using illegal drugs, which is a felony.
Weiss, who was originally appointed as U.S. Attorney for Delaware by Trump and allowed to stay on during the Biden administration, will now be free from day-to-day supervision from the Justice Department and can file charges anywhere in the United States. However, Garland can overrule his proposed actions, but must notify Congress if he does so.
A lawyer for Hunter Biden expressed confidence that Weiss would not be influenced by political pressures and emphasized the need for a fair resolution. Hunter Biden’s legal team expects to do whatever is necessary to achieve that outcome.
The appointment of Weiss as special counsel reinforces the Department of Justice’s commitment to independence and accountability in sensitive matters, according to Garland.
Republicans have accused President Biden of benefiting from his son’s business ventures in Ukraine and China, but have yet to provide evidence of any wrongdoing. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has suggested the possibility of launching an impeachment inquiry in the autumn.
Hunter Biden has worked in various roles, including as a lobbyist, lawyer, consultant, and investment banker. He has publicly acknowledged his struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine use.
Republicans have criticized Weiss’s credibility to continue the investigation, questioning how he can be trusted as a special counsel if he negotiated a plea deal that was not approved.
Weiss is the third special counsel appointed by Garland to investigate politically sensitive matters. One of the other special counsels, Jack Smith, has filed criminal charges against Trump in two separate cases, while the other, Robert Hur, is investigating whether Biden mishandled classified documents after leaving office as vice president.
In previous administrations, special counsels have been appointed to investigate issues such as the outing of a CIA agent and Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Hunter Biden has been the focus of several Republican congressional committees. One former associate testified before the House Oversight Committee, stating that Hunter emphasized his family ties while doing business in Ukraine nearly a decade ago, while his father was vice president. However, the witness clarified that the conversations with Joe Biden did not involve business dealings.
Trump has frequently mentioned Hunter Biden in an attempt to tarnish his father’s reputation as they potentially prepare for a rematch in the 2024 presidential election. Trump’s spokesperson called for Weiss to quickly conclude the investigation and for Biden and his son to face the consequences.
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that half of Americans, including 75% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats, believed that Hunter Biden received preferential treatment from Weiss. However, most respondents stated that this belief would not affect their vote in the upcoming election.
The White House declined to comment on the matter, and Biden officials have previously dismissed Republican allegations as “insane conspiracy theories.” They have maintained that President Biden did not participate in his son’s business affairs.
The investigation into Hunter Biden will continue, and Weiss will produce a report when his work is done. The Justice Department will make as much of the report public as possible, according to Garland.
The developments surrounding Hunter Biden’s potential criminal trial and the ongoing investigations into both him and former President Trump are likely to have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election. The outcome of these legal proceedings could shape the political landscape and influence voters’ decisions.
How does the appointment of U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss as special counsel impact the investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged criminal conduct
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is potentially facing a criminal trial, as stated by U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss. This development could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election, as it would involve the son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father campaigns for re-election, potentially against Republican Donald Trump, who is also facing multiple upcoming criminal trials.
Weiss has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2019 and filed misdemeanor criminal tax and gun charges against him in June. However, a proposed plea deal was rejected by a federal judge. In a court filing on Friday, Weiss said that talks between the two sides have broken down and that the case is unlikely to be resolved without a trial.
Following this filing, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel status, granting him additional authority and independence to pursue the investigation. Weiss may bring different charges against Hunter Biden in Washington or California, where the alleged criminal conduct took place.
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty in July to charges of failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018, despite owing more than $100,000. He also faces a separate charge of unlawfully owning a firearm while using illegal drugs, which is a felony.
Weiss, who was originally appointed as U.S. Attorney for Delaware by Trump and allowed to stay on during the Biden administration, will now have more freedom from day-to-day supervision and can file charges anywhere in the United States. However, Garland can overrule his proposed actions but must notify Congress if he does so.
Hunter Biden’s lawyer expressed confidence in Weiss’s ability to remain uninfluenced by political pressures, emphasizing the need for a fair resolution. Hunter Biden’s legal team is prepared to take whatever steps necessary to achieve that outcome.
Garland stated that the appointment of Weiss as special counsel demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to independence and accountability in sensitive matters.
Republicans have accused President Biden of benefiting from his son’s business ventures in Ukraine and China, but have yet to provide evidence of any wrongdoing. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested the possibility of launching an impeachment inquiry in the autumn.
Hunter Biden has held various roles throughout his career, including as a lobbyist, lawyer, consultant, and investment banker. He has publicly acknowledged his struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse.
Republicans have questioned Weiss’s credibility to continue the investigation, citing their concerns about his negotiated plea deal that was not approved.
Weiss is the third special counsel appointed by Garland to investigate politically sensitive matters. One of the other special counsels, Jack Smith, has filed criminal charges against Trump in two separate cases, while the other, Robert Hur, is investigating whether Biden mishandled classified documents after leaving office as vice president.
In previous administrations, special counsels have been appointed to independently investigate various matters.
