FILE - President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., after attending a Mass on Aug. 13, 2022. Biden is in Kiawah Island with his family on vacation. An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. That is according to a letter to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden was criminally indicted on Thursday, after efforts to reach a plea deal failed, leading to the first-ever prosecution of a sitting president’s child.
The indictment was filed on Thursday U.S. District Court in Delaware with three criminal counts related to making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm and illegally possessing the firearm as a drug addict which could earn him a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors accused the younger Biden of lying about his use of narcotics when he purchased a Colt Cobra handgun in October 2018.
The indictment brought by recently elevated U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss comes after a deal for Hunter Biden, 53, to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and enroll in a program to avoid prosecution on a gun-related charge collapsed in a stunning turn in a July hearing.
The charges ensure that courtroom drama will play an outsized role in the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign as Biden, 80, seeks reelection in a likely rematch with his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.
It comes two days after House of Representatives Republicans moved to open an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden due to him improperly benefiting from Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings.
Weiss was elevated to special counsel status in August after investigating Hunter Biden’s business dealings for years as the U.S. attorney in the Democratic president’s home state of Delaware. Weiss was originally nominated by Trump.
The Weiss inquiry initially examined potential violations of tax and money laundering laws in foreign business dealings, principally in China, sources told Reuters. The investigation headed by Weiss began as early as 2018, according to U.S. media reports.
Hunter Biden initially agreed to plead guilty to charges that he failed to pay more than $100,000 in income taxes in 2017 and 2018. The deal collapsed after a federal judge questioned whether the agreement would bar prosecutors from bringing charges on other issues.
An attorney for Hunter Biden could not be immediately reached for comment.
Comments