Prosecutors in special counsel David Weiss’ office are accusing Hunter Biden of accepting payments to influence U.S. government agencies while his father, Joe Biden, was vice president. The allegation could mark the closest prosecutors have come to tying President Joe Biden to his son’s overseas business endeavors. The special counsel’s claim stems from Hunter Biden’s work on behalf of a wealthy businessman.
According to a court filing, Hunter Biden was hired for legal work in late 2015 while this businessman faced corruption charges. At Hunter Biden’s upcoming tax trial, prosecutors plan to introduce evidence that Biden and a business associate received compensation from the businessman. The businessman was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the corruption charges.
Prosecutors allege that the deal was structured to conceal the true nature of the work. This was done to mitigate potential political ramifications for then-Vice President Joe Biden. According to prosecutors, Hunter Biden and two business partners split more than $3 million in payments between November 2015 and 2017.
Hunter Biden’s influence payments
Hunter Biden’s attorneys have criticized Weiss’ assertion as irrelevant and politically charged. Hunter Biden’s attorneys argue that references to his alleged lobbying work should be excluded from trial.
They frame the matter as irrelevant to the tax charges and potentially confusing to the jury. Hunter Biden faces three felony tax charges and additional misdemeanors for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2020. The back taxes and penalties have been paid in full by a third party, identified as Hunter Biden’s attorney and confidant, Kevin Morris.
The trial is set to begin in early September in California. Constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley addressed the Justice Department’s allegations involving Hunter Biden and his associates. Turley highlighted the media’s lack of coverage on what he describes as one of the most significant corruption scandals of our time.
He emphasized the importance of public awareness and the need for thorough investigation and accountability in such cases.
- NYPost.”Hunter Biden wants evidence of foreign business deals, unregistered agent claims excluded from criminal trial”.
- Go.”Romanian oligarch hired Hunter Biden to influence US policy, special counsel says”.
- FoxNews.”Media is ignoring one of the greatest corruption scandals of our lifetime: Turley”.