Washington: In a final report, the US special counsel appointed to investigate Hunter Biden defended his decision to prosecute the president's son on tax and gun charges.
According to Anadolu Agency, the report, submitted by the US Justice Department to Congress, saw David Weiss reaffirming his decision to bring charges after agreements with Hunter Biden's legal team fell through. Weiss dismissed criticism from President Joe Biden, who has less than a week left in office, over the investigation.
US attorney Weiss led a lengthy investigation into Hunter Biden, culminating in a jury conviction on felony gun charges in federal court and a guilty plea to tax evasion charges. In December, President Biden pardoned his son, labeling the charges as "raw politics," a move that attracted bipartisan criticism.
Critics argued that Hunter Biden was prosecuted on charges typically not pursued against other defendants, such as illegal gun possession, usually not prosecuted without additional offenses like robbery. Weiss defended the prosecution, stating, "The President's statements unfairly impugn the integrity not only of Department of Justice personnel, but all public servants making these difficult decisions in good faith."
Weiss emphasized that challenging these rulings and introducing 'partisanship' into the independent administration of the law "undermines the very foundation of what makes America's justice system fair and equitable," eroding public confidence in a crucial institution for preserving the rule of law.
In 2023, Biden faced charges of lying on a gun application about his drug use, alongside three felony tax charges and six misdemeanors, including failure to file taxes, tax evasion, and filing false returns. Prosecutors alleged Hunter Biden failed to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes while living an "extravagant lifestyle."
"Not only were both cases proven beyond a reasonable doubt, but they resulted in a verdict lawfully rendered by a jury and an admission of guilt. In making my decisions, I remained impervious to political influence at all times," Weiss stated.
Hunter Biden's legal team criticized the investigation in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, included in the report, asserting, "You likely are aware of the arguments we have made about the initiation and conduct of the prosecutions against our client." Weiss countered that the tax violations were "not 'inconsequential' or 'technical' tax code violations," and stressed that the prosecution was justified given the gravity of the tax crimes.
The report also covered Weiss' investigation into former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to lying to FBI agents and fabricating a story about the Bidens, resulting in a six-year prison sentence earlier this month.