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Hunter Biden Could Finally Be Charged with a Crime

Hunter Biden could face at least one indictment in the coming days or weeks. The president’s son is under immense legal pressure, and he could find out his fate soon

Hunter Biden Speaking DNC 2020. Image Credit: YouTube Screenshot.
Hunter Biden Speaking DNC 2020

Hunter Biden could face at least one indictment in the coming days or weeks. The president’s son is under immense legal pressure, and he could find out his fate soon. Biden has been investigated for years for tax improprieties and the possibility that he lied on a federal gun purchase form. The prosecutors have gathered evidence from the IRS and the FBI and are nearing the finale of the legal saga the younger Biden has endured.

What Are the Charges?

Hunter is facing four potential charges. The first two are misdemeanor counts that he purportedly did not file tax returns. Then he allegedly reported a false amount of business expenses that would have reduced his tax liability so did not owe as much to the IRS. This would be possible felony tax evasion. The fourth charge would be that he lied about his drug use on a gun application form.

Hunter allegedly became entangled in foreign business dealings with wealthy people in Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, and Romania. Since his income was substantial, the IRS was concerned he did not report all of these funds on his tax filings or that he may have falsely taken losses to reduce the income taxes he owed.

He also may have allegedly broken laws related to foreign lobbying or money laundering. The U.S. Attorney of Delaware, David Weiss, looked into whether Hunter entered into a grey area with these alleged actions, although Hunter is not expected to be charged in this area of the law.

The President Believes His Son Is Innocent

Weiss’ investigation is not anticipated to implicate Hunter’s father and the elder Biden has maintained Hunter’s innocence and that he had no knowledge of his son’s business dealings outside the country.

Republican lawmakers are frustrated that there are not more serious potential charges against Hunter. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer believes that the possible indictments are a “slap on the wrist.”

Did the Biden Administration Slow-walk the Investigations?

Some Republicans also believe that a whistleblower reported that the lengthy investigation has somehow been slowed down by those in the Department of Justice and FBI because of political interference from the White House. Presidential spokespersons have denied this is the case.

It is clear that Hunter has profited from his connection to his father, although that does not necessarily mean he has broken any laws, but it does look fishy when the amount of money involved is considered. Hunter clearly enjoys working on international deals and he had an admitted illegal drug habit and an ex-wife that may have explained how badly he needed money. Democrats think that the resulting business transactions could be above-board for legitimate services rendered, but Republicans say he violated laws.

For example, Hunter’s critics would point to what the younger Biden was doing for Burisma, a natural gas company in Ukraine. Hunter had no prior experience or expertise working for an energy firm, but he was provided substantial sums for sitting on its board. He was even warned by a business associate to report one payment of $400,000 from Burisma on his tax forms for income acquired. It is not clear if Hunter did report this income to make his tax returns legal and beyond reproach.

Hunter Biden Had Substantial Personal Problems

But Hunter Biden needed more and more money to fund his lifestyle. He reportedly spent up to $200,000 a month on “luxury hotel rooms, Porsche payments, dental work, and cash withdrawals” just from 2017 to 2018.   

Hunter also had mortgages to pay and alimony and child support payments to make. He “partied” frequently and said various hangers-on stole from him, according to his book.

In a divorce filing, he and his wife owed $313,000 in back taxes and were not paying all of their bills. However, the Biden legal team said that Hunter is no longer in arrears to the IRS.

In Hunter’s defense, it is important to note that he has not been charged with any crimes at this point and that he is innocent until proven guilty and will be afforded due process, even though it may appear that he has already been found guilty in the media. The potential charges are relatively minor, and it is unclear if Hunter would be sentenced to jail time if convicted. But it is safe to say that the president’s son has been a major disappointment and embarrassment to the elder Biden. The inconvenient son could distract the president during his re-election campaign and create undue stress for the president who needs the utmost concentration to win another term in the White House.

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Author Expertise and Experience

Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.

Written By

Now serving as 1945s New Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer.

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