Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, is now confronting criminal charges in the United States, marking the first instance of a sitting president’s child being prosecuted.
The charges leveled against Hunter Biden encompass three criminal counts related to gun possession, and these charges have been officially filed in the US District Court in Delaware. These developments have emerged after attempts to negotiate a plea deal failed to materialize.
This pivotal development is expected to cast a long shadow over the 2024 US presidential campaign, as President Biden gears up for a potential re-election bid. This high-stakes political drama is set to unfold against the backdrop of his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, who himself faces four looming criminal trials.
The investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings has been ongoing for an extended period, gaining momentum notably when David Weiss, originally nominated by Trump, was appointed as a special counsel in August.
Hunter Biden has been the target of intense scrutiny and allegations, particularly from former President Trump and his Republican allies, who have honed in on his activities in Ukraine and China, among other matters. Despite these allegations, Hunter Biden has continued to hold various professional roles and has openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse.
In December 2020, Hunter Biden publicly disclosed that his tax affairs were under investigation by Weiss’s office, a matter he has consistently defended against any wrongdoing. It’s important to note that while most US attorneys appointed by Trump resigned upon President Biden’s inauguration, Weiss was retained in his position by the Justice Department.
Crucially, it should be emphasized that Hunter Biden has never held a formal White House position or played a role in his father’s political campaign. President Biden has consistently asserted that he refrained from discussing foreign business matters with his son, underscoring the autonomy of the Justice Department in its investigations into his family members.
During the 2020 election campaign, former President Trump called for an investigation into Hunter Biden’s involvement in a Chinese fund, alleging that he had leveraged his influence to secure Chinese financial support for his investments—a claim that Hunter Biden vehemently denied.
Hunter Biden’s public acknowledgment of his battles with substance abuse, including his use of crack cocaine and struggles with alcoholism, has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing saga. Notably, he was discharged from the US Navy Reserve in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine.
Initially, David Weiss’s investigation primarily focused on potential violations of tax and money laundering laws related to foreign business dealings, particularly in China. Hunter Biden had initially signaled his willingness to plead guilty to tax-related charges, but the agreement unraveled amid uncertainties regarding its scope.
While numerous family members of past presidents have found themselves embroiled in scandals, including Neil, the son of George HW Bush, and Don, the brother of Richard Nixon, Hunter Biden’s indictment represents an unprecedented situation in the annals of US presidential history. As the legal proceedings unfold, the nation watches with bated breath, awaiting the outcome of this historic case.
