OPINION: This article contains commentary which may reflect the author’s opinion
Federal investigators have been looking into Hunter Biden’s finances, including millions of dollars worth of transactions and money transfers linked to countries like Ukraine, China, and Russia, starting in 2018.
Some of the files on Hunter’s “laptop from hell” have been investigated for “possible violations of tax, money laundering and foreign-lobbying laws.”
A Wilmington grand jury has been compiling evidence in the case. An eyewitness was even asked to identify the “big guy” mentioned during conversations concerning Biden’s Chinese business deal, according to the New York Post in early April.
Sources told the news outlet that a piece of evidence presented to the grand jury for this individual prompted the question. Although the answer was not revealed, some have claimed the “big guy” is President Biden, raising the possibility of Biden being subjected to a federal criminal investigation.
Now, legal experts say the emergence of President Biden’s voicemail from 2018 about Hunter Biden’s China business activities raises questions about the federal investigation of the first son. At the same time, Republican lawmakers are promising congressional hearings.
According to former Justice Department prosecutor Jim Trusty, the case is “a huge integrity test” for both the FBI and the Attorney General.
“Will they walk away from powerful evidence? Will they come up with a soft plea — like a tax charge — that does not remotely capture the actual wrongdoing?” he asked.
“Or will they treat Hunter Biden like any other white-collar defendant in the federal system?”
The recording, according to law professor Jonathan Turley of George Washington University, “only magnifies the concerns over the failure of Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel with broad investigative authority.”
“The record is now replete with references to President Biden and contradictions of his public denials,” he added.
“The concern is that a plea bargain could effectively foreclose further inquiry or prosecution for possible crimes related to influence peddling.”
Representative Jody Hice tweeted “SMOKING GUN!” after a Daily Mail article reported the voicemail message originated from an iPhone backup found on the notorious Hunter laptop.
SMOKING GUN! https://t.co/akDleyZhVK
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) June 27, 2022
The New York Post reported yesterday that “in it, Joe Biden told his son, “I think you’re clear” after The New York Times published a story in December 2018 about Hunter Biden’s ties to Chinese energy tycoon Ye Jianming, who vanished earlier that year after being arrested amid a probe into suspected financial crimes.”
The Post continued::
When “#HunterBiden” began trending ahead of Tuesday’s hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, Hice added, “Even Big Tech can’t ignore [President Biden’s] Hunter problem anymore.”
“It’s time for a hearing,” he said.
Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona said that the voicemail “confirms what most Americans already knew: President Biden has been complicit in Hunter Biden’s shady business dealings.”
“President Biden has repeatedly denied speaking to Hunter about his business dealings, but the evidence now is insurmountable,” he added.
“When Republicans take over the House in January, we will thoroughly investigate Hunter Biden’s business dealings and President Biden’s participation in his son’s activities.”
The Post continued:
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) said, “Every piece of information that has come to light so far suggests President Biden knew exactly what Hunter was up to abroad, but many questions still remain.”
“I look forward to a future Republican House majority focused on exposing the truth and pressing for accountability,” she added.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said, “Throughout my review of our forensic copy of the Hunter Biden laptop, one conclusion is inescapable: Joe Biden has not told anything resembling the full truth and he needs to come clean.”
“His refusal to do so is only making it worse, and the Congress should absolutely conduct a robust and responsible investigation,” he said.
Neither the Delaware US Attorney’s Office, the DOJ nor the White House immediately returned requests for comment.
Last month the New York Times reported that the president’s allies are uncomfortable with Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris’ plan to mount an aggressive public defense of Hunter Biden. This includes questioning the truth behind The New York Post’s exclusive disclosure of his infamous laptop, published in October 2020.
Additionally, they are troubled by Morris’ loan of more than $2 million to pay down Hunter’s debts and fund his living expenses. The loan may echo the cash Hunter received as he served on the board of a Ukrainian oligarch’s company and pursued deals with a Chinese tycoon, the Times said.
The Times reports Joe Biden’s supporters want Hunter out of the spotlight and to settle a federal grand jury investigation in Wilmington, Delaware, without facing trial if charges are filed.
Investigators are looking into potential tax fraud, money laundering, and lobbying laws violations by Hunter Biden.
Recently, it was revealed that Morris is working on a documentary about Hunter Biden, because he has been in the news for his business affairs, and he was accused of spying on an independent film, “My Son Hunter,” which is slated to give a negative portrayal of the Biden family.
In an effort to undermine the film and the laptop, Morris may use footage from the film’s set in Serbia, according to the Times.
Source: The Republic Brief