Federal prosecutors are considering charging President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden with crimes that include tax, foreign lobbying and gun-related violations, as the investigation reached a “critical stage,” reports said this week.
According to Fox News on Wednesday, a federal investigation into Hunter Biden began in 2018, a source familiar with the situation said. Another source told the outlet that the federal grand jury examining Biden’s business dealings concluded its most recent term in June, but no charges have been filed.
The Hunter Biden investigation is being led by Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss.
CNN reported that Weiss is weighing a number of charges, including making a false statement relating to the purchase of a firearm, which he would have been barred from doing at the time due to his admitted drug addiction struggles.
Officials at the Department of Justice have expressed concerns over pursuing charges against Hunter Biden during an election year due to the political implications, and in May, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo reiterating the department’s position on “election year sensitivities.”
“Department of Justice employees are entrusted with the authority to enforce the laws of the United States and with the responsibility to do so in a neutral and impartial manner. This is particularly important in an election year. Now that the 2022 election season is upon us, and as in prior election cycles, I am issuing this memorandum to remind you of the Department’s existing policies with respect to political activities,” the memo stated, according to Newsweek.
“Simply put, partisan politics must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of public statements (attributed or not), investigative steps, criminal charges, or any other action in any matter or case for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party,” the memo continued. “Such a purpose, or the appearance of such a purpose, is inconsistent with the Department’s mission and with the Principles of Federal Prosecution.”
A similar memo is typically issued every election year, according to CNN.
The reports come weeks after a newly leaked video showed Hunter Biden arguing with an alleged prostitute over the amount of crack cocaine he had. The video was viewed millions of times in less than 24 hours since it was first posted.