- Prosecutors think they have enough evidence to bring a criminal case against Hunter Biden.
- The Washington Post reported they believed they could charge Biden with tax crimes.
Federal prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to charge President Joe Biden's son Hunter with financial crimes and making a false statement, The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the case.
The younger Biden acknowledged in December 2020 the existence of the federal investigation into him, saying in a statement that prosecutors were looking into his taxes.
"I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs," the statement said. "I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors."
The Post reported Thursday that investigators also thought they had enough evidence to charge Biden with making a false statement related to a gun purchase. The US attorney in Delaware will now decide whether to move forward with a criminal case.
CNN reported prosecutors started investigating Biden's taxes in 2018 but temporarily halted the inquiry because of Justice Department rules barring prosecutors from taking actions that could influence the outcome of an election. While the case initially centered on Biden's taxes, it expanded to focus on whether he failed to report all his income and whether he lied on paperwork linked to a gun purchase in 2018, The Post reported.
An indictment against Biden would mark the biggest test yet of the president's pledge to restore independence and public trust in the Justice Department.
Chris Clark, a lawyer representing the younger Biden, did not comment on the substance of The Post's story and accused investigators of leaking details.
"It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one," Clark said in a statement to the news outlet. "Any agent you cite as a source in your article apparently has committed such a felony. We expect the Department of Justice will diligently investigate and prosecute such bad actors.
"As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense. That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticized for doing their job."
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