'Bad news for Hunter Biden': Legal expert warns special counsel's newest action is a harbinger for the first son

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/bad-news-for-hunter-biden-legal-expert-warns-special-counsel-s-newest-action-is-a-harbinger-for-the-first-son.jpg?id=50504566&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0,4,0,49 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//www.theblaze.com/media-library/bad-news-for-hunter-biden-legal-expert-warns-special-counsel-s-newest-action-is-a-harbinger-for-the-first-son.jpg%3Fid%3D50504566%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%2C4%2C0%2C49%22%7D" expand=1]

Special counsel David Weiss' investigation into Hunter Biden's overseas business dealings is heating up.

Prosecutors have convened a grand jury in Los Angeles to get documents and witness testimony about the first son's business dealings as they investigate alleged tax crimes, CNN reported on Thursday. The development indicates that a second indictment may be forthcoming.

From CNN:

James Biden, President Joe Biden’s brother and a one-time business associate of Hunter, is among the individuals who have received a subpoena in recent weeks, according to two sources close to the investigation.

The probe appears to be focused on Hunter Biden’s alleged failure to pay taxes by IRS payment deadlines, issues that were expected to be resolved by a plea deal that fell apart earlier this year. It is unclear if any witnesses have appeared in person yet or if investigators are looking at anything beyond tax matters.

After a sweetheart plea deal for Hunter fell apart, a federal court granted Weiss' motion to dismiss the initial charges filed against the first son.

At the time, Weiss hinted that he planned to refile charges in other venues — widely expected to be the Central District of California and Washington, D.C. — where Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys refused to cooperate with Weiss last year. This news indicates that Weiss was serious about his intention to prosecute the first son.

In September, Weiss secured an indictment against Hunter on felony firearm charges.

Investigators are additionally investigating potential violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act because Hunter allegedly did not register as a "foreign agent" when he worked for Ukrainian and Chinese businesses.

What does this mean for Hunter?

Elie Honig, a former federal prosecutor, explained on CNN why the development is "bad news" for Hunter.

"It's bad news for Hunter Biden any way you slice this," Honig said.

"If we think about the potential tax charges here, it's important to keep in mind: When Hunter Biden went into court a few months ago with DOJ, they had a deal that he was going plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses, and they agreed — DOJ and Hunter Biden agreed — that he had failed to pay over $1 million in income taxes that he owed," he explained.

"So assuming, which I think is a fair assumption, that DOJ has evidence of that, that feels like the minimum charges he may face. It may get worse," Honig warned. "But it's important to understand the fact that there's a grand jury does not ensure that there will be an indictment, but it certainly does make it more likely. And that's a problem."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After Hunter’s Sweetheart Deal Went South, Here’s What’s Next From Biden’s Compromised DOJ

While Hunter Biden's sweetheart deal may have collapsed, the justice system is still far from standing tall.

Former Head Of DOJ Tax Division Urges Federal Judge To ‘Trash’ Hunter Biden Plea Deal

Eileen O'Connor, who ran the DOJ tax division from 2001 to 2007, published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday.

House committee releases IRS whistleblowers' testimonies detailing alleged efforts by Biden admin to spike Hunter Biden criminal investigation

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zNDE2MTU1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5MDMyNDQ0MH0.oS5jDiekGTOVodS8A0SqDr6XfiH2c4A8DyqpIemrfOY/img.jpg?width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0,53,0,54 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zNDE2MTU1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5MDMyNDQ0MH0.oS5jDiekGTOVodS8A0SqDr6XfiH2c4A8DyqpIemrfOY/img.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%2C53%2C0%2C54%22%7D" expand=1]

The House Ways and Means Committee has released "credible whistleblower testimony alleging misconduct and government abuse that is resulting in preferential treatment for the president's son, Hunter Biden."

Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) indicated in a press conference Thursday that two Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers, one of whom is 14-year IRS veteran Gary Shapley Jr., have provided evidence demonstrating an unfair and unequal enforcement of tax laws by the federal government as well as proof that the "Biden Department of Justice is intervening and overstepping when it comes to the investigation of the president's son."

Smith blended summary and insights gleaned from the IRS whistleblowers' testimonies, stating during the June 22 press conference that as the result of an apolitical, "ordinary course of work" investigation initially launched in 2018, the IRS recommended "charges against Hunter Biden that included attempt to evade or defeat tax, a felony; fraud or false statements, a felony; and willful failure to file returns, supply information or pay tax."

"These tax crimes cover an estimated $2.2 million in unreported tax on global income streams to Mr. Biden and his associates from Ukraine, Romania and China, totaling $17.3 million from 2014 to 2019," continued Smith. "Mr. Biden personally received $8.3 million dollars. Whistleblowers detail foreign payments to Mr. Biden including: $664,000 from the Chinese company State Energy HK; a large diamond worth $80,000; and a Porsche worth $142,000 dollars."

"These payments are just a fraction of the total, but they provide insight into a world of wealth and influence that no ordinary American would recognize," added Smith.

This might be especially true of the child Hunter Biden sired out of wedlock, for whom he desperately tried to pay less in child support, citing a "substantial material change" in his "financial circumstances."

In light of Biden's alleged tax crimes, Smith suggested the plea deal the first son just received amounted to a "slap on the wrists for charges that have put other Americans behind bars."

Hunter Biden's attorneys struck a sweetheart deal with U.S. Attorney David Weiss Tuesday, whereby the first son will "plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay in 2017 and 2018."

Instead of having to go to jail, prosecutors agreed to recommend that the younger Biden receive only probation and pay the amount of taxes he originally owed.

— (@)

According to the whistleblowers, Hunter Biden is not just the beneficiary of preferential treatment as it pertains to his criminal investigation, but of interventions and supportive overreach by the Biden Department of Justice.

Smith said the testimonies detail "a lack of of U.S. attorney independence; recurring unjustified delays; unusual actions outside the normal course of any investigation; a lack of transparency across the investigation and prosecution teams; and bullying and threats from the defense council. This was a campaign of delay, divulge and deny."

One of the IRS whistleblowers reportedly stated, "After former Vice President Joe Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee for President in early April 2020, career DOJ officials dragged their feet on the IRS taking these investigative steps."

For instance, the investigation was delayed by a drawn-out effort to authenticate a WhatsApp message in which Hunter Biden demanded payment from Chinese officials.

In the message shown by Ways and Means Republicans, Hunter Biden appears to have written, "I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. ... I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction."

Concerning the authentication of this message, IRS whistleblowers suggested investigators were told by U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf that "because the evidence would be found in the guest house of former Vice President Biden, 'there is no way' a search warrant for evidence would ever get approved."

According to the committee, the ostensible purpose of such delays was to reach the statue of limitations, thereby killing the investigation.

While possibly critical evidence was put out of reach, actionable information about investigators' progress was made easily accessible to Hunter Biden's attorneys, according to the whistleblowers.

Smith noted that in one instance, investigators had probable cause to search a storage unit in Northern Virginia in which Biden had stored documents. However, "attorneys for Biden were made aware prior to any search, providing them valuable time to remove any materials that could be useful evidence."

The Ways and Means committee further indicated that U.S. Attorney of Delaware David Weiss had multiple attempts to bring charges denied, despite Attorney General Merrick Garland telling Congress that Weiss had all the authority necessary to pursue the charges.

For having brought their concerns to the attention of the American people, the committee chairman indicated, "the IRS employees who blew the whistle on this abuse were retaliated against, despite a commitment IRS Commissioner Werfel made before the Ways and Means Committee to uphold their legal protections. They were removed from this investigation after they responsibly worked through the chain of command to raise these concerns."

The committee has so far concluded that the Biden administration is keen to provide "preferential treatment to the wealthy and well-connected, including the son of the President of the United States."

— (@)

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Federal prosecutors give Hunter Biden sweetheart deal for tax, gun crimes that will keep him out of jail

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zNDE0ODQxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5NDM3ODQyMX0.FK4Iq0LzN-b_5mKvdksyRINpAL7iixFEPo59nSk8YEs/img.jpg?width=1200&height=800&coordinates=186,0,0,0 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zNDE0ODQxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5NDM3ODQyMX0.FK4Iq0LzN-b_5mKvdksyRINpAL7iixFEPo59nSk8YEs/img.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D186%2C0%2C0%2C0%22%7D" expand=1]

It took five years of investigating, but federal prosecutors will finally charge Hunter Biden with tax and gun crimes. But the first son was reportedly offered a deal that will keep him out of jail.

Hunter has been under investigation for tax crimes related to his overseas business dealings and for illegally possessing a firearm, having allegedly lied about his drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018. The investigation dragged on for years, weathered whistleblowers, and outraged Americans, who believe the Justice Department is giving Hunter preferential treatment.

The deal reached between U.S. Attorney David Weiss and Hunter's attorneys, which a judge still needs to approve, will undoubtedly intensify concerns that Hunter received a sweetheart deal.

According to the Washington Post, Hunter "has tentatively agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay in 2017 and 2018." Hunter is accused of not paying taxes on a liability of about $1.2 million. But instead of jail, prosecutors agreed to recommend Hunter receive only probation and pay the amount of taxes that he originally owed.

Meanwhile, Hunter will admit to illegally possessing a firearm, but he will not plead guilty to lying on the federal form. Under typical circumstances, possessing a firearm while using illegal drugs is a felony. But Hunter will technically not be prosecuted for the crime. Instead, he will be offered a diversion program and probation.

When Hunter Biden meets the conditions of diversion, the crime will be removed from his record, but he will be banned from owning firearms, the New York Times reported.

Offering diversion for the firearm-related charge is unusual by recent standards. According to the Post, “between October 2022 and March 2023, federal prosecutors filed 3,863 cases in which the unlawful possession of a firearm was the lead charge.”

Importantly, 130 of those cases involved lying to obtain the firearm. In Delaware specifically, one person was prosecuted between October 2022 and March 2023 for unlawful possession of a firearm in which a false statement was used to obtain the firearm. That person, of course, was not Hunter.

Despite the evidence of crimes, Hunter was not arrested and will not wear handcuffs. Whether he will be formally booked into jail remains unclear. He is, however, expected to appear in federal court in Delaware in the coming days.

According to the Times, Christopher Clark, Biden's lead attorney, met with Justice Department officials in several meetings over the last year and a half. In those meetings, Clark "presented them with evidence intended to convince them that any prosecution of his client would be weak," the newspaper reported.

In a statement, Clark celebrated the deal and claimed it demonstrates that Hunter is taking accountability for his actions.

"I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life," Clark said. "He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!