THE US Justice Department yesterday escalated its investigation into President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, naming a special counsel amid allegations of tax fraud and illicit overseas business deals.

Attorney-General Merrick Garland appointed prosecutor David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2019 on tax and gun charges. 

The announcement came just as Weiss told the federal court in Delaware that a plea deal struck with Hunter in June was no longer valid, indicating that he could move to file felony tax charges against the president’s son in other jurisdictions.

Garland said Weiss, who was originally appointed as a federal prosecutor by Joe Biden’s political rival Donald Trump, had requested special counsel status to be able to pursue his probe more widely.

“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said.

Deals in China, Ukraine

The move comes as Joe is running for reelection, possibly in a rematch with ex-president Trump, himself accused of felony crimes in the investigation by another Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith.

Garland gave no hint on the subject matter of Weiss’ expanded probe, only saying his elevation to special counsel “reaffirms” the independence and authority of his investigation.

Hunter has come under investigation in Congress over business deals he did in China, Ukraine and elsewhere during and after his father’s 2009-2017 term as vice-president.

A former business associate told Congress recently that Hunter had gotten his father involved in telephone calls with his foreign partners several times.

Republicans allege Joe used his political position to help his son – a claim the president denies.

Hunter is also believed to be facing possible prosecution for acting as an unregistered foreign agent, in relation to some of his offshore business deals.

Broken plea deal

Until now, Weiss’s investigation has focused on low-level charges that Hunter, 53, didn’t pay taxes on millions of dollars in income, and illegally bought a firearm.

In a preliminary plea deal, the court was told Hunter erred during a period that he was heavily using drugs, and that he has since paid the back taxes and fines.

Weiss agreed to Biden being sentenced to probation on two tax counts and entering a counselling and rehabilitation program for the firearms charge.

But on July 26, the deal fell apart after judge Maryellen Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the agreement protected Hunter from other charges – something Hunter had believed but Weiss denied.

Hunter then entered a not guilty plea, and the two sides were expected to work out a new agreement.

But yesterday, Weiss said those talks had reached an impasse, cancelled the deal and indicated that he would file felony tax charges in other venues.

What remained unclear is whether he would pursue other charges on top of those already known.

Republicans say DOJ protecting Biden

There was no comment from the White House on Weiss’s elevation to special counsel.

In a social media post, a Trump spokesman alleged that the Biden family had been “protected by the Justice Department for decades.”

“There is overwhelming evidence and credible testimony detailing their wrongdoing of lying to the American people and selling out the country to foreign enemies for the Biden cartel’s own financial gain,” the spokesman said.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy indicated that the Congressional probe of Hunter will continue.

“This action by (Joe) Biden’s DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption,” he said on social media.

It was unclear if Weiss would adhere to his promise to testify on his Hunter probe to the House Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks now that he has been named a special counsel.

In a statement, the committee’s Republican majority said they expect Weiss to uphold his commitment. – AFP, August 12, 2023.