The prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden condemns the president’s criticism

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to nine counts of federal tax fraud for which he faced up to 17 years in prison.

He also pleaded guilty in June to three felonies related to the gun purchase and faced up to 25 years in prison.

Investigations into the president’s son have resurfaced disturbing and embarrassing details about his personal life, including his cocaine addiction and alleged charges. payments to escorts.

President Biden has been largely silent during the investigation into his son, but has strongly defended his pardon.

“Five and a half years sober, Hunter has been tried to break even in the face of relentless attacks and selective harassment,” President Biden said.

“When they tried to break Hunter, they tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it’s going to stop there. Enough is enough.”

He added: “I hope the American people will understand why the father and the president came to this decision.”

The amnesty covers the period from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2024, “including but not limited to” the tax and weapons offenses he was guilty of.

Mr. Weiss said he could not make any “additional prosecution decisions” against Hunter Biden during that time because of the unconditional pardon.

“It would be inappropriate to discuss whether additional charges are warranted,” he said.

Mr. Weiss has previously defended the president’s inquiry into his son.

In 2023 he told the House Judiciary Committee there was never any political pressure or interference from the judiciary.

Mr. Weiss’s investigation into Hunter Biden has been heavily scrutinized on both sides of the political spectrum.

Democrats said they felt it was a political charge and an unfair target on Hunter Biden’s back.

Republicans believed the Justice Department was not aggressive enough in pursuing the charges and was showing unfair favors to the president’s son.

Hunter Biden’s guilty verdicts followed a 2023 plea deal that was overturned.

A judge refused to approve what Republicans called a “sweetheart deal” in which Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges to avoid more serious gun charges.

In a statement on Monday, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, criticized Mr. Weiss for the failed deal.

“Mr. Weiss also cannot explain why he recused himself, a reversal that occurred at the 11th hour of the trial when he and his office faced fierce attacks from Republicans,” Mr. Lowell said.