CNN
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Federal prosecutors think they could charge Biden hunter with tax crimes and misrepresentation, but a final decision has yet to be made by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The case against Biden tightened earlier this year and was discussed in early summer between FBI and IRS investigators, Delaware prosecutors and the Justice Department, had previously reported CNN. According to sources who spoke to CNN in July.
Prosecutors have yet to make a charging decision on the case and have not met since early summer to discuss the federal investigation, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A decision is not expected before the midterm elections.
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that talks between Biden’s team and the Justice Department have been going on for several months, but nothing has changed in a few months on that front.
The The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden’s legal team has been meeting in the “last few weeks” with Justice Department prosecutors to argue against a potential case.
“As appropriate and legally required, we believe that prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly evaluating not only the evidence provided by officers, but also all other witnesses in this case, including defense witnesses,” Biden’s attorney, Chris Clark, said in a written statement to the Journal.
The The Washington Post reported Thursday that prosecutors believe they have “sufficient evidence” to charge Biden, son of President Joe Biden, in two areas – tax crimes and a misrepresentation regarding a firearms purchase, the same crimes reported by CNN in July have is being discussed by investigators with the Department of Justice.
Investigators have repeatedly asked questions about the many facets of Hunter Biden’s life — initially focusing on tax issues and money transfers related to business activities in China, several people familiar with the matter previously told CNN. ‘investigation.
But prosecutors also looked into a 2018 incident in which a gun belonging to Biden was thrown by his then-girlfriend into a dumpster in Wilmington, a person briefed on the matter said. Biden described in media interviews last year that he was addicted to drugs, raising the possibility that he broke federal law when he purchased the gun.
Federal law prohibits the purchase of firearms by anyone who uses or is addicted to illegal drugs.
Yet Biden has publicly discussed his own struggles with addictionand some justice officials have debated whether his open discussions of his past drug use could potentially weaken their case if they carry one.
Biden has also denied any wrongdoing in his business activities.
In late 2020, after being briefed by Delaware’s US attorney about the investigation, he said in a statement released by his father’s Presidential Transition Office: “I take this matter very seriously, but I am confident that “A professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I have conducted my affairs in a lawful and proper manner, including with the assistance of professional tax advisers.”
The president, meanwhile, has repeatedly said he will not interfere with the independence of the Justice Department. Early in his presidency, Biden decided to retain U.S. Attorney David Weiss, appointed by former President Donald Trump, to continue overseeing the Delaware investigation.