Hunter Biden could soon face charges for making false deductions on his tax returns, it was reported on Wednesday, as it emerged that a Chinese business associate of Hunter’s asked him for advice on the FBI, because a colleague was being investigated.
Hunter, 52, has been in the crosshairs of the U.S. attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, since at least 2020.
But on Wednesday The New York Times reported that charges could be imminent, in part thanks to allegations of $30,000 in tax deductions which he claimed were for business deductions.
Hunter could also face charges over his October 2018 purchase of a .38 calibre handgun, for which Hunter had to certify that he was not on drugs.
Photos from Hunter’s laptop – left at a Wilmington, Delaware repair shop – show the president’s son in a series of compromising positions from that time, including with what appears to be a crack pipe.
David Weiss, U.S. attorney for Delaware, could soon be pressing charges against Hunter Biden for tax evasion, The New York Times reported on Wednesday
The president’s son, now 52, is facing questions over his tax affairs and a 2018 gun purchase
Hunter, in the midst of his drug and alcohol addiction, posed for photos showing off his gun
Hunter in 2020 realized the significance of his tax issues in the summer of 2019, when he tried to go on honeymoon in Mexico, but found he was unable to renew his expired passport due to the outstanding tax demands.
In November 2018 Hunter’s accountant Bill Morgan had emailed him saying that the State Department would not renew his passport, due to the amount outstanding.
Morgan said Hunter owed $158,000 for 2015, and $471,000 for 2018.
‘Based on the size of the 2015 deficiency, IRS has notified the State Department and they will not renew your passport until this is resolved,’ Morgan wrote.
‘I don’t know when your passport is due for renewal but you could have a problem if it is coming up soon.’
Hunter Biden is seen with his father Joe and his son Beau at the White House in July 2022
Hunter’s accountant Bill Morgan warned him in November 2018 that his passport would not be renewed
Hunter’s lawyers have known since mid 2021 that Weiss, appointed by Donald Trump in 2017, was considering bringing charges against the troubled businessman for failing to pay his taxes in 2016 and 2017.
In October 2021, in a bid to stave off prosecution, Hunter borrowed $2 million from a friend, wealthy Los Angeles writer and lawyer Kevin Morris, to pay the I.R.S. the outstanding sum.
Analysts told The New York Times that Weiss could now struggle to successfully convict Hunter for tax evasion, because the money has now been paid.
Equally, it could be difficult to convict him criminally for lying on the gun declaration because the charges are rarely brought, and tens of thousands of Americans, out of the 25 million who buy guns each year, lie on their forms and are not prosecuted.
The paper reported that Hunter’s lawyers have provided the Justice Department with evidence of how the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware has never brought a stand-alone gun charge for lying about drug use.
Hunter has also for several years faced questions about his relationship with Chinese oil tycoon Ye Jianming, who he attempted to do business with in 2017.
Ye Jianming, a Chinese oil tycoon, became involved with Hunter in 2017 – and asked about the FBI investigation of one of his associates
Father Alex Karloutsos, a Greek Orthodox priest, is seen being given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in July 2022. He was at a 2015 fundraising dinner with Hunter, Hunter’s business associates and Joe Biden, and insists Joe Biden did not engage with Hunter’s associates
Ye asked Hunter about the F.B.I. and Justice Department, noting that he was concerned about a possible investigation into his associate, Patrick Ho.
In September 2017, Ho signed a retainer agreement with Hunter, making him his lawyer and paying him $1 million.
By November 2017, Ho was in F.B.I. custody – he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in the United States for his role in an international bribery and money-laundering scheme.
Ye flew back to China, and was himself arrested on corruption allegations, ending his dealings with Hunter.
Hunter is separately being investigated by a Republican committee, now that they have control of the House.
Republicans have repeatedly insisted that Joe Biden was involved with his son’s business dealings, and benefited from them.
The White House is adamant that Joe Biden always kept a distance from his errant son’s lucrative endeavors.
Father Alex Karloutsos, a Greek Orthodox priest, told The New York Times that, at a 2015 charity gala, Joe Biden did not engage with the guests – who included Hunter’s business associates.
‘I remember the vice president coming in, and he did not go around the table. He just simply waved at everybody,’ said Karloutsos, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
‘I did not hear any business exchanges with anybody.’