Special Counsel Criticizes Joe Biden Over Son's Pardon

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JAN 14

Above: US Pres. Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: Mandel Ngan/Contributor/AFP via Getty Imagesstory last updated JAN 14

The Facts

The US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) on Monday released a final report in which special counsel David Weiss criticized Pres. Joe Biden's characterization of the Hunter Biden investigation as politically motivated and unfair, calling such accusations "gratuitous and wrong."
Weiss began investigating Hunter Biden in 2018 when he was a Trump-appointed US Attorney for Delaware. He was later elevated to special counsel status by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023.
Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony gun charges in June 2024 and pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges that September for failing to pay at least $1.4M in taxes.

The Spin

Republican narrative

The investigation of Hunter Biden was thorough and impartial, free from political interference, and the charges were brought solely based on evidence of criminal conduct. Hunter Biden consciously broke federal laws and would've been held accountable were it not for his father's abuse of the pardon power.

New York Post The Straits Times

Democratic narrative

This investigation represents a cautionary tale of prosecutorial abuse, with Hunter Biden being unfairly targeted due to his last name. The prosecution ignored his struggles with addiction and pursued charges that would not typically be brought against others in similar circumstances.

CNN New York Times