Final Report on Hunter Biden Investigation Reveals Major Tax Issues

Special Counsel David Weiss has released a comprehensive report concluding his extensive investigation into Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden. The report, which spans years of scrutiny, indicates that Hunter Biden’s struggles with drug addiction cannot excuse his failure to pay taxes on millions of dollars in income derived from his strategic business engagements.

Substantial Income and Tax Evasion

From 2016 to 2020, Hunter Biden is noted to have earned more than million, yet he consciously chose to not fulfill his tax obligations, amounting to at least .4 million, over a four-year span. Weiss’s report detailed annual earnings for the first son, breaking down his income as follows: approximately .5 million in 2016, .3 million in 2017, .1 million in 2018, million in 2019, and 8,000 from January through mid-October of 2020.

According to Weiss, Hunter Biden managed to leverage his family name and connections to secure lucrative positions, most notably a board seat at Burisma Holdings Limited, a Ukrainian gas company, alongside lucrative contracts with individuals tied to a Chinese energy conglomerate. He procured these financial opportunities that paid him millions, yet disregarded his tax responsibilities.

A Year of Legal Challenges

Over the past year, Hunter Biden has faced numerous legal challenges that culminated in two separate federal cases under Weiss’s purview. The first trial began in June in Delaware concerning three felony firearm offenses stemming from his drug usage. This was followed by a plea in September related to felony tax offenses, where Biden admitted to not paying a significant amount of taxes.

The September trial, scheduled to feature jury selection in a Los Angeles federal courtroom, unexpectedly shifted when Biden entered a guilty plea regarding charges of failing to pay taxes owed over the course of multiple years. This decision indicated a recognition of culpability amidst overwhelming evidence against him.

Expenditures Over Responsibilities

The report emphasized that Biden’s extravagant lifestyle took precedence over his obligation to pay taxes. Weiss stated that Biden “willfully failed to pay his 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 taxes on time,” despite possessing the financial means to settle these debts. Moreover, it highlighted that Biden deliberately underreported his income in his 2018 tax return, a misrepresentation made long after he claimed to have regained sobriety.

As Weiss pointedly noted, “These are not ‘inconsequential’ or ‘technical’ tax code violations.” The willful neglect and misrepresentation showcased a deliberate attempt to evade his fiscal responsibilities, warranting prosecution.

Substance Abuse and Personal Struggles

Hunter Biden’s history of drug abuse has been publicly documented, notably in his memoir, Beautiful Things, published in 2021. In this memoir, he chronicles his struggles with addiction, including a significant battle with crack cocaine, which he claims to have overcome by 2019. This history has shaped public perceptions of him, yet Weiss’s report clarifies that his substance use does not excuse his criminal actions concerning tax evasion.

“Mr. Biden chose to keep funding his extravagant lifestyle instead of paying his taxes,” Weiss mentioned, drawing attention not only to Biden’s decisions but also to the active measures he took to mislead financial advisors about his legitimate expenses.

Sentencing and Presidential Intervention

Hunter Biden faced potential sentencing of up to 17 years for the tax-related charges, though Federal sentencing guidelines generally allow for shorter terms for first-time offenders. Scheduled for December 16, Hunter’s sentencing was precluded by a pardon from President Biden earlier in the month. This blanket pardon not only canceled the upcoming sentencing but also extended to any federal offenses he “has committed or may have committed” over the previous decade.

Controversy Surrounding the Pardon

The ramifications of this pardon have not gone unnoticed. Weiss’s report critically addressed President Biden’s comments regarding the selective and unfair nature of prosecutions against his son. Weiss stated, “This statement is gratuitous and wrong,” asserting that such claims undermine the integrity of the Department of Justice and the credibility of the professionals involved in the case.

He elaborated, arguing, “Politicians who attack the decisions of career prosecutors as politically motivated when they disagree with the outcome of a case undermine the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system.” This critique underscores a broader concern regarding politics and justice in a highly polarized environment.

Conclusion: A Long Road to Justice

As the Department of Justice transmitted Weiss’s report to Congress, the protracted investigation into Hunter Biden’s activities appears to have reached a crucial juncture. This report provides a stark backdrop to the complexities of personal accountability within a framework often influenced by political lineage.

With this investigation concluded, the focus now shifts to the implications of these findings on public trust in government officials and systems of law enforcement. It highlights the necessity for transparency and accountability in both personal and political realms.

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.