Special counsel in Hunter Biden case denounces president for criticism of the probe : NPR

The Department of Justice on Monday released the final report of Special Counsel David Weiss, who concluded his investigation into alleged crimes against President Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

Biden last month signed a full and unconditional pardon for his son, although he had previously promised not to do so, saying “raw politics has infected this process and it has led to a miscarriage of justice.” .

Weiss said in his report that these accusations are “unjust and wrong.”

“Other presidents have pardoned family members, but no president has used this opportunity to smear Justice Department officials based solely on false accusations,” he wrote.

Hunter Biden was convicted on federal gun charges in June for lying about his crack cocaine addiction when purchasing a gun. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to tax violations for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentencing in both cases was scheduled for December.

Both charges were brought by Weiss. The roots of the case date back to a time when Hunter Biden was grappling with the death of his brother Beau Biden and battling his own crack cocaine addiction.

Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware appointed by President Donald Trump, remained in office during the Biden administration and began investigating Hunter Biden in 2019. He was appointed special prosecutor in August 2023.

Weiss said in his report that he brought the charges, unrelated to politics, purely because Hunter Biden violated federal law.

“These charges are not the result of partisan politics, but a thorough and impartial investigation,” he said in his report. “Questioning these decisions and injecting partisanship into the independent administration of law undermines the very foundations that make America’s justice system fair and impartial.”

He said the charges against Hunter Biden exemplify “equal application of justice: no matter who you are or what your last name is, you are subject to the same laws as the rest of America.” He said there was.

Mr. Weiss’s report is part of the special counsel’s mandated work, and the Department of Justice released it consistent with law and policy.

Separately, the department is fighting a legal battle to release Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on the criminal investigation into Trump. President Trump has argued that the special counsel’s appointment is illegal and that any public report is legally invalid and would harm his access to the White House.