Recent reports indicate that the Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings is ramping up and is digging into whether the president and his associates violated tax, money laundering, and foreign lobbying laws.
The Wall Street Journal reports that a federal tax investigation into Hunter Biden was gaining steam.
The probe, which began as early as 2018, was led by the U.S. attorney in Wilmington, Delaware.
Investigators are examining whether the younger Biden violated firearm and other regulations during his business and financial activities in foreign countries.
The Department of Justice investigation involves Biden’s time working with Burisma, a Ukrainian natural-gas company.
According to CNN senior justice correspondent Evan Perez, “Right now, prosecutors in Delaware are focusing on several things, including whether Hunter Biden and some of his business associates violated laws including tax and money laundering laws and foreign lobbying laws.”
Perez continued, “He was getting paid as much as $50,000 a month for that company during the time that Joe Biden, his father, was vice president and in charge of handling Ukraine issues for the Obama administration, and that of course, raised questions of a conflict. Not a lot was going on [with the probe] until recently”
“We know witnesses who are going in to [speak with] investigators in the next few weeks. This is a political mess for the sitting president to have his son being investigated by the Justice Department, his own Justice Department,” said Perez.
Agencies weigh case
The FBI, Justice Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation have been sharing information and discussed whether more work was needed and the strength of the case before deciding on possible charges against Hunter Biden.
There has also been some discussion about whether the younger Biden’s admitted substance abuse addiction could potentially weaken their efforts.
In an October 2020 report, The New York Times reported that a laptop Hunter Biden left in a computer repair shop included text messages, photos, emails, and financial documents between Biden, his business connections, and his family, which indicate the younger Biden was leveraging his father’s political influence.
According to CNN reports, law enforcement has gathered information from lobbyists connected to Hunter Biden, business partners, and other people who have observed his financial dealings, including a woman with whom he had a child.
Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes. According to CNN, President Biden is not currently being investigated in the probe of his son’s business dealings.
