Special counsel says claims that charges against Hunter Biden are fueled by politics are a ‘conspiracy’

Special Counsel David Weiss’s office denied the request. Hunter Biden”The lawyer of federal tax burden A series of legal filings filed Friday say the charges against the president’s son represent a “selective and vindictive” politically motivated prosecution.

Weiss’ office called the allegations, which it said were fueled by politics and pursued to appease Republicans, “conspiratorial” and “nothing more than a house in the sand.”

Prosecutors argued in court filings that “former President Trump is not the president of the United States.” “Defendants have not explained how President Biden, the attorney general to whom the special counsel reports, or the special counsel himself or his prosecution team, are acting at the direction of former President Trump and Republicans in Congress.”

In a motion to dismiss the federal tax charges, Biden’s lawyers argued in February that the case “follows a nearly six-year record of misconduct.” [the Justice Department] In direct response to political pressure and their own interests, they are changing their charging decisions and raising the deposit on Biden. ”

A plea deal on a diversion agreement stemming from two tax misdemeanors and a firearms charge was filed in court in July 2023, with a judge questioning whether the agreement would allow Hunter Biden to avoid potential future prosecution. And it became clear.

Biden’s lawyers argue the agreement remains legally binding, but prosecutors said in a filing Friday that the “proposed agreement” has not been approved by the U.S. Probation Service. , countered that it never took effect.

Federal prosecutors also cited “well-established historical practice” to say that Weiss’ appointment as special counsel was illegal, that funding for the investigation was not authorized by Congress, and that it violated the Appropriations Clause. He rejected the claims of Biden’s lawyers.

Hunter Biden was arrested after federal prosecutors alleged he engaged in a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes and charged the president’s son with failing to file tax returns. He pleaded not guilty to nine federal tax charges in the Central District of California in March. Tax payment, tax evasion, or filing a false tax return. Hunter Biden has since repaid all taxes and penalties, including the $2 million allegedly paid to the federal government last year, with the help of a loan from his personal attorney.

The investigation into Hunter Biden, led by Weiss, began during the Trump administration and continued into the Biden administration for nearly six years.

Led by Republican-led Congressional Committee President Biden’s impeachment inquiry The investigation is focused on Hunter Biden’s finances and whether senior Biden administration officials took steps to obstruct a criminal investigation against the president’s son.

In private testimony before lawmakers in February, Hunter Biden insisted his father was not involved in his business dealings and called the investigation a “baseless and destructive political farce.” It was rejected as such.

Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, invited Hunter Biden to testify at a hearing in March. Hunter Biden’s lawyer told CBS News that he has received the request and will respond in writing. Critics of the investigation say Republican-led congressional committees have yet to produce evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden.