Special counsel David Weiss has summoned a grand jury in Los Angeles and issued a subpoena to first brother James Biden as part of his investigation into eldest son Hunter Biden.
Delaware’s US attorney will seek to introduce documents and possible witness testimony in the investigation now focused on 53-year-old Hunter’s alleged failure to pay taxes on money he earned from overseas ventures, CNN reported Thursday.
It’s unclear for which tax year Weiss’ team may consider bringing new charges against Hunter — or whether the special counsel is investigating other alleged crimes committed by President Biden’s surviving son.
In June, Hunter agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay at least $100,000 on more than $1.5 million in income earned in both 2017 and 2018.
The plea deal, which also required Hunter to enter a diversion program on the federal gun charges, fell apart in a Delaware courtroom on July 26 and he was later charged with felony counts of making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by federally licensed firearms dealer, and unlawful possession of a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance.
Hunter has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Weiss may want to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes in California.AP
During the plea hearing, prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika that the deal does not preclude charges against Hunter at a later date for other alleged crimes — such as possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
The alleged FARA violations stemmed from Hunter failing to register as a foreign agent while engaging in lucrative deals in countries such as China and Ukraine that allegedly involved his father and uncle.
The FBI, which is tasked with investigating aspects of the Weiss investigation related to money laundering and FARA violations, does not expect Hunter to be charged in the matter, according to CNN.
Federal investigators also raised the possibility of indicting Hunter for sex-trafficking-related crimes over his communications with numerous alleged prostitutes in which he apparently coordinated their travel across states — a possible violation of the federal Mann Act ban on interstate prostitution — according to IRS whistleblower documents,
IRS whistleblowers claim Hunter Biden avoided paying taxes on $8.3 million in income he received between 2014 and 2019.REUTERS
Federal prosecutors teased in an August court filing that Hunter could face new tax charges, in another county, after the torpedo peal deal.
“The government, in exercising its prosecutorial discretion, is considering what tax charges to bring in other districts and may choose to bring the same charges set forth in the instant information or a different one,” the filing said.
Before the June plea deal, Weiss declined to bring charges against Hunter for alleged tax crimes committed in southern California and Washington, DC, after US attorneys in both districts refused to cooperate in his investigation.
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley alleges Hunter avoided paying taxes on $8.3 million in income he received between 2014 and 2019, a period during which the first son sat on the boards of Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings and Chinese private equity fund BHR Partners.
Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Hunter Biden, James Biden and Rob Walker, associates of the family, for depositions. Republicans claim that James and Hunter Biden touted their access to the politically powerful Joe Biden in order to secure lucrative business deals that might benefit the president.
Biden has repeatedly denied ever discussing overseas business with Hunter or any of his family members, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
