Special counsel who investigated Hunter Biden criticizes President Biden in final report
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Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, departs federal court after a plea hearing on two misdemeanour charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware on July 26, 2023. © Jonathon Ernst, Reuters file photo
Special Counsel David Weiss, who led the six-year investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial and gun-related offenses, has issued a report that sharply criticizes President Joe Biden for making “gratuitous and wrong” claims about the fairness of the investigation. In his final report, released Monday, Weiss responded to the accusations made by the president when he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, last month. President Biden had suggested that Hunter was the victim of a “selective” prosecution that was “unfair” and amounted to a “miscarriage of justice.”
Weiss strongly disagreed with the president’s statements, asserting that the investigations were not politically motivated, and underscored that the justice system treats everyone equally, regardless of their name or family connections. In the report, Weiss rebuked the president’s remarks, saying, “Other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations.”
He added, “These prosecutions were the embodiment of the equal application of justice – no matter who you are, or what your last name is, you are subject to the same laws as everyone else in the United States.” Weiss also criticized politicians who attack prosecutors’ decisions as politically motivated, arguing that such attacks undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.
The report also included a quote from the federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s tax case, who similarly chastised President Biden for “rewriting history” after his comments on the pardon. CNN has previously reported on some false claims made by the president in an interview with USA Today, particularly about Hunter Biden’s gun case, which were contradicted by the evidence presented in court.
Hunter Biden’s pardon, granted by his father after the November election, shielded him from prosecution for any federal crimes committed between 2014 and December 2024. As a result, Weiss stated that his final report does not include any analysis on whether additional charges should have been filed beyond the tax and gun charges Hunter Biden had already faced.
In a statement on Monday, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, condemned Weiss’ investigation, calling it an example of prosecutorial overreach. Lowell criticized several of Weiss’ decisions, particularly his attempt to resolve the investigation with a negotiated plea agreement in 2023. That deal, which would have avoided a trial, fell apart after scrutiny from a federal judge and Republicans. “Mr. Weiss also fails to explain why he reneged on his own agreement,” Lowell said, referring to the reversal that occurred under intense pressure from Republican lawmakers.
Weiss’ investigation began in 2018, when he was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Delaware by President Donald Trump. Despite the change in administration, President Joe Biden kept Weiss on the case when he took office. In 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to the role of special counsel after a plea deal for Hunter Biden fell apart in court.
Weiss’ investigation led to charges against two individuals: Hunter Biden and Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who falsely accused the Biden family of taking bribes from Ukraine. Smirnov was sentenced to six years in prison last week. Hunter Biden, meanwhile, faced three criminal charges related to his unlawful possession of a firearm while abusing illicit drugs, along with nine federal tax charges. He pleaded guilty to the tax charges in September, admitting to tax evasion and other offenses. However, the court process was interrupted when Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father, thus avoiding sentencing.
Despite criticism from both political sides, Weiss maintained that his investigation was not influenced by politics. He stated that he “ignored” political pressures from both sides, focusing solely on “the facts and the law” when making prosecutorial decisions. “I also never considered whether my decisions would be viewed favorably or unfavorably by any politicians,” Weiss wrote, emphasizing his commitment to the integrity of the investigation.
The report, which spans 280 pages, also defends Weiss’ decision to pursue gun charges against Hunter Biden, pointing to the Biden administration’s priority on enforcing stricter gun laws. Weiss cited the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 and other actions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as significant factors in his decision to press charges.
Though some Republican lawmakers have long pushed unsubstantiated claims about Hunter Biden and his father’s involvement in illegal business dealings abroad, Weiss’ report concluded that there was no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing by President Biden. Hunter Biden, according to the report, had no “co-conspirators” in his financial crimes.
In conclusion, Weiss’ final report provides a detailed look at the legal journey that led to Hunter Biden’s pardon and defends the integrity of the investigation against claims of political bias. While Hunter Biden faces no further charges due to the pardon, the investigation has sparked significant debate over prosecutorial power and the influence of political figures on justice.
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