Special Counsel David Weiss has released his highly-anticipated report detailing his decisions to charge Hunter Biden. However, due to President Biden's pardon of his son, Weiss deemed it inappropriate to discuss whether additional charges are warranted.
The report, obtained by a source, follows Weiss's years-long investigation into Hunter Biden. The Justice Department transmitted the report to Congress on Monday evening.
In the report, Weiss criticized President Biden for granting his son a 'Full and Unconditional Pardon' on December 1, 2024, covering nearly eleven years of conduct, including the convictions obtained by the special counsel.
Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felony firearm offenses and federal tax crimes related to the failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Despite facing up to 17 years behind bars, Hunter Biden entered a surprise guilty plea before his sentencing, which was scheduled for December 16 but was ultimately pardoned by his father.
Weiss condemned the president's decision to pardon Hunter Biden and criticized the press release that questioned the prosecution as 'selective' and 'unfair.' He emphasized that the prosecutions were the result of thorough investigations, not partisan politics.
Addressing the public's confidence in the justice system, Weiss highlighted that injecting partisanship into legal matters undermines the foundation of fairness and equity in America's justice system.
Regarding the presidential pardon, Weiss stated that he cannot make additional charging decisions and refrained from discussing the need for further charges.
The federal investigation into Hunter Biden began in November 2018 but gained attention in 2023 when IRS whistleblowers raised concerns about political influence in the probe. This led to the appointment of Weiss as special counsel to pursue charges against Hunter Biden in Delaware and California.
President Biden's decision to pardon his son came after months of promising not to interfere with the Justice Department's decisions. The blanket pardon covers offenses committed by Hunter Biden from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024.
In a statement, President Biden defended his decision, citing unfair prosecution and attacks on his son. He expressed hope that Americans would understand his perspective as both a father and a president.
