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| Hunter Biden could be charged with tax crimes | Hunter Biden could be charged with tax crimes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The FBI has gathered enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and making a false statement to buy a gun, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. | The FBI has gathered enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and making a false statement to buy a gun, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. |
| President Joe Biden's son has been under federal investigation since 2018. | President Joe Biden's son has been under federal investigation since 2018. |
| The decision on whether to file criminal charges now rests with the US Attorney in Delaware. | The decision on whether to file criminal charges now rests with the US Attorney in Delaware. |
| A lawyer for Hunter said he had not been contacted by federal agents. He has repeatedly denied breaking the law. | A lawyer for Hunter said he had not been contacted by federal agents. He has repeatedly denied breaking the law. |
| The US Department of Justice has declined to comment. | The US Department of Justice has declined to comment. |
| Hunter Biden, 52, is a lawyer and lobbyist who has worked abroad including in China and Ukraine. | Hunter Biden, 52, is a lawyer and lobbyist who has worked abroad including in China and Ukraine. |
| According to the Washington Post, federal agents began investigating him in 2018, and initially centred on finances related to his overseas businesses and consulting. | According to the Washington Post, federal agents began investigating him in 2018, and initially centred on finances related to his overseas businesses and consulting. |
| Over time, the investigation began to focus on whether Hunter properly reported his income and made false statements on paperwork used to purchase a firearm in 2018. | Over time, the investigation began to focus on whether Hunter properly reported his income and made false statements on paperwork used to purchase a firearm in 2018. |
| In a book published last year he had admitted to still being a heavy user of crack cocaine at that time. But the Washington Post reports that he said "no" on a federal form asking if he was "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance". | In a book published last year he had admitted to still being a heavy user of crack cocaine at that time. But the Washington Post reports that he said "no" on a federal form asking if he was "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance". |
| Criminal charges stemming from falsehoods on gun-purchase forms remain rare and number in the hundreds each year. | Criminal charges stemming from falsehoods on gun-purchase forms remain rare and number in the hundreds each year. |
| Tell-all renews scrutiny of President Biden's son | Tell-all renews scrutiny of President Biden's son |
| What was Hunter Biden doing in China and Ukraine? | What was Hunter Biden doing in China and Ukraine? |
| In a statement sent to CBS, a lawyer for the president's son said that he expected the Department of Justice to "diligently investigate and prosecute" those who leaked information about the investigation. | In a statement sent to CBS, a lawyer for the president's son said that he expected the Department of Justice to "diligently investigate and prosecute" those who leaked information about the investigation. |
| "As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defence," the statement from lawyer Chris Clark said. | "As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defence," the statement from lawyer Chris Clark said. |
| "That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticised for doing their job." | "That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticised for doing their job." |
| Mr Clark added that he has had no contact "whatsoever" with any federal investigators. He said any information from agents, which was cited by the Washington Post which first reported the story, was "inherently biased, one-sided, and inaccurate". | Mr Clark added that he has had no contact "whatsoever" with any federal investigators. He said any information from agents, which was cited by the Washington Post which first reported the story, was "inherently biased, one-sided, and inaccurate". |
| Hunter Biden has long been a target of scrutiny by former President Donald Trump and his political allies, who have alleged that his overseas business dealings indicate a pattern of corruption. | Hunter Biden has long been a target of scrutiny by former President Donald Trump and his political allies, who have alleged that his overseas business dealings indicate a pattern of corruption. |
| While the younger Biden has admitted to a troubled life and a previous "massive drug addiction", both he and President Biden have denied that he engaged in illegal activity. | While the younger Biden has admitted to a troubled life and a previous "massive drug addiction", both he and President Biden have denied that he engaged in illegal activity. |
| He first admitted knowledge of an investigation in December 2020. In a statement at the time, Hunter Biden said he was "confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, with the benefit of professional tax advisers." | He first admitted knowledge of an investigation in December 2020. In a statement at the time, Hunter Biden said he was "confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, with the benefit of professional tax advisers." |
| In April, Joe Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, said the US president "is confident that his son didn't break the law" but that the matter would be left to the Justice Department and that the White House would not get involved. | In April, Joe Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, said the US president "is confident that his son didn't break the law" but that the matter would be left to the Justice Department and that the White House would not get involved. |
| The news of potential charges against Hunter, however, comes at a politically sensitive time for President Biden with just under a month to go until the 2022 US midterm elections. | The news of potential charges against Hunter, however, comes at a politically sensitive time for President Biden with just under a month to go until the 2022 US midterm elections. |