Special Counsel Report on Hunter Biden Denounces President’s Criticism of Case
New York TimesJan 14
Special Counsel Criticizes Joe Biden Over Son's Pardon
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Above: US Pres. Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: Mandel Ngan/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) on Monday released a final report in which special counsel David Weiss criticized Pres. Joe Biden's characterization of the Hunter Biden investigation as politically motivated and unfair, calling such accusations "gratuitous and wrong."
Weiss began investigating Hunter Biden in 2018 when he was a Trump-appointed US Attorney for Delaware. He was later elevated to special counsel status by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023.
The Spin
Republican narrative
The investigation of Hunter Biden was thorough and impartial, free from political interference, and the charges were brought solely based on evidence of criminal conduct. Hunter Biden consciously broke federal laws and would've been held accountable were it not for his father's abuse of the pardon power.
Democratic narrative
This investigation represents a cautionary tale of prosecutorial abuse, with Hunter Biden being unfairly targeted due to his last name. The prosecution ignored his struggles with addiction and pursued charges that would not typically be brought against others in similar circumstances.
