In his final report released on Monday, 13th January, Special Counsel David Weiss sharply criticised President Joe Biden for his recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
Weiss, whose six-year investigation into Hunter Biden was effectively ended by the pardon, denounced the president’s claims that the investigation was politically motivated and “unfair.”
President Biden, when issuing the pardon last month, stated that Hunter Biden was a victim of “selective” prosecution and a “miscarriage of justice.” Weiss vehemently rejected these accusations in his report, stating: “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.”
Weiss emphasised that the prosecutions were conducted fairly and impartially, stating: “Far from selective, 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.”
The report highlighted the detrimental impact of such political attacks on public trust in the justice system, stating: “Politicians who attack the decisions of career prosecutors as politically motivated when they disagree with the outcome of a case undermine the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system.”
Echoing sentiments expressed by the presiding judge in Hunter Biden’s tax case, Weiss criticised the president for “rewriting history” with his false claims.
Weiss also addressed the president’s recent interview with USA Today, where he falsely claimed that evidence contradicted the facts of Hunter Biden’s gun case.
The pardon granted by President Biden shields his son from any federal prosecution for crimes committed between 2014 and December 2024. Consequently, Weiss stated that his report does not include any legal analysis regarding potential additional charges beyond the 12 tax and gun charges filed against Hunter Biden in 2023.
Weiss’s investigation, which began in 2018 under the Trump administration, made history as the first instance of criminal charges being filed against the son of a sitting president. Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on three counts related to the unlawful purchase and possession of a firearm while under the influence of drugs.
In response to the report, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticised Special Counsel Weiss’s actions, particularly the withdrawal of a previously negotiated plea agreement. Lowell accused Weiss of succumbing to political pressure from Republicans.
Weiss, however, maintained his independence throughout the investigation, stating that he “ignored” political interference and focused solely on “the facts and the law.” He emphasised that his decisions were based on evidence and legal principles, not political considerations.
Weiss expressed gratitude to Attorney General Merrick Garland for allowing his office to conduct independent investigations, thereby refuting Republican allegations of political interference by the Biden administration.
The report also details the conviction of Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who falsely accused Hunter and President Biden of receiving bribes from Ukraine. Smirnov’s conviction highlights the dangers of unsubstantiated accusations that can fuel political agendas.
