US President Joe Biden, pictured at the White House on Thursday, announces more action to protect the public from extreme heat. #39;his son's business dealings. Photo: Shutterstock
Joe Biden ruled out pardoning his son Hunter for federal crimes as his son's controversial overseas business dealings continued to cast a shadow over his presidency.
Hunter Biden, 53. , charged with tax and weapons offenses, and is negotiating with prosecutors for a plea deal that would allow him to avoid jail time.
At a briefing Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked if there was a chance the president would use his executive powers to pardon his son.
No,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said. Pierre responded.
This happened when Mr. Biden appeared to retract his claim that he knew nothing about his son's controversial overseas business deals.
80- the year-old U.S. president previously insisted he never discussed things with Hunter Biden, but now says he never had «business» with him.
Recent questions about Hunter's influence
An apparent shift raises new questions about Hunter Biden's alleged influence-peddling as the Justice Department continues to investigate his overseas business dealings.
The younger Mr. Biden, whose plea to avoid prison for minor tax offenses and weapons the charge was dismissed in court on Wednesday, with Republicans accusing him of using his father's position to secure lucrative positions.
Republicans also claimed that the president had direct contact with his son's foreign business partners, but have yet to provide evidence.
Repeatedly questioned about this, Ms. Jean-Pierre said: «The president has never dealt with his son.”
She added: “I have been asked this question several times… Nothing has changed.”
The comment is clearly different from what Mr. Biden had previously said about this.
“I never spoke to my son about his overseas business dealings,” he said during the trail of the 2019 presidential campaign.
“There was no hint of scandal at all when [I was Vice President ]… There were the same strict, strict rules. That's why I never talk to my son, or my brother, or anyone else, even extended family, about their business interests, period.»
James Comer, Republican Chairman of the Powerful Committee oversight of the House of Representatives, said the president was dishonest in distancing himself from his son's ties to foreign entities.
In a statement this week, he said, «Joe Biden lied to the American people by saying he knew nothing about his son's business dealings.»
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«Evidence continues to emerge that Joe Biden was very actively involved in his family's corrupt influence-peddling schemes.»
DOJ Investigation
On Wednesday, the DOJ confirmed in court that it was continuing to investigate Hunter Biden.
It's unclear what potential crimes they're investigating, but reports suggest they're looking into whether Hunter failed to properly register as a foreign agent while working in China and Ukraine during his father's vice presidency. Failure to register as a foreign agent may be a federal crime.
It has previously been claimed that an email found on his laptop refers to Joe Biden as the «big guy» and is expected to receive a cut of the proceeds from the deal with the Chinese company.
Peter Baker, The New York Times correspondent at the White House, said the question was «whether [Mr. Biden] had anything to do with his wayward son's business dealings.»
He told MSNBC, «The current president said he would never did not even discuss the business with his son.”
“The White House press secretary changed that wording slightly this week to say he has never been in business. with his son. It's a little different from what President Biden has said in the past.”
Two Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers have previously testified that Mr. Biden's Justice Department has been slow to prosecute the president's son.
These claims have been debunked by Trump-appointed Delaware Attorney David Weiss, who has insisted he has full authority over the case.
The Justice Department gave Weiss the opportunity to testify at a public hearing in Congress. , saying he was «deeply troubled» by «misrepresentations» about his work.
This came after a judge rejected a plea deal that seemed to end Biden Jr.'s legal troubles.< /p>
Last month, Mr. Biden was charged with two minor tax offenses relating to his failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes on at least $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018.
Prosecutors also said Biden was in possession of a firearm for 11 days in 2018 despite using drugs, which is a felony.
Republicans have repeatedly criticized the deal as a «favorite» agreement negotiated under pressure from the White House.
On Wednesday, a judge refused to sign a plea agreement, citing serious «concerns» about the deal.
Attorneys have 30 days to renegotiate the agreement with Biden's lawyers.
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