Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, faced two separate federal criminal prosecutions led by Special Counsel David Weiss. In June 2024, a Delaware jury convicted him of three felony charges related to the purchase and possession of a firearm in 2018 while struggling with drug addiction. In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in California, including tax evasion and filing false returns, after prosecutors alleged he willfully avoided paying $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while funding an extravagant lifestyle. On December 1, 2024, President Biden pardoned his son for all criminal offenses committed or potentially committed over the preceding eleven years, effectively ending both cases. Prior to the pardon, investigations into his business dealings and personal financial conduct drew significant public and political scrutiny, including allegations of influence-peddling, though no evidence linked the former president to his son's criminal conduct. Additionally, a former FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, was charged with lying to federal agents regarding allegations involving Hunter Biden and his father.