Tax offenses and making false statements while purchasing a firearm could result in “serious charges” for Hunter Biden, Former AG Barr says

In a statement made over the weekend, William Barr, the ex-Attorney General, indicated that Hunter Biden, son of current U.S. President Joe Biden, could potentially be facing significant charges as a result of an ongoing Department of Justice (DOJ) inquiry.

The DOJ has been investigating Hunter Biden for several years now, scrutinizing allegations of tax fraud and misrepresentation during a firearm acquisition. Barr, who held the position of Attorney General at the onset of this investigation, offered his insights on the case during an interview with CBS News.

Barr alluded that recent discussions involving federal prosecutors, Delaware officials, and the legal counsel of Hunter Biden, could signify that the DOJ is nearing a pivotal point in the investigation, likely a decision regarding pressing charges.

“There’s probably been a lot of hand-wringing in many different places, but I assume that the defense went in there to try to see what they think would be a way to resolve this without serious charges against Hunter Biden,” he said, as reported by Newsweek. “I suspect that they’re going to be unsuccessful.”

Barr conveyed that the prolonged timeframe of the tax case involving the president’s son is likely due to its “complicated” nature and the necessity to collaborate with the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). Additionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) could potentially be examining the corruption accusations directed at Hunter Biden, largely originating from Republican circles.

Hunter Biden, besides being the focus of a DOJ investigation, is also under the microscope from House Republicans in relation to his international business activities. According to GOP members, Hunter Biden’s business collaborations with foreign firms, some of which are linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), deserve closer examination for possible corruption. These business transactions occurred during his father’s vice presidency from 2009 to 2017 in the Barack Obama administration.

Expressing his concerns over the possible “abuses of power” by Hunter Biden, Barr nonetheless expressed uncertainty over whether these allegations would result in a conviction in a court of law.

“There’s a difference between abuses of power, shameful behavior when you’re in power and so forth—and something that can actually be proven as a crime,” Barr said on Saturday. “I joined the conclusion that there was a lot of shameful self dealing and influence peddling and so forth. I think the American people should take note. That should be explained and shown to the American people. The question of whether you can prove a crime is a different matter.”

Barr’s comments emerge amidst a wave of fresh criticism directed at the DOJ over their handling of the Hunter Biden investigation.

Gary Shapley, a whistleblower with a 14-year stint at the IRS, relayed to CBS News this week that various stages of the investigation were either “slow-walked” or outrightly not undertaken. The probe, which originated during former President Donald Trump’s term, has extended into the Biden administration. Nevertheless, to prevent any perceived conflict of interest, the investigators from the Trump-era have remained at the helm of the inquiry.

“When I took control of this particular investigation, I immediately saw deviations from the normal process. It was way outside the norm of what I’ve experienced in the past,” Shapley told CBS News.

As reported by CBS News, Shapley serves as a supervisory special agent within the agency’s criminal investigations division, heading a team of 12 agents tasked with scrutinizing international tax and financial crimes. Shapley was appointed to the Hunter Biden case in January 2020, and started recording his apprehensions by June of that same year.

Simultaneously, there were indications in October that federal agents thought they had amassed sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden. Nonetheless, the charges were anticipated to be lodged after the November midterm elections to circumvent any possible electoral disruptions. Despite this, several months have passed with the DOJ yet to announce any charges.

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