First on FOX: Special Counsel David Weiss slams President Biden in his long-awaited report on the years-long investigation into Hunter Biden, saying the commander-in-chief’s characterization of the investigation into his son is “wrong” He said he was being “unfairly” maligned. Justice Department officials acknowledged that the president’s pardon made it “inappropriate” to discuss whether additional charges against the eldest son were warranted.
Fox News Digital obtained a copy of Weiss’ final report after years of investigation into Hunter Biden.
The Justice Department sent the report to Congress on Monday night.
Weiss said in his report that the special counsel would grant him a “full and unconditional pardon” in 2024 covering approximately 11 years of conduct, including conduct related to both convictions. He condemned President Biden’s decision on December 1st.
Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony gun crimes stemming from Special Counsel David Weiss’ investigation. The eldest son was also charged with federal tax crimes for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Before the trial, Hunter Biden made a surprise guilty plea.
Hunter Biden: A look back at how the story unfolded over 6 years
The charges carried a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 16, but his father, President Biden, pardoned him on all charges in December.
In his report, Weiss wrote that not only the president’s pardon decision but also the public announcement of his son’s prosecution were “infected” with “selective,” “unfair,” and “raw politics.” ” A press release also criticized it. And it’s a “misjudgment.” ”
“This statement is unfounded and false,” Weiss said in the report. “Other presidents have pardoned families, but none has used this opportunity to smear Justice Department officials based solely on false accusations.”
Mr. Weiss also pointed to a comment by Judge Mark C. Scalsi that said, “The Constitution gives the President broad authority to grant reprieves and pardons for crimes against the United States, including Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. Article 2, Section 2, Article 2, Paragraph 2, Article 2, Paragraph 2, Item 2.”1 However, nowhere in the Constitution is the president given the power to rewrite history. ”
“These prosecutions were the result of a thorough and impartial investigation, not partisan politics,” Weiss said in his report. “Eight judges on the majority court rejected the argument that it was the result of selective or vindictive motives.”
Weiss continued, “Questioning these decisions and injecting partisanship into the independent administration of law undermines the very foundations that make America’s judicial system fair and impartial. It undermines public trust in the institutions essential to maintaining control.” ”
In another section of the report, Weiss noted that given the presidential pardon, “a decision on additional charges cannot be made,” and that it would be “inappropriate to discuss whether additional charges are warranted.” ” he said.
“Politicians who attack the decisions of career prosecutors who disagree with the outcome of a case as politically motivated undermine public confidence in our criminal justice system,” Weiss wrote. “The President’s comments unfairly impugn the integrity of not only Justice Department officials, but all public servants who have made difficult decisions in good faith.”
Weiss added: “The president’s characterization is wrong based on the facts of this case and wrong on a more fundamental level.”
The federal investigation into Hunter Biden began in November 2018.
President Biden’s son Hunter Biden leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 3, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
But it wasn’t until 2023 that IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler brought allegations of politicking in the federal investigation into Hunter Biden to Congress.
The two men argued that political influence influenced prosecutorial decisions in the federal investigation led by David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, who was appointed by President Trump and requested the appointment of special counsel.
Biden pardons son Hunter Biden before leaving Oval Office
After Mr. Shapley and Mr. Ziegler testified publicly, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Mr. Weiss as special prosecutor to continue the investigation into the eldest son, eventually leading to two separate investigations in Delaware and California. filed federal charges in the jurisdiction of
Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed Agent David Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation. (Fox News)
Under Justice Department rules, Weiss is required to send his final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has promised to make it as public as possible.
The Justice Department and Special Counsel Weiss’ office declined to comment.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s pardon of his son comes after months of vowing not to pardon Americans.
Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Justice Department as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray look on, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
But last month, the president announced a blanket pardon that applies to all crimes against the United States that Hunter Biden “committed or may have committed” between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024. .
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“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere in the decisions of the Department of Justice, and I kept that promise even as I watched my son be selectively and unfairly prosecuted,” Biden said. “In the face of relentless attacks and selective prosecution, there was an effort to break down Hunter, who has been sober for five and a half years. But there’s no reason to do that.” Trust me, it will stop here. ”
“I hope the American people understand why my father and my president are making this decision,” Biden added.
Late Monday, Hunter Biden’s attorney Abby Rowell released a response to Weiss’ report on Fox News, saying, “As with all court filings, David Weiss’s 27-page report One of the major mysteries in the seven-year investigation into Mr. Weiss also conveniently omits the proposal to resolve this investigation in 2023 with two misdemeanor charges and a diverted gun charge recommended by a career prosecutor. He didn’t. He broke his own agreement. This reversal is about him and his. The 11th hour in court as the office faced fierce attacks from Republicans and then filed unprecedented charges against someone who had no aggravating firearms factor and had been paying taxes years before Republicans. There was a reversal in his eyes.Finally, and most interestingly, Mr. Weiss wondered why he What is clear from this report is that the investigation into Hunter Biden is within the prosecutor’s power. This is a warning against the abuse of
Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
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