Weiss Report: Hunter’s drug use can’t explain away not paying taxes on money earned by ‘last name’

Special Counsel David Weiss concluded his years-long investigation into Hunter Biden, determining that the first son’s drug abuse could not excuse his failure to pay taxes on millions of dollars of income earned through his “last name and connections.” According to Weiss’ final report released on Monday, Hunter Biden consciously and willfully chose not to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over a four-year period from 2016 to 2020.
Weiss detailed that Hunter Biden received over $7 million in total gross income during this period, including significant amounts in each year. He obtained this income through lucrative business opportunities secured by using his family connections, such as a board seat at Burisma Holdings Limited, a Ukrainian industrial conglomerate, and a joint venture with individuals associated with a Chinese energy conglomerate. Despite negotiating and executing contracts that paid him millions of dollars for limited work, Hunter Biden failed to fulfill his tax obligations.
The 54-year-old faced two separate federal cases prosecuted by Weiss last year. In June, he faced three felony firearm offenses related to his drug use in Delaware, followed by a guilty plea in a felony tax case in September. The tax case involved charges of three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Weiss noted that Hunter Biden spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle instead of paying his tax bills, and his previous drug abuse could not justify his tax evasion.
Weiss emphasized that Hunter Biden’s conduct could not be excused by his drug use, especially since he filed a false tax return in 2018 after regaining sobriety. The prosecutor highlighted the seriousness of Hunter Biden’s tax crimes, stating that they were not technical violations and warranted prosecution. Despite the potential for up to 17 years in prison, Hunter Biden’s sentencing was scheduled for December 16 but was preempted by a pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, earlier that month.
In his report, Weiss criticized President Biden’s characterization of the prosecutions against Hunter Biden as selective and unfair. He noted that other presidents have pardoned family members without disparaging Department of Justice personnel. Weiss highlighted that attacks on career prosecutors undermine the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system and impugn the integrity of those making difficult decisions in good faith.
The Department of Justice officially closed the investigation into Hunter Biden by sending Weiss’ report to Congress on Monday evening. The years-long saga involving the first son’s tax evasion and legal troubles has come to an end, with the details outlined in the Special Counsel’s comprehensive final report.