In a sequence that remained largely concealed from White House staff, Hunter Biden seized a window of two weeks to forge a father-son connection with President Biden before his plea deal on federal tax and gun charges unraveled, according to a revelatory report. The embattled son of the 80-year-old president embarked on his stay at the Executive Mansion on June 21, the day following his ultimately unsuccessful plea agreement with US Attorney David Weiss.
The deal’s dissolution would have spared Hunter Biden from potential incarceration linked to accusations of tax evasion and falsification of information concerning his purchase of a firearm while grappling with crack cocaine addiction.
Remarkably, the majority of President Biden’s aides remained uninformed about Hunter Biden’s prolonged presence in Washington, D.C. during this period. His stay coincided with a White House state dinner honoring India’s prime minister, family trips to Camp David, the unexpected discovery of cocaine near the Situation Room, and a lively Fourth of July celebration at the iconic 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The Washington Post’s report underscores the notable avoidance of discussions about President Biden’s son among White House aides, even among senior staff members. This avoidance stems from a belief that such conversations wouldn’t be welcome, and as a result, they consciously shy away from addressing Hunter Biden’s legal dilemmas directly with the president.
Despite mounting concerns about the potential impact of Hunter Biden’s legal challenges on President Biden, his aides remain hesitant to broach the subject. This conspicuous lack of open dialogue has introduced complexities into the president’s re-election endeavors. It’s anticipated that the eventual Republican nominee for the presidency will seize upon various aspects of Hunter Biden’s situation, including the reportedly lenient initial plea deal, allegations of an IRS whistleblower-backed cover-up that shielded him from legal accountability during a government investigation, and his alleged participation in overseas influence-peddling ventures.
A previous NBC News report from June captured President Biden’s unequivocal stance: “Hands off my family.” He expressed this sentiment when the matter of advice regarding Hunter Biden arose.
Interestingly, the president’s aides specially curated his schedule on July 26, ensuring that he could closely monitor Hunter Biden’s appearance in a Delaware courtroom. On this day, it was anticipated that the plea deal with David Weiss would be finalized. Notably, internal meetings and an interview about mental health with podcast host Jay Shetty filled President Biden’s day, reflecting the staff’s effort to shield him from media exposure during the courtroom proceedings.
Guiding the president through this crucial moment, his personal attorney, Bob Bauer, provided real-time updates during the lengthy courtroom session as Hunter Biden’s plea agreement faltered, culminating in a plea of not guilty from the first son.
Subsequent to this development, Attorney General Merrick Garland unexpectedly elevated David Weiss to the role of special counsel, reportedly surprising President Biden.
Weiss’s elevated role ensures the continuation of the investigation into Hunter Biden, possibly leading to further charges, which might encompass allegations of failing to register as a foreign agent during lobbying activities. This trajectory could potentially culminate in a trial, a scenario that may unfold during President Biden’s re-election campaign.