Is Joe Biden calling the probe into Hunter Biden’s net worth fake news?

On Tuesday, Joe Biden said he hadn’t talked about the federal probe into his son, Hunter Biden, with his candidates for U.S. attorney general. He told reporters: “The attorney general of the United States of America is not the president’s lawyer.”

Earlier this month, Hunter Biden announced he became the focus of a federal investigation for his tax affairs. In response, Joe Biden was recently asked by a reporter if he believed his son did anything wrong, and he replied by saying he was “confident” no crime was committed. 

The investigation was made public five days before the Electoral College voted Joe Biden to be the next president. The Senate will convene to confirm the vote in January a couple weeks before Inauguration Day. 

Joe Biden’s transition team issued a statement responding to the investigation: “Biden is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger.”

What is the Hunter Biden probe about?

Hunter Biden isn’t just the former vice president’s son. He’s also a lawyer & businessman who recently came under investigation for allegations related to tax & money laundering violations. The investigation is focused on his dealings in Ukraine & China during his father’s vice presidency.

He revealed details about the federal probe, saying his taxes were under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware, an office which is part of the Justice Department. Biden said he doesn’t believe the investigation will reveal he did anything wrong. 

He maintained his innocence in a statement – according to him, the allegations aren’t true: “I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.” 

William Barr on the Hunter Biden probe

A major player in the Hunter Biden probe is outgoing Attorney General William Barr, who was appointed by Trump in 2019. Per The New York Post, Trump became upset with how Barr handled the Hunter Biden probe, saying that Barr should’ve made the probe public before the election. He was also reportedly angered by Barr’s statements regarding the 2020 election. 

Congressional Republicans are calling for a special counsel to look further into Hunter Biden’s tax issues. However, Barr said earlier this week there isn’t a need for it. Barr’s conclusion was made during what is probably his last news conference as attorney general, since he announced his resignation earlier this month.

“To the extent that there’s an investigation, I think it’s being handled responsibly and professionally currently within the department, and to this point I have seen no reason to appoint a special counsel, and I have no plan to do so before I leave,” Barr told reporters. “If I thought a special counsel was the right tool, I would name one, but I haven’t.”

What would a special counsel do for the Hunter Biden probe?

If a special counsel was appointed for the Hunter Biden probe, it would be a way to prevent Joe Biden or his administration from putting pressure on the U.S. attorney’s office to be less harsh on Hunter Biden.

Special counsels are appointed by the attorney general. They’re used to investigate someone when there’s a conflict of interest with the Justice Department or federal prosecutors.

Hunter Biden’s previous tax issues & net worth

This probe isn’t the first time Hunter Biden has come under scrutiny for his taxes. NBC News recently reported in November 2019, he & his wife were hit with a lien for $112,805 regarding unpaid taxes.

Even though Barr said he didn’t think a special counsel in this case was necessary, the incoming acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen wouldn’t confirm whether or not he would appoint one. This means there’s still a lot of uncertainty with what will happen next in the Hunter Biden probe.