Hunter Biden Initiates Legal Action Against GOP Critics, Creating a Delicate Situation for the President

Hunter Biden has initiated legal action against his Republican detractors, contending in a recently filed lawsuit that despite being the son of the President of the United States, he should not be subject to different standards than any other American citizen. This lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is merely the latest in a series of retaliatory moves by the President’s son.

While the legal team representing Hunter Biden may believe that adopting an aggressive stance serves his best interests, such a strategy may not necessarily align with the needs of President Biden, who is in the midst of seeking reelection and wishes to keep public attention on his policy successes.

The President has largely refrained from commenting on his son’s ongoing legal challenges, which now encompass a felony indictment. The overarching strategy from the White House has been to keep President Biden’s focus on governance, on the presumption that this is what voters will ultimately prioritize, while endeavoring to maintain a distance from Hunter Biden’s issues.

Optimistically, some allies of the President suggest that although the ongoing legal drama surrounding Hunter Biden is not beneficial for reelection prospects, the legal process could eventually clarify matters in a way that vindicates the administration. “The perspectives from the White House and Hunter’s legal team differ significantly, but a factual disclosure to the public could ultimately be advantageous for the President,” said Democratic political strategist David Brock.

However, unnamed sources, unauthorized to speak publicly, have shared with The Big Big News that within Democratic circles there is private concern. They worry that Hunter Biden’s legal entanglements could adversely impact President Biden’s 2024 campaign and create challenges for Democrats in closely contested House races.

In the lawsuit filed on Monday against the IRS, Hunter Biden argues that two agents, who testified as whistleblowers, have infringed upon his privacy by revealing his tax data during a probe led by House Republicans concerning his business activities. Last week, Hunter Biden’s legal team also filed a lawsuit against a former aide to Donald Trump, accusing him of a role in disseminating emails and compromising photographs of Hunter Biden. Additionally, they have called for state and federal agencies to launch a criminal investigation into allies of Trump for leaking his personal information.

In June, Hunter Biden had consented to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution for a gun-related charge through a diversion program. However, this agreement disintegrated following a court hearing on July 26, resulting in a felony weapons charge indictment against him.

This complex legal landscape further complicates President Biden’s political situation. House Republicans have initiated an impeachment inquiry aiming to connect the President to his son’s business operations. Although Hunter Biden did capitalize on his family name in his business pursuits, no significant evidence implicating President Biden in any wrongdoing has emerged. The President has also refrained from commenting on ongoing Justice Department prosecutions of both his son and Donald Trump.

With Hunter Biden possibly facing trial amidst his father’s reelection campaign, Republicans appear pleased, hoping this will divert attention from Donald Trump’s own legal issues. Friends of Hunter Biden assert that his plea agreement collapsed partially due to Justice Department officials yielding to Republican pressure, who alleged that he was receiving preferential treatment.

“The prior approach of remaining unresponsive has only resulted in Republicans perpetuating misinformation, damaging the President’s reputation as reflected in multiple opinion polls. It is imperative that someone counters this narrative,” said Michael LaRosa, a former special assistant to the President.

Poll data reveals that roughly one-third of Americans express significant concern about potential misconduct by President Biden in relation to his son’s business activities. About half of the polled individuals doubt the fairness and impartiality of the Justice Department’s probe into Hunter Biden. Party affiliations deeply polarize views on the issue: 66% of Republicans and just 7% of Democrats express high levels of concern.

The scrutiny is expected to persist, given the impending impeachment inquiry and a special counsel’s decision to bring federal gun charges against Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden has been indicted for falsely declaring that he was not a drug user when purchasing a firearm. Earlier this year, he retained the services of high-profile attorney Abbe Lowell, renowned for representing figures like Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

The lawsuit against the IRS posits that Hunter Biden should not be denied the same legal protections afforded to other American citizens. “Mr. Biden possesses no fewer rights than any other American, and no government entity has unlimited authority to violate these rights based solely on his identity,” states the lawsuit.

Legal experts suggest that prosecutions for false statements on federal gun applications are rare, especially when there are no allegations that the weapon was procured for criminal purposes. The defense team for Hunter Biden is signaling their intent to argue that an earlier agreement, sparing him from felony gun charges, should remain intact despite the collapse of his misdemeanor tax plea deal.

“If this matter proceeds to trial, convincing a jury may prove to be a significant challenge,” observed Jennifer Rodgers, a former federal prosecutor. “Addiction is an issue many Americans can relate to, and the concept that someone who struggled with drug use briefly owned a firearm that was never involved in any crime could be a difficult point to prosecute in a federal felony trial.”

The report is contributed by Durkin, reporting from Boston. Additional insights provided by Michael Balsamo, a writer for The Big Big News.

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More about Hunter Biden legal actions

• Hunter Biden’s Lawsuit Against the IRS
• President Biden’s Re-election Campaign
• Democratic Concerns for 2024
• Polling Data on Hunter Biden’s Impact on Public Opinion
• Republicans’ Strategy for 2024 Election
• Justice Department’s Role in Hunter Biden Investigation
• High-Profile Attorney Abbe Lowell
• Impeachment Inquiry Against President Biden
• House Races and Democratic Strategy for 2024
• Donald Trump’s Legal Troubles