President Joe Biden on Tuesday publicly addressed for the primary time the possible charges against his son Hunter Biden for alleged tax crimes and making a false statement on a gun purchase application.
“I’m pleased with my son,” Biden told CNN’s Jake Tapper when asked for his response to the potential charges. “He got hooked on ― like many families have had occur ― hooked on drugs. He’s overcome that. He’s established a recent life.”
Hunter Biden has been under investigation since 2018. Federal prosecutors are confident they’ve enough evidence to bring criminal charges against him, The Washington Post reported last week.
President Biden on Tuesday for the primary time addressed his son’s exposure to possible criminal charges for allegedly lying on a gun-purchase application, but he said he was pleased with Hunter Biden for confronting his struggles with drug addiction https://t.co/NscXr1yMlf pic.twitter.com/nnkefrnIVg
— CNN (@CNN) October 12, 2022
The probe initially focused on Biden’s overseas business dealings but later expanded to look into whether he engaged in tax evasion and lied on a form to purchase a gun in 2018. He reportedly answered “no” to a matter asking if he used controlled substances but has since admitted in his book that he was scuffling with addiction and using drugs that 12 months.
Joe Biden told CNN he knew nothing in regards to the gun purchase.
“He wrote a book about his problems and was straightforward about it. I’m pleased with him,” he said. “This thing a few gun ― I didn’t know anything about it. But seems that when he made an application to buy a gun, what happened was he … you get asked a matter, ‘are you on drugs?’ or ‘do use drugs?’ He said no. And he wrote about saying no in his book.”
“So I actually have great confidence in my son,” he added. “I like him and he’s on the straight and narrow, and he has been for a pair years now. And I’m just so pleased with him.”
The White House has previously declined to comment on the investigation. Republicans and right-wing media have fixated on the problem and have signaled it could develop into the topic of a congressional probe next 12 months should Republicans take control of Congress within the November midterms.
Biden declined to reply a matter about when he’ll announce whether he’s running for reelection in 2024. He said his focus is on the upcoming midterm elections.
“After that’s done in November, then I’m going to be within the technique of deciding,” he said.
“Is considered one of the calculations that you think that you’re the just one who can beat Donald Trump?” Tapper asked.
“I think I can beat Donald Trump again,” Biden answered.
