Amid last week's news that Hunter Biden was indicted on a trio of gun charges, the Washington Times' Susan Ferrechio writes that the first son's bad news may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the family's potential exposure.
While the idea of facing felony charges related to a firearm purchase from several years ago is surely daunting to just about anyone, the possibility of even more allegations of criminal misconduct looms large over not just Hunter Biden, but the president – and his reelection campaign – as well.
More to come?
Hunter Biden's indictment on gun charges came after a prior plea agreement negotiated with federal prosecutors fell apart earlier this summer.
That development prompted special counsel David Weiss to suggest that a new set of charges was imminent, but also that prosecution on tax charges that were also wrapped up in that failed deal could be on the way.
In addition, the Justice Department also indicated back in July that the probe of the president's son could encompass questions of whether he should face charges due to his failure to heed the requirements of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in relation to his overseas business activities.
Notably, convictions on charges related to FARA violations sent more than one associate of former President Donald Trump to prison, making the absence of charges against Hunter Biden – who is well-known to have made large sums of money as a result of foreign dealings – all the more questionable.
Mike Davis, president of the Article III Project and former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, opined with regard to potential FARA charges against Hunter Biden, “That seems like a slam dunk. He took money on behalf of foreign actors and advocated for them and didn't register.”
Headaches for Dad
To date, Hunter Biden has only been criminally charged for alleged violations of gun laws that do not implicate his father in any way, but if charges related to his business activities abroad come into the picture, the president's re-election bid could quickly become far more complicated.
If tax charges are leveled against Hunter Biden, a deeper dive into the sources of his substantial income over the years will ensue, potentially raising additional questions about his father's involvement – particularly during his vice-presidential tenure.
Now that an impeachment inquiry is being launched by House Republicans who claim they have unearthed evidence of Joe Biden's involvement in lucrative influence-peddling schemes, the president may soon find himself hearing even louder calls from members of his own party to abandon his bid for a second term.
No pardon
Regardless of the charges that are ultimately lodged against Hunter Biden, the White House – at least thus far – has maintained that the president does not plan to grant a pardon in the event convictions are secured against his son.
However, if – as many expect – last week's gun charges are just the beginning of the charges yet to emerge, perhaps a scenario articulated by Fox News' Greg Gutfeld will come to pass, whereby the president issues a pardon to save his son but is required by the Democratic Party to step aside in favor of a more viable – and less compromised – candidate.
