Susan Ferrechio writes for the Washington Times about more bad news for Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden could face federal charges related to his failure to register as a foreign agent before he cut lucrative deals with Ukraine, China and other countries where his politically powerful father held sway.
Prosecutors said Wednesday that an ongoing investigation of President Biden’s son could include offenses related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA.
Prosecutors made the statement during a federal court proceeding where Hunter Biden was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and agree to a deal to spare him a felony gun charge.
The agreement unraveled when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika started asking questions.
Legal briefs urged her to reconsider the deal.
Judge Noreika forced prosecutor Leo Wise to acknowledge that the Justice Department is investigating Hunter Biden for other charges, including some related to FARA violations.
The 1938 law requires special registration with the Justice Department by anyone who works on behalf of a foreign country to influence U.S. policy or public opinion.
Mr. Wise did not provide details about a Justice Department investigation. Some legal experts questioned whether the Justice Department had truly started an investigation or simply threatened one if Hunter Biden did not complete a diversionary program related to the gun charge.
Mounting evidence suggests that Hunter Biden used his father’s political clout to help secure massively profitable deals with China, Ukraine, Russia and perhaps other countries that wanted to influence U.S. policy.
FARA prosecutions were rarely used before 2016. Federal authorities used the once-obscure law to charge several associates of President Trump, including his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, campaign manager Paul Manafort and inaugural committee chairman, Tom Barrack.
Mr. Barrack was jailed for three days in 2021 before posting a $250 million bond. He was charged with failing to register as a foreign agent on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. A jury acquitted him of all charges.
