According to those with knowledge of the case, prosecutors are near to deciding whether to charge Hunter Biden with tax and gun-related offenses. Republicans have attempted to use the conclusion of this four-year investigation as evidence that the Biden family is corrupt.

Last week, Biden’s counsel met with U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware at the Justice Department headquarters in central Washington to discuss the case, according to sources familiar with the situation who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation. This type of conference, in which defense attorneys ask prosecutors to dismiss or reduce their client’s allegations, typically occurs near the end of an investigation.

According to those familiar with the situation, Weiss is nearing the conclusion of his decision-making process, although they did not provide a timeline. They issued a warning that the investigation has taken longer than anticipated, which has frustrated some law enforcement officials, and that it may slow down again before a decision is reached.

President Biden, whose reelection campaign has just begun, could be substantially impacted by any choice, which would also attract national attention to a sensitive topic that advisers frequently find difficult to broach with the president. Republicans attempting to retake the White House have attempted to connect Hunter Biden’s legal issues to his father.

According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the department’s choices in the case will not be political, and Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration, has been given complete authority to head the investigation.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on March 1 that the U.S. attorney in command of the Hunter Biden investigation had conducted a distinct investigation successfully.

At a news conference on an unrelated topic on Tuesday, Garland reiterated his position and responded to questions from reporters about the investigation’s status by saying, “I stand by my testimony, and I refer you to the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware, who is in charge of this case and capable of making any decisions that he feels are appropriate.”

According to those familiar with the situation, the attorney general missed last week’s meeting with Hunter Biden’s counsel. Both a representative for Weiss and one for Biden declined to comment. Biden asserted in December 2020 that he had “handled my affairs legally and appropriately.”

President Biden’s sister Valerie Biden Owens and son Hunter visited Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland on April 14.

More on this story via The Republic Brief:

Although Hunter Biden maintained a low profile throughout the 2020 presidential campaign—during which he had descended into a battle with addiction and became the target of Republican criticism—he has recently adopted a more outspoken and assertive role. He has attended occasions with his father, including as the state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron and the Kennedy Center Honors, and he accompanied the president last month on a trip to Ireland, where their ancestors are from. CONTINUE READING…