Hunter Biden indicted, federal gun charges, Sept 2023

[MyBelle]

That is not what I said. In fact, I said very little about the gun other than he only had it for 11 days (and provided the link).
I realise that there are a lot of people who use drugs who have guns in the US, and probably a lot of people who lie on their gun applications.

I also explained (via my own work experience) that people who pay their taxes late are not usually charged unless they refuse to pay and don't cooperate with a payment plan and other necessary actions.

What we have heard is that Hunter has paid his taxes and is cooperating.

My references to Hunter using drugs - in particular crack - was to show his potential for disorganisation during that period (not as any kind of legal excuse).

Hunter committed tax evasion which is a felony and he got caught. His plea deal is a reflection of his privilege because of his father's political career. Of course he is cooperating because he knows he won't go to jail.

JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Hunter committed tax evasion which is a felony and he got caught. His plea deal is a reflection of his privilege because of his father's political career. Of course he is cooperating because he knows he won't go to jail.

JMO

I don't have a problem with that. Cooperation to avoid jail. I think it is done fairly regularly?

The amount of people that under-report their income is not just a few. People who do not work in that industry just don't realise how much these things go on. And how little is done about it.

Your own taxes will rise significantly if you need to pay (as a country) for more tax investigations, accountability, and prosecution.
The IRS is an easy target (in reducing federal funding) when politicians want to keep your tax rates low so you will vote for them.

"About one out of every six dollars owed in federal taxes is not paid"
"IRS funding has fallen by more than 12% .. from 2008-2017"
"Audit rates have fallen roughly in half over the past two decades"
"Households in the top income decile accounted for 61 percent of tax evasion"

How big is the problem of tax evasion? | Brookings

William Gale explores the current state of tax evasion in the U.S.

www.brookings.edu

Just to add: these people don't go entirely unpunished by the tax dept. Part of meeting their outstanding tax obligations is paying the significant amount of accumulated interest on the debt.
.

 

[MyBelle]

I don't have a problem with that. Cooperation to avoid jail. I think it is done fairly regularly?

The amount of people that under-report their income is not just a few. People who do not work in that industry just don't realise how much these things go on. And how little is done about it.

Your own taxes will rise significantly if you need to pay (as a country) for more tax investigations, accountability, and prosecution.
The IRS is an easy target (in reducing federal funding) when politicians want to keep your tax rates low so you will vote for them.

"About one out of every six dollars owed in federal taxes is not paid"
"IRS funding has fallen by more than 12% .. from 2008-2017"
"Audit rates have fallen roughly in half over the past two decades"
"Households in the top income decile accounted for 61 percent of tax evasion"

How big is the problem of tax evasion? | Brookings

William Gale explores the current state of tax evasion in the U.S.

www.brookings.edu

Just to add: these people don't go entirely unpunished by the tax dept. Part of meeting their outstanding tax obligations is paying the significant amount of accumulated interest on the debt.
.

What I have a problem with is the preferential treatment given to the son of a politician. It represents corruption at the highest level and I don't care which political party it is.

JMO

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

How Biden's approval rating stands half way through 2023

Joe Biden is less popular than Donald Trump was at this stage of his presidency, according to FiveThirtyEight.

www.newsweek.com

Biden’s approval rating takes another hit. Due to Hunter Biden’s issues?


“We have to make sure, as a special agent for IRS Criminal Investigation, that we treat every single person exactly the same,” Shapley told CBS News on Tuesday.

“And that just simply didn’t happen here.”

Hunter Biden IRS whistleblower defends claims that counter DOJ statements

An IRS whistleblower is defending his claims that the U.S. attorney investigating Hunter Biden was blocked from bringing charges outside of Delaware and did not have full control of …

thehill.com

His approval ratings should take a hit. This is much bigger than Hunter Biden. Joe Biden’s guest house should have been searched but instead the Biden’s were tipped off. moo

Biden DOJ ran interference for first son Hunter in tax fraud probe, IRS whistleblowers say in bombshell testimony

Two IRS whistleblowers told Congress in closed-door testimony released Thursday that there was a DOJ coverup in the tax fraud investigation of first son Hunter Biden.

nypost.com

Wolf added, according to Shapley, that “optics were a driving factor in the decision on whether to execute a search warrant. She said a lot of evidence in our investigation would be found in the guest house of former Vice President Biden, but said there is no way we will get that approved.”
(…)
Another investigative dispute erupted in December 2020 over the question of whether to search Hunter Biden’s Northern Virginia storage unit, with Shapley saying the IRS had “prepared an affidavit in support of a search warrant for the unit, but … Wolf once again objected.”

On Dec. 14, Weiss — Wolf’s boss — told Shapley that “that if the storage unit wasn’t accessed for 30 days we could execute a search warrant on it.

“No sooner had we gotten off the call then we heard AUSA Wolf had simply reached out to Hunter Biden’s defense counsel and told him about the storage unit, once again ruining our chance to get to evidence before being destroyed, manipulated, or concealed,” he testified.

 

[shotgun09]

Doesn't everybody get a chance to remove, hide or destroy evidence? Isn't everybody given some time to do that?

Oh....never mind

 

[rosesfromangels]

....recalling the famous PSA of the Native American with the one tear drop falling down his majestic face.....

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[IceIce9]

Hunter Biden filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel, driving at 172 mph on way to Vegas: photos

Hunter Biden filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel of a car in 2018, the same year he took a picture of himself driving 172mph in a Porsche on his way to a Las Vegas party with hookers, acc…

nypost.com

Hunter Biden apparently filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel of a car in 2018 — the same year he took a picture of himself driving 172mph in a Porsche, according to thousands of newly uploaded photos from the first son’s abandoned laptop.

Biden, 53, is seen flashing what looks like a crack pipe and smoking it while driving through a residential neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, on June 12, 2018.

 

[SouthAussie]

Hunter Biden filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel, driving at 172 mph on way to Vegas: photos

Hunter Biden filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel of a car in 2018, the same year he took a picture of himself driving 172mph in a Porsche on his way to a Las Vegas party with hookers, acc…

nypost.com

Hunter Biden apparently filmed himself smoking crack behind the wheel of a car in 2018 — the same year he took a picture of himself driving 172mph in a Porsche, according to thousands of newly uploaded photos from the first son’s abandoned laptop.

Biden, 53, is seen flashing what looks like a crack pipe and smoking it while driving through a residential neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, on June 12, 2018.

In his book, he said he was smoking crack every 15 minutes. He had/has a really serious addiction, and he has certainly screwed up many things (including his marriage) due to his addiction.

Hunter Biden was ‘smoking crack every 15 minutes,’ his memoir ‘Beautiful Things’ reveals

His candid chronicle of his drug- and alcohol-fueled binges and relationship with Beau’s widow, Hallie Biden, are sure to shock — but don’t let all the tabloid fodder fool you.

chicago.suntimes.com

 

[PrairieWind]

That is not what I said. In fact, I said very little about the gun other than he only had it for 11 days (and provided the link).
I realise that there are a lot of people who use drugs who have guns in the US, and probably a lot of people who lie on their gun applications.

I also explained (via my own work experience) that people who pay their taxes late are not usually charged unless they refuse to pay and don't cooperate with a payment plan and other necessary actions.

What we have heard is that Hunter has paid his taxes and is cooperating.

My references to Hunter using drugs - in particular crack - was to show his potential for disorganisation during that period (not as any kind of legal excuse).

How is he cooperating? He intentionally his millions in income, and only paid up when he was caught? Is he helping the DOJ to go after his crooked accountants? No. Is he cooperating by giving details of payments? No.

He (or his accountant) wasn't disorganized in filing his taxes. There was an apparently purposeful attempt to just not report this specific source of income. And lets be honest, if it was legit, it should have been included. He is cooperating now because he was caught 100%. This isn't like some small business not reporting and trying to catch up. And yes some of those do get prosecuted and sent to prison. But all that said, none of it has anything to do with the gun issue. Why was it included? That doesn't make sense. It isn't like the prosecution's evidence wasn't strong and they needed to offer a deal. The evidence was irrefutable. Literally signed and sworn to by the Defendant. The prosecution of people who obtain firearms by false pretenses and commit perjury on ATF forms is not a priority of the DOJ. I think I have heard of people going to prison for lying to federal law enforcement.

 

[ilovewings]

His approval ratings should take a hit. This is much bigger than Hunter Biden. Joe Biden’s guest house should have been searched but instead the Biden’s were tipped off. moo

Biden DOJ ran interference for first son Hunter in tax fraud probe, IRS whistleblowers say in bombshell testimony

Two IRS whistleblowers told Congress in closed-door testimony released Thursday that there was a DOJ coverup in the tax fraud investigation of first son Hunter Biden.

nypost.com

Wolf added, according to Shapley, that “optics were a driving factor in the decision on whether to execute a search warrant. She said a lot of evidence in our investigation would be found in the guest house of former Vice President Biden, but said there is no way we will get that approved.”
(…)
Another investigative dispute erupted in December 2020 over the question of whether to search Hunter Biden’s Northern Virginia storage unit, with Shapley saying the IRS had “prepared an affidavit in support of a search warrant for the unit, but … Wolf once again objected.”

On Dec. 14, Weiss — Wolf’s boss — told Shapley that “that if the storage unit wasn’t accessed for 30 days we could execute a search warrant on it.

“No sooner had we gotten off the call then we heard AUSA Wolf had simply reached out to Hunter Biden’s defense counsel and told him about the storage unit, once again ruining our chance to get to evidence before being destroyed, manipulated, or concealed,” he testified.

Hunter Biden is a loser- he will always be a loser- the Republicans however want to make him a political target against his father- his father did not smoke crack, not pay his taxes, etc. and all of the other things Hunter Biden did. His father still loves him however, and it is hard to criticize a parent's love for their wayward off spring. I hate that Joe Biden is being targeted for the sins of his wayward son.

 

[MyBelle]

In his book, he said he was smoking crack every 15 minutes. He had/has a really serious addiction, and he has certainly screwed up many things (including his marriage) due to his addiction.

Hunter Biden was ‘smoking crack every 15 minutes,’ his memoir ‘Beautiful Things’ reveals

His candid chronicle of his drug- and alcohol-fueled binges and relationship with Beau’s widow, Hallie Biden, are sure to shock — but don’t let all the tabloid fodder fool you.

chicago.suntimes.com

I sympathize with any family going through addiction. My concerns about Hunter have nothing to do with politics or his addiction. I applaud the criminal investigations into Trump, his family and friends.

My concerns about Hunter have everything to do with the legality of his finances, how and from where he derived the substantial amounts of money to pay for all those drugs, prostitutes, rehabs-that-didn't work and whether his father's job/influence had anything to do with his sources of $$$$$$. It very much sounds like he was receiving bribes.

JMO

 

[shotgun09]

I sympathize with any family going through addiction. My concerns about Hunter have nothing to do with politics or his addiction. I applaud the criminal investigations into Trump, his family and friends.

My concerns about Hunter have everything to do with the legality of his finances, how and from where he derived the substantial amounts of money to pay for all those drugs, prostitutes, rehabs-that-didn't work and whether his father's job/influence had anything to do with his sources of $$$$$$. It very much sounds like he was receiving bribes.

JMO

But....were they bribes? Or was it the legitimate sales of Hunter's million dollar artwork? We will never know now, will we?

 

[MyBelle]

But....were they bribes? Or was it the legitimate sales of Hunter's million dollar artwork? We will never know now, will we?

My reference was to the "work" he supposedly did with the company in the Ukraine.

JMO

 

[happyday]

What I have a problem with is the preferential treatment given to the son of a politician. It represents corruption at the highest level and I don't care which political party it is.

JMO

I think it’s the opposite actually. If he wasn’t the President’s son I don’t think they would have pursued charges. Yes, not paying your taxes is a crime, but they don’t always prosecute as long as they get paid. And the gun charge is rare. They almost never prosecUte drug addicts who lie on a gun application. There would be wayyyyyy too many to do that. They had to do it in this case because all eyes were on them. MOO

 

[MyBelle]

I think it’s the opposite actually. If he wasn’t the President’s son I don’t think they would have pursued charges. Yes, not paying your taxes is a crime, but they don’t always prosecute as long as they get paid. And the gun charge is rare. They almost never prosecUte drug addicts who lie on a gun application. There would be wayyyyyy too many to do that. They had to do it in this case because all eyes were on them. MOO

What may or may not have been investigated if he wasn't a politician's son is irrelevant. The fact is: he was. There have been politicians who have been convicted of $$$$$ crimes and sent to prison.

JMO

 

[happyday]

What may or may not have been investigated if he wasn't a politician's son is irrelevant. The fact is: he was. There have been politicians who have been convicted of $$$$$ crimes and sent to prison.

JMO

I have no problem with him being investigated and charged. But I don’t think he got special treatment because most people wouldn’t go to prison for not paying two years of taxes, and then paying them after being caught. Not saying its not a crime, but just not the kind
that tends to land you in prison. And the gun charge hardly ever gets prosecuted period.

 

[PrairieWind]

I think it’s the opposite actually. If he wasn’t the President’s son I don’t think they would have pursued charges. Yes, not paying your taxes is a crime, but they don’t always prosecute as long as they get paid. And the gun charge is rare. They almost never prosecUte drug addicts who lie on a gun application. There would be wayyyyyy too many to do that. They had to do it in this case because all eyes were on them. MOO

If he wasn't the Vice President's son, he never would have been in a position to be paid mege-millions of dollars. It isnt Hunter's failure to report that was the point, it was WHY. It is clear this was a money laundering mess. Caught red handed. And then flushed. Do drug cartel guys get by if they just pay the tax in the end? Of course not. They go TO PRISON.

As for the gun charge, it is totally separate from the tax crime. Why was it roped in? That isn't how that works for normal folks. I am an attorney, never seen that happen. The gun charge would normally be handled separately. Keep in mind, this is a serious felony. Even if a deal is worked, it has clear separate terms. Do you know what the first one is???????? NO POSSESSION of forearms. Does Hunter have that today? Nope.

 

[MyBelle]

I have no problem with him being investigated and charged. But I don’t think he got special treatment because most people wouldn’t go to prison for not paying two years of taxes, and then paying them after being caught. Not saying its not a crime, but just not the kind
that tends to land you in prison. And the gun charge hardly ever gets prosecuted period.

My opinion is based on the what the IRS whistleblower testified to be the facts:

IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley says he was prevented from 'investigative steps' in Hunter Biden probe

An IRS whistleblower made additional allegations about interference into the agency's investigation of Hunter Biden. Here is what you need to know.

www.usatoday.com

Shapley also claimed that the investigation into Hunter Biden should have resulted in additional charges, including felony counts.

"There were personal expenses that were taken as business expenses," he said. "Prostitutes, sex club memberships, hotel rooms for purported drug dealers."

 

[happyday]

If he wasn't the Vice President's son, he never would have been in a position to be paid mege-millions of dollars. It isnt Hunter's failure to report that was the point, it was WHY. It is clear this was a money laundering mess. Caught red handed. And then flushed. Do drug cartel guys get by if they just pay the tax in the end? Of course not. They go TO PRISON.

As for the gun charge, it is totally separate from the tax crime. Why was it roped in? That isn't how that works for normal folks. I am an attorney, never seen that happen. The gun charge would normally be handled separately. Keep in mind, this is a serious felony. Even if a deal is worked, it has clear separate terms. Do you know what the first one is???????? NO POSSESSION of forearms. Does Hunter have that today? Nope.

What is the evidence of money laundering? I’ve seen none of that.

 

[MyBelle]

What is the evidence of money laundering? I’ve seen none of that.

Reported by multiple media outlets last week:

MSN

Hunter Biden evaded paying a portion of his taxes by moving his earnings from Burisma to a Chinese firm and then getting the money back through a “loan,” an IRS whistleblower testified.

The alleged tax scheme began after Hunter Biden sent an email in 2014 to his Burisma business associate Devon Archer about how they planned to spend the $1 million they were both earning from the Ukrainian energy company, the unnamed whistleblower claimed in his June 1 testimony released Thursday by the House Ways and Means Committee.