Federal investigators are combing through Hunter Biden’s taxes, according to President-elect Joe Biden’s son.
Hunter Biden acknowledged the investigation in a statement released Wednesday by his father’s transition team.
“I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs,” he wrote.
He added, “I take this matter very seriously, but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisers.”
The elder Biden voiced his support for Hunter, 50, in a comment shared via his aides.
“President-elect Biden is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger,” his staff said.
A source familiar with the situation said it was “not related to the attacks the Trump team and their allies made against Hunter during the campaign.” They declined, though, to provide more information.
Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings have been problematic for the incoming president.
Critics’ chief concern has been Hunter’s $50,000-a-month position with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian oligarchy-linked natural gas firm.
He accepted the role with Burisma in 2014 despite having no experience in the energy sector. Hunter’s father was vice president at the same time and was overseeing U.S. foreign policy in the region. The younger Biden stepped down from his post with its board in 2019.
The president-elect has promised that his family and staffers will abide by a strict code of conduct to avoid any more ethical conflicts.
“My son, my family, will not be involved in any business, any enterprise that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, where there’s appropriate distance from the presidency and government,” Joe Biden told CNN last week.
