Prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) claim that Hunter Biden accepted payments from a Romanian oligarch to “influence U.S. policy and public opinion” while his father, Joe Biden, held the vice presidency, as detailed in newly released documents.
These documents were submitted by Special Counsel David Weiss in the Central District of California on Wednesday, relating to Hunter Biden’s tax trial in California.
The accusations mark the closest connection prosecutors have made between President Biden and his son’s international business activities.
Gabriel Popoviciu, the Romanian businessman, is anticipated to testify against Hunter Biden during the trial, which is set to begin on September 5 in Los Angeles. Weiss highlighted in the filings that Hunter Biden had “entered into an oral agreement” in 2015 to assist Popoviciu in contesting bribery charges in Romania.
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Hunter Biden is set to face trial on felony tax charges in early September. He was previously convicted on three felony counts in a federal gun trial. (Reuters)
During the trial, prosecutors plan to “present the evidence mentioned above, which includes the assertion that [Hunter Biden] and Business Associate 1 received payments from a foreign principal attempting to shape U.S. policy and public perception while prompting the United States to look into the Romanian investigation of [Popoviciu].”
The documents reveal that Hunter Biden and his business partner “expressed concern that their lobbying efforts could have political consequences for [Hunter Biden’s] father [Joe Biden].”
Wednesday’s submission is the first to elaborate on Hunter Biden’s global business dealings.
“Business Associate 1 and [Popoviciu] entered into a ‘Management Services Agreement’ where Business Associate 1’s legal entity was purportedly to provide management services related to real estate properties in Romania. However, that was not the actual reason for [Popoviciu]’s payments,” the document states.
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The allegations represent the most significant link prosecutors have made between President Biden and his son’s international business endeavors. (Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In the filed documents, Weiss mentioned that Hunter Biden’s legal team sought to have accusations regarding his potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) dismissed.
“The government does not plan to bring up allegations that the defendant violated FARA or improperly synchronized with the Obama Administration,” Weiss stated. “Nonetheless, the government will present evidence that Business Associate 1 organized their business arrangement to evade registration as a foreign agent, and that the defendant and his business associates contacted government officials, specifically from the United States Department of State.”
Prosecutors contend that Hunter Biden and two associates shared over $3 million in payments from Popoviciu from November 2015 to 2017.
Hunter Biden faces charges for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, alongside filing false tax returns. He allegedly utilized the funds to support a lavish lifestyle, including spending millions on drugs, escorts, luxury vehicles, and other high-end merchandise. He has since settled the tax payments.
He faces three felony charges and six misdemeanor counts in the tax case.
Hunter Biden appeared in federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, on June 5, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
A pretrial hearing for this case is slated for August 21 in Los Angeles.
In June, Hunter Biden was found guilty by a federal jury in Delaware of providing false information regarding his drug use on a form when attempting to purchase a firearm. He has yet to be sentenced in that matter.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Hunter Biden’s legal team for a response but has not yet received a reply.
Contribution to this report by Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman.
