Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been implicated in a scheme to influence U.S. policy on behalf of a Romanian businessman, according to new documents filed by Special Counsel David Weiss in the Central District of California. The documents relate to Hunter Biden’s upcoming tax trial in California and suggest that he was paid by Romanian oligarch Gabriel Popoviciu while Joe Biden was vice president. Popoviciu is expected to testify against Hunter Biden when the trial begins on September 5.
The filings reveal that Hunter Biden had “entered into an oral agreement” in 2015 to assist Popoviciu in contesting bribery charges in Romania. Prosecutors allege they will introduce evidence showing that Hunter Biden and a business associate received compensation from a foreign principal intending to influence U.S. policy and public opinion, specifically regarding the investigation of Popoviciu in Romania. Hunter Biden faces felony tax charges and has already been convicted of three felonies in a federal gun trial.
The documents also reveal that a business associate and Popoviciu signed a “Management Services Agreement” under the guise of providing management services to real estate properties in Romania. However, this was allegedly a front for the payments made to Hunter Biden and his associates.
Hunter Biden accused of bribery
Hunter Biden’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss allegations related to potentially violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). However, the government will present evidence suggesting that efforts were made to avoid registering as a foreign agent, including reaching out to U.S. government officials. According to prosecutors, Hunter Biden and two business associates split more than $3 million in payments from Popoviciu between November 2015 and 2017.
Hunter Biden is charged with failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and allegedly used the funds for a lavish lifestyle, including spending on luxury items and services. He has since paid the overdue taxes but still faces multiple charges. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for August 21 in Los Angeles.
In a separate case, Hunter Biden was convicted in June by a federal jury in Delaware for lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a gun. He has yet to be sentenced for that offense.
