Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, faces fresh accusations from federal prosecutors in his ongoing tax evasion case, who allege he accepted payments from a Romanian oligarch seeking to exert influence over U.S. government agencies. The charges form part of a broader legal case against Hunter Biden, who is accused of evading $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while allegedly spending millions on luxury items, drugs, and escorts.
The new allegations, revealed in a court filing submitted Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, center on Biden’s alleged relationship with Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu. The filing claims that Popoviciu, who was facing corruption charges in Romania at the time, hired Hunter Biden in 2015 for legal services while Joe Biden was serving as Vice President under then-President Barack Obama. Prosecutors allege that Biden, along with an associate, received compensation from Popoviciu as part of an effort to influence U.S. policy and public opinion, specifically urging U.S. authorities to investigate the Romanian case against Popoviciu.
This development is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Hunter Biden, whom Republicans have long accused of “influence peddling” by leveraging his father’s political position for personal gain. Despite these persistent accusations, Congressional investigations have so far failed to produce definitive evidence of wrongdoing.
The filing also reveals concerns within Hunter Biden‘s circle about the potential political fallout from the arrangement, with Biden and his associates allegedly seeking to conceal the true nature of their work due to fears of its impact on Joe Biden‘s political career. Prosecutors believe that the payments from Popoviciu, totaling $3 million, were split between Hunter Biden and two associates.
Gabriel Popoviciu, identified as the Romanian oligarch in question, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017 on real estate fraud charges, which he has consistently denied.
These latest revelations have fueled further criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have been vocal about their suspicions of Hunter Biden‘s foreign business dealings. His legal troubles extend beyond the tax evasion case. Less than two months ago, he was found guilty on three charges in a federal gun trial in Delaware. Although he faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, experts believe it is unlikely that he will receive such a severe penalty, given his status as a first-time, non-violent offender.
The tax evasion trial is scheduled to begin in September in California, where Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As the legal battles intensify, the allegations surrounding his involvement in foreign influence schemes will likely continue to be a focal point of political and public discourse.
