Biden Ducks Questions On Son Hunter's Tax Charges

US President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House - AFP
US President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House - AFP
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Biden Ducks Questions On Son Hunter's Tax Charges

US President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House - AFP
US President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House - AFP

US President Joe Biden kept silent Friday over new charges accusing his troubled son Hunter of avoiding tax while spending millions on an "extravagant lifestyle" including drugs and escorts.

Wearing sunglasses and a dark suit, the president waved to reporters but made no comment when asked if he believed his son was innocent, as he left the White House to board his Marine One helicopter for a trip to Nevada and California, according to AFP.

The Democrat leader, who is seeking reelection next year, will unveil major rail investments including the United States' first high-speed train, between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, before taking part in campaign receptions.

Hunter Biden was indicted on multiple counts on Thursday of evading at least $1.4 million in tax between 2016 and 2020, the second time he has been charged by a special counsel investigating his personal and business dealings.

"The defendant spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle at the same time he chose not to pay his taxes," special counsel David Weiss said in the indictment.

"The defendant spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes."

The previous charges accuse Hunter Biden of lying about his drug use on a federal application when he purchased a gun.

The new charges serve up more embarrassment for Joe Biden as he heads for a likely rematch with Donald Trump next year, and fends off a Republican bid to impeach him on grounds that he benefited from his son's overseas business dealings.

Hunter Biden, 53, is a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist, but his life has been marred by alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction.



Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
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Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced he intends to visit Tehran through a letter he addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranian Mehr Agency reported that Grossi sent a congratulatory message to the Iranian president-elect, which stated: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election win as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at the focal attention of the international circles for many years. I am confident that, together, we will be able to make decisive progress on this crucial matter.”

“To that effect, I wish to express my readiness to travel to Iran to meet with you at the earliest convenience,” Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted Grossi as saying.

The meeting – should it take place - will be the first for Pezeshkian, who had pledged during his election campaign to be open to the West to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

Last week, American and Israeli officials told the Axios news site that Washington sent a secret warning to Tehran last month regarding its fears of Iranian research and development activities that might be used to produce nuclear weapons.

In May, Grossi expressed his dissatisfaction with the course of the talks he held over two days in Iran in an effort to resolve outstanding matters.

Since the death of the former Iranian president, Ibrahim Raisi, the IAEA chief refrained from raising the Iranian nuclear file, while European sources said that Tehran had asked to “freeze discussions” until the internal situation was arranged and a new president was elected.