The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been making headlines in recent months amidst the political dispute surrounding the taxes of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden. Here’s a look at who is saying what and what it all means.
At the center of the controversy is Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden. On April 17th, the IRS informed Hunter Biden that he owed over half a million dollars in back taxes from 2017 and 2018. This revelation prompted immediate questioning about Hunter’s taxes from both political parties.
The first to weigh in was President Donald Trump, who stated in a press conference that “Joe Biden and his family should be investigated.” He then pushed for an audit of Hunter’s finances and for the IRS to take a more thorough look into the former Vice President’s son.
In response, Joe Biden called the allegations a “smear campaign” and dismissed it as “baseless attacks” from Trump. He said that nothing improper has been found and that he has “full confidence in my son” in regards to the dispute.
Other political figures – including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – have called for a formal investigation into Hunter’s taxes. Graham has gone as far as sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting the IRS to release any documents pertaining to the dispute.
The Biden campaign has also responded to the dispute. It has released a statement claiming that Hunter’s taxes are a “personal matter” and not subject to political debate. They have also asserted that the dispute is a “cynical distraction” from the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic.
Ultimately, this dispute is likely to remain unresolved until after the November election. Until then, both sides of the political aisle will continue to debate the merits of Hunter Biden’s past tax matters and the potential implications on the upcoming election.
