Joe Biden’s son Hunter will now be investigated by a special counsel with additional powers, the US attorney general has announced.
Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Chris Clark, responded in a statement: “We are confident when all of these manoeuvrings are at an end my client will have resolution and will be moving on with his life successfully.”
Hunter Biden had previously reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to the tax charges and admit the gun offence to spare himself prison time.
However, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika squashed the deal due to “non standard terms” and the “unusual” nature of the proposed resolution for the gun charge.
House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the Republican-controlled chamber will continue to investigate the president and his son regardless of the special counsel announcement.
The White House called the allegations “insane conspiracy theories” and rejected the assertion that Mr Biden has participated in his son’s business affairs.