US: Joe Biden defends son in face of tax fraud probe

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) – US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday defended his son Hunter Biden in the face of an ongoing tax investigation, saying the probe is being used by political opponents to “get to me.”

"We have great confidence in our son," Biden told late-night TV host Stephen Colbert alongside Jill Biden, his wife and future first lady.

"I’m not concerned about any accusations being made against him. It's used to get to me. I think it’s kind of foul play … as long as he’s good, we’re good," he said.

The Biden transition team later clarified that Biden was not referring to the investigation as "foul play," but was referring to Republicans who used his son's business relations to go after him personally.

The Delaware US attorney has been investigating Hunter Biden's tax affairs since 2018 but it was only publicly disclosed last week. Officials waited until after the Nov. 3 election in order to not sway the polls.

During this year’s campaign season, Biden was accused by President Donald Trump of improperly using influence in foreign policy during his tenure as vice president under Barack Obama.

Hunter Biden joined the Board of Directors of Ukraine-based Burisma Holdings in May 2014 and reportedly received $50,000 a month until he stepped down in April 2019.

Joe Biden, a Democrat, said he is willing to work with Republicans when he or his son face criticism "if it benefits the country."

The president-elect, however, criticized Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, who called for a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden.

"Lindsey’s been a personal disappointment because I was a personal friend of his," he told.

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