Hunter Biden: why is Joe Biden's son under investigation - and how Donald Trump has reacted

Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing, while Donald Trump has called for the 2020 election result to be overturned

Hunter Biden, the son of the president-elect, has revealed that his tax affairs are under investigation.

A common tactic of current president Donald Trump during the 2020 US election was to take jabs at his Democrat opponent’s son.

Hunter Biden however has said that he is confident that the investigation will find no evidence of wrongdoing.

Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings are under investigation (Getty Images)

What has Hunter Biden been accused of?

US media have quoted sources saying that the investigation relates to business dealings with foreign countries.

The investigation is said to have been launched in 2018 prior to Joe Biden’s campaign for president.

CNN has said that federal prosecutors in Delaware are in the process of “issuing subpoenas and seeking interviews”, regarding Mr Biden’s business dealings.

According to reports the investigation is looking into whether Mr Biden and his associates violated money laundering and tax laws

What has Hunter Biden said?

In a statement Hunter Biden said: “I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.”

What has Joe Biden said?

The revelation comes at a tricky time for president-elect Joe Biden who is in the process of choosing his cabinet.

The former vice-president is set to select an attorney general who could oversee any investigation when the president is sworn in next month.

In response to the investigation Mr Biden said he “is deeply proud of my son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger.”

What has Donald Trump said? President Donald Trump and his campaign team frequently targeted the business dealings of Hunter Biden in an attempt to win over voters during the 2020 campaign.

In December 2019 Mr Trump was impeached by the House of representatives on charges of abuse of power relating to attempts to pressure Ukraine into investigating the Hunter Biden and his father. The senate dropped the charges against President Trump the following February.

Against the backdrop of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the results in key states won by Joe Biden at the 2020 election, president Trump tweeted: “Now that the Biden Administration will be a scandal plagued mess for years to come, it is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done. They must show great Courage & Wisdom. Save the USA!!!”

He also took aim at the FBI, the media and the Department of Justice, tweeting: “Why didn’t the Fake News Media, the FBI and the DOJ report the Biden matter BEFORE the Election. Oh well, it’s OK, we won the Election anyway - 75,000,000 VOTES!!!”