Hunter Biden, his second wife, and their toddler stayed at the White House for two weeks starting the day after his since-collapsed plea deal was made public.
The stay, starting June 21, underscores President Joe Biden's inclination to keep his California-based adult son close, despite the political repercussions of the 53-year-old's personal and legal problems, which aides told the Washington Post they cannot properly advise the president about because he does not like discussing the issue.
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“The President and First Lady love their son, support him, and are proud of him overcoming addiction and continuing to rebuild his life," White House Counsel's Office spokesman Ian Sams told the Washington Examiner when asked for comment on the reporting.
During his stay, which the family had hoped would mark the start of a post-federal investigation chapter, Hunter Biden attended the state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made two trips to Camp David, and took part in the White House's Independence Day festivities. His attendance at the dinner was particularly criticized since Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has been accused by Republicans of overseeing a sweetheart deal with the younger Biden, was also at the event.
Joe Biden's public schedule was cleared during Hunter's July 26 Delaware courtroom appearance to plead guilty to two federal tax misdemeanor charges and to agree to participate in a two-year diversion program regarding an alleged gun crime, aides told the Washington Post. The deal unraveled over a disagreement concerning the younger Biden's immunity from future prosecutions, leading Garland to last week appoint the managing U.S. attorney, former President Donald Trump-nominated David Weiss, as a special counsel for the ongoing investigation. The president, instead, met with economic and national security advisers and recorded a mental health-focused episode with podcaster Jay Shetty.
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While Hunter Biden has settled a child support case with an Arkansas woman with whom he fathered a now-acknowledged daughter in 2018, federal prosecutors have indicated there is a likelihood of an election-year trial for the outstanding matters.
Congressional Republicans, too, have escalated their investigations into Joe Biden and his son's business dealings, including asking the National Archives for emails sent to and from the then-vice president using pseudonyms. The president additionally has a special counsel looking at his mishandling of classified documents.