‘This is a country of laws, not of personalities’: Sens. Reed, Whitehouse react to Hunter Biden charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Hours after Hunter Biden — President Joe Biden’s son — was charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally having a weapon, Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse say this proves that no one is above the law.

“[The Justice Department] will follow the evidence and the law where it leads — even to the doorstep of the president’s family,” said Whitehouse. “[It’s] a moment where people can take a step back and say, ‘Huh, I guess DOJ is willing to do his job in whatever direction it leads.’ It’s not about the politics. It’s about the evidence and the law.”

“Here’s a Justice Department that…brought charges. Hunter Biden has plead guilty to those charges. He’s taken responsibility for his actions,” added Reed. “And I think that, again, demonstrates that this is a country of laws, not of personalities.”

Biden, 52, will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses as part of an agreement. He’ll avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge in a deal with the Justice Department that likely spares him time behind bars.

The White House counsel’s office said that the president and first lady Jill Biden “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.