Hunter Biden lawyer pushes back against GOP claims that first son got favorable treatment

An attorney for first son Hunter Biden on Tuesday pushed back against Republican claims that he received special treatment from the Department of Justice after he accepted a plea deal over tax and gun charges to avoid prison time.

Biden pleaded guilty to two tax crimes and admitted to a gun violation that could be dismissed. U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, had pursued the case.

Republican lawmakers fumed at the lenient terms of the plea deal, with many deeming it evidence of a "two-tiered" system of justice in light of the DOJ's aggressive prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Biden attorney Chris Clark, disagreed, contending that the DOJ rigorously pursued the case for years.

"What I can tell you is, they were very diligent, very dogged. This was – it took five years and it was five years of work that they put in, and even throughout working out the ultimate resolution, I think that they were always driving for what they thought was fair," he said on MSNBC.

He specifically took issue with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his labelling of the plea agreement as a "sweetheart deal."

"I’ve heard Speaker McCarthy say a lot of stuff I don’t agree with. There was no basis for what he said. And he’s not right," he added. Clark further contended that the plea deal signaled the end of the investigations into the first son. 

"My understanding is that we're done," he told host Katy Tur.

After news of the plea deal broke, Clark issued a statement, saying "Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life," adding that he "looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.