The son of US President Joe Biden, Hunter Bidenhas been charged with illegal possession of a weapon and by filing and paying your tax returns late in 2017 and 2018according to court documents Tuesday.

The federal charges against Hunter Biden stemmed from an investigation by David Weissthe federal prosecutor in the Democratic president’s home state of Delaware, who was appointed by former Republican President Donald Trump.

The settlement also includes what in US judicial jargon is called “pretrial diversion” as it relates to the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Hunter Biden, 53, has for years been the focus of Trump’s relentless attacks and his Republican allies who have accused him of wrongdoing in relation to Ukraine and China, among other matters. Hunter Biden has worked as a lobbyist, lawyer, investment banker and artist, publicly detailing his fight against substance abuse.

Hunter Biden revealed in December 2020 that Weiss’s office was looking into his tax affairs, denying any wrongdoing.

Hunter Biden described in a 2021 memoir dealing with substance abuse issues in his life, including crack use and alcoholism. He was discharged from the US Navy reserve in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine, sources said at the time.

Weiss’ investigation initially looked into possible violations of money laundering and tax laws in foreign business transactions, primarily in China, sources told Reuters. The investigation led by Weiss began as early as 2018, according to US media reports.

An important Republican congressman, James Comer, accused the United States Department of the Treasury in 2022 of withhold financial “suspicious activity reports” to protect Hunter Biden’s businesses.

The president has two surviving sons, Hunter Biden and daughter Ashley Biden. His son Beau Biden died in 2015 of cancer and his daughter Naomi Biden died as an infant after a car accident that also killed Joe Biden’s first wife.

Hunter Biden is the first son of a sitting president to be impeachedaccording to Aaron Crawford, who majors in presidential history at the University of Tennessee.

Crawford said the family of several presidents was embroiled in scandals, including George HW Bush’s son Neil, who ran a failed savings and loan company, and Richard Nixon’s brother Don, who was bailed out of corporate bankruptcy. by wealthy businessman Howard Hughes.