President-elect Joe Biden said he and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, have “great confidence” in Hunter Biden, who announced last week that federal prosecutors are investigating his “tax affairs.” The president-elect made the remarks alongside the future first lady on CBS’ “A Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” in an appearance that will air in full Thursday night.
In the interview, Colbert asked Mr. Biden about criticism directed toward his son.
“What are you going to do and how will you sustain each other for the attacks you know are coming your way?” Colbert asked. “Case in point, I know you want to be as bipartisan and reach across the aisle, but as much as you don’t want it to happen, you know that the people who want to make hay in Washington are going to try to use your adult son as a cudgel against you. How do you feel about that, and what do you have to say to those people?
“We have great confidence in our son,” Mr. Biden told Colbert. “I am not concerned about any accusations that have been made against him. It’s used to get to me. I think it’s kind of foul play but — look, it is what it is. And, he’s a grown man, he is the smartest man I know, I mean from a pure intellectual capacity. And as long as he’s good, we’re good.”
Colbert responded: “As a father I understand that and I admire that. But I mean, in terms of your job as president, can you reach across the aisle to people who’ll be using this as an attack on you when it is such a personal attack because it’s about family?”
“But if it benefits the country, yes. I really mean it,” Mr. Biden said.
News of the federal investigation related to Hunter Biden’s taxes comes after months of criticism of him from conservatives and the president’s allies. Two sources familiar with the investigation have told CBS that the “tax” investigation began in 2018.
At the time the investigation was announced, Hunter Biden, 50, issued a statement saying he believes a review will “demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.”
“A Late Show with Stephen Colbert” airs on CBS 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.
This story has been updated to include Colbert’s question to Mr. Biden.