CNN’s senior legal correspondent Evan Perez said Tuesday that it was “interesting” that part of Hunter Biden’s legal troubles stemmed from his candid discussion of his drug use.

Hunter was charged with illegally possessing a handgun while using drugs in 2018 and for failing to pay federal taxes in 2017 and 2018.

Discussing the accusations, Perez said Hunter had spoken out “very publicly” about his substance abuse problems, particularly in his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things.

“He wrote a book. Ironically, that book — a book in which he spoke very candidly about what he was doing at the time on the issue of substance abuse — was the subject of this federal investigation. What really complicated his problem was that it was because – in his own words – that prosecutors and investigators knew that he was in possession of, or had purchased, a gun. I learned that I was poisoned, and this is a federal firearms law violation.”

“What Hunter Biden did when he wrote that book — he admitted it, said it in an interview — he said he was an addict,” Perez continued. Because going after people who lied to buy firearms is something the Biden administration is definitely pushing. ” (Related: How ‘Morning Joe’ Covered Hunter Biden News)

“That said, it was certainly interesting for Hunter Biden, and being outspoken about his substance abuse issues caused him some problems in this case.” Perez said.

Reportedly, Hunter agreed to plead guilty to tax-related misdemeanor charges and was placed on probation on gun charges. Axios. He will probably avoid a prison sentence. President Trump-appointed attorney David Weiss said the investigation into Hunter continues, even though Hunter’s attorney said: CBS news It was the “understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter has been resolved.”

The investigation into Hunter began in 2018 and focused on his international business dealings, the sources said. washington post. Ultimately, the investigation was narrowed down, with multiple agencies investigating whether Biden reported all his income, whether he lied about his paperwork for his gun purchases, and more.