Joe Biden: I have 'great confidence' in Hunter—he is 'the smartest man I know'

Joe Biden told talk show host Stephen Colbert in a appearance on The Late Show that he had "great confidence" in his son Hunter, and that Hunter is "the smartest man" he knew.

Colbert asked about Hunter Biden more than half way into the interview, and instead of asking about the allegations themselves, he asked how the Bidens would deal with the ickiness of it.

Colbert's line of questioning had to do with the Bidens' feelings on the matter, and it was assumed by him that there can be absolutely no validity to the allegations at all.

Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, sat down with Colbert to discuss the investigation into their son Hunter Biden's, taxes. "We have great confidence in our son," Biden told Colbert.

"I'm not concerned about any accusations that have been made against him. It's used to get to me. I think it's kind of fowl play but look, it is what it is and he's a grown man. He's the smartest man I know, in a pure intellectual capacity," Biden explained.  

Joe Biden defended Hunter after the son announced in a statement issued by the Biden-Harris transition team last week, that federal prosecutors were investigating his tax affairs.

"I take this matter very seriously, but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors," he said in a statement.

The investigation also involves Hunter Biden's laptop, first reported on by the New York Post.  According to the Post, the laptop is said to contain records of communications documenting his business dealings in both China and Ukraine. CNN reported that the investigation into Hunter Biden's tax affairs started as early as 2018 and has been "focused on China".