GOP Trio Spearheads Investigation into Justice Department’s Handling of Hunter Biden Case

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Three Republican leaders from critical House committees have combined their efforts to delve deep into the Justice Department’s handling of alleged charges against President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. This development follows the committees’ strong assertions regarding possible misconduct within the department.

The powerful trio leading the House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees initiated a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hunter Biden, shortly after it was revealed that he would plead guilty to minor tax offenses based on an agreement with the Justice Department.

Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, and Jason Smith of Missouri have put forward a number of requests, seeking voluntary testimony from top-ranking officials within the Justice Department, FBI, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Their basis for these calls lies in their allegations of improper impositions. This congressional investigation took shape in the aftermath of the conclusion by the House Ways and Means Committee, steered by Smith, to openly reveal a substantial amount of testimony from IRS employees associated with the case handled by Hunter Biden.

The transcripts revealed concerns raised by Greg Shapley and an undisclosed agent, who both pointed out what they believed to be a pattern of unnecessary delays in investigative and enforcement actions prior to the 2020 presidential elections.

The elections saw President Joe Biden secure a win. However, the Justice Department has rejected the whistleblowers’ allegations and continually reassured that U.S. Attorney David Weiss from Delaware, who supervised the investigation, was granted the full jurisdiction of the case.

The probe’s primary subject is the whistleblower claim originating from within the IRS. Shapley was the first IRS agent to publicly voice concerns in April, when his legal representative contacted Republican Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa. They indicated that their client had useful information regarding what they perceived as a ‘failure to properly handle clear conflicts of interest’ within the ongoing criminal inquiry related to Hunter Biden.

Smith, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who also holds jurisdiction over the IRS, decided to bring Shapley on board for an extensive interview in May. In this interview, Shapley outlined various obstacles that he and his fellow IRS agents involved in the case faced when they attempted to interview key individuals or issue search warrants.

The whistleblowers have made concerted efforts to ensure that their accounts depict an apparent pattern of interference and favoritism as opposed to a simple disagreement over the appropriate investigative approach.

A long-standing Justice Department protocol serves as a continuous reminder to prosecutors to be cautious in charging cases possessing political implications around election periods, to avoid unduly swaying the election results.

The core argument by the whistleblowers suggests that Weiss, a Trump appointee who kept his position under Biden’s administration, had requested the Justice Department in March 2022 to be granted the status of a special counsel to prosecute the tax-related cases against Hunter outside of Delaware, extending his jurisdiction to Washington, D.C., and California, but faced denial.

The frustration surrounding the way the case was managed extended to a second IRS whistleblower who pleaded for anonymity with the committee. His ordeal dates back to the tenure of Attorney General William Barr under the Trump administration when he says he initiated an in-depth investigation into Hunter Biden’s personal life and financial affairs in 2015.

Claims of retaliation form another crucial part of the ongoing investigation. After speaking out about their concerns regarding the management of Hunter Biden’s case, both whistleblowers believe they experienced retaliatory actions inside the IRS.

Shapley, a veteran supervisory agent, testified to the committee that his career advancement was intentionally halted by Weiss after reports emerged that he had shared information about the Biden case with congressional investigators.

The second whistleblower, who decided to remain anonymous and was under the supervision of Shapley, claimed to have been removed from Hunter Biden’s case at around the same time as Shapley’s retaliatory experience.

He was notified of the decision by IRS officials; however, he suspects that the Justice Department officials were the actual authors of his removal. No tangible evidence supporting these actions was provided by either of the whistleblowers; they merely recounted their perceived observations as they sought to pursue different investigative proceedings.

Addressing these claims of retaliation, Grassley, alongside the three Republican chairmen and Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, wrote a letter to the Justice Department, urging for a swift review of these allegations.

The letter reinforced the cardinal rule of safeguarding whistleblowers against unlawful retaliation and ensuring that they remain well-informed about their legal rights.

In a response to these allegations, the Justice Department has denied any retaliatory actions against whistleblowers, stating that Weiss handled the case with ‘full authority over the matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when, and whether to file charges as he sees fit.

He does not require further approval to do so.’ Attorney General Merrick Garland equally dismissed claims that Weiss had sought a special counsel designation.

Garland further clarified, during an interaction with reporters last month, that the power to grant or deny a special counsel status rests solely with the attorney general, and that Weiss made no such request. To further contend against the allegations, Weiss penned a letter dated June 30, assuring House Republicans that the Justice Department in no way retaliated against Shapley.

Weiss also rebutted the accusations by stating that the department had assured him that if a need to press charges against Hunter Biden arose in jurisdictions other than Delaware, he would be granted the special status to do so. Ordinarily, U.S. attorneys are confined to their respective jurisdictions when filing criminal charges.

Looking towards the future, the trio of Republican chairmen have set a deadline for the Justice Department to start coordinating almost a dozen transcribed interviews. They have announced their intent to deliver congressional subpoenas to compel cooperation if the department fails to meet this deadline.

While addressing his willingness to participate in discussions with congressional officials, Weiss conveyed his continuing limitation to not share information pertaining to Hunter Biden’s case due to its status as an ongoing criminal investigation.

Garland has publicly expressed his willingness to not obstruct Weiss from presenting testimony before Congress. As stated by the Attorney General, ‘I would back Mr. Weiss in elucidating or testifying on these matters when he deems it appropriate.’