Attorney General Dismisses Whistleblower Allegations of Interference in Hunter Biden Investigation

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Attorney General Merrick Garland responded on Friday to allegations made by IRS whistleblowers, denying any interference by the Justice Department in the investigation concerning Hunter Biden. He further emphasized the importance of preserving the department’s independence, stating that attacks on its autonomy are detrimental.

The House Ways and Means Committee, led by Republicans, released a transcript of testimony provided by Gary Shapley, an IRS official. Shapley claimed, among other things, that Garland had rejected a request from U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware to be appointed as a special counsel. Such a designation would have granted Weiss the same authority as the prosecutor in charge of the investigation into former President Donald Trump.

Garland refuted this claim on Friday, stating that Weiss never made such a request and had always possessed full authority to initiate charges against President Joe Biden’s son, wherever and however he deemed appropriate. Additionally, Garland assured that if Weiss, who was initially appointed as U.S. Attorney by Donald Trump, agrees to testify before Congress, the Justice Department will not obstruct his appearance.

Garland firmly rejected the broader criticism from Republicans, who argue that the recent plea agreement reached on tax and gun charges involving the president’s son demonstrates political influence within the American justice system. Republicans have condemned the deal as evidence of a “two-tiered system of justice.”

“Some individuals have opted to question the integrity of the Justice Department by alleging that we do not treat similar cases equally. Such claims constitute an attack on an institution that is crucial to American democracy and the safety of its people,” Garland asserted. “This notion could not be further from the truth.”

In a separate statement, Biden’s legal representative denounced the notion that the investigation took any shortcuts and warned against drawing conclusions solely based on the Shapley transcript, describing such actions as “dangerously misleading.”

The transcript included a message sent by Hunter alluding to being in the presence of his father, suggesting that his father was aware of his business dealings. Shapley acknowledged that the investigation failed to uncover evidence supporting this claim and concluded that it was likely untrue.

Joe Biden has maintained that he has never discussed his son’s foreign business affairs. When asked on Friday if the president still stands by those statements, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, “Nothing has changed. I will leave it at that.”

Weiss’ office referred requests for comments regarding the whistleblower testimony to a letter he wrote on June 7 to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, wherein he asserted his “ultimate authority” over the investigation.

The testimony from IRS agent Shapley and another unnamed agent involved in the case described what they deemed a pattern of “delaying investigative steps” and postponing enforcement actions in the Hunter Biden case. However, it remained unclear whether the conflicts they outlined were indicative of internal disagreements or a recurring favoritism.

Shapley stated that Weiss informed him and others during an October 2022 meeting that his request for special counsel status had been denied. The released transcripts on Thursday included an email containing Shapley’s meeting notes, to which a supervisor responded, affirming that the notes “covered it all.”

Regarding the claims that the investigation into Hunter Biden lacked thoroughness, Biden’s attorney labeled them as “preposterous and deeply irresponsible.”

The plea agreement involving Hunter Biden followed closely after the special counsel in the Trump case filed a groundbreaking 37-count indictment alleging mishandling of classified documents, which the former president has denied. Trump has likened the Hunter Biden agreement to a mere traffic violation.

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This report contains contributions from Farnoush Amiri and Aamer Madhani, writers at Big Big News.

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• Attorney general denies whistleblower claims of interference in Hunter Biden investigation
• House Ways and Means Committee transcript
• IRS official’s testimony on alleged interference
• Statement from Attorney General Merrick Garland
• Statement from Biden’s lawyer on investigation thoroughness