House Republicans Seek Interview with Lead Prosecutor as They Expand Hunter Biden Investigation

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In an effort to further investigate alleged improper interference by the agency, House Republicans have requested voluntary testimony from nearly a dozen Justice Department officials involved in the investigation of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, and Jason Smith of Missouri, who lead the Republican-controlled House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees, penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. They asked for the appearance of nine officials from the Justice Department and two from the FBI to address recent allegations made by two IRS employees involved in the federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes and foreign business dealings.

The Republicans expressed concerns in the letter, obtained by The Big Big News, about the Department’s commitment to fair justice and the accuracy of assertions made to the Committee on the Judiciary, following “startling testimony” from Internal Revenue Services whistleblowers.

The letter specifically mentioned individuals such as David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware leading the investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf of Delaware, and Matthew Graves, the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia. It should be noted that Garland stated the Justice Department would not object to Weiss testifying before Congress.

While the Department confirmed receipt of the letter, a spokesperson declined to provide further comment.

This request comes in the wake of Hunter Biden’s agreement with the government to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses and avoid prosecution on a felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user, as long as he adheres to the agreed-upon conditions.

Shortly after the agreement, the House Ways and Means Committee, led by Jason Smith, voted to publicly disclose congressional testimony from the IRS employees, Greg Shapley and an unidentified agent. Their testimony highlighted what they described as a pattern of delaying enforcement actions and “slow-walking investigative steps” before the 2020 election, won by Joe Biden.

The exact nature of the conflict described by the whistleblowers remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether it signifies internal disagreement on the investigation approach or a pattern of interference and favoritism. The Department’s policy advises prosecutors to exercise caution when charging cases with potential political implications around the time of an election, to avoid influencing the outcome.

The Justice Department has denied the allegations, stating that Weiss, appointed during Donald Trump’s presidency, had full authority over the case.

The letter from House Republicans stipulates a deadline of July 13 for the Department to begin scheduling transcribed interviews with the requested individuals. If the deadline is not met, the committee chairmen have stated their intention to employ a congressional subpoena to compel cooperation.

Apart from the Hunter Biden investigation, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, led by James Comer, has initiated a broader review of the Biden family’s financial affairs and foreign dealings. They have issued numerous subpoenas to business associates and financial institutions.

Republicans have also focused attention on an unverified tip given to the FBI, alleging a bribery scheme involving Joe Biden during his vice presidency. The claim, which surfaced in 2019, asserts that Biden pressured Ukraine to dismiss its top prosecutor to halt an investigation into Burisma, an oil-and-gas company where Hunter Biden served on the board.

Democrats, in a letter to James Comer, explained that the Justice Department investigated the claim during Trump’s presidency, closing the matter after eight months due to “insufficient evidence.” They highlighted the transcript of an interview with Mykola Zlochevsky, the co-founder of Burisma, in which he denied any contact with Joe Biden while Hunter Biden worked for the company.

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, stated that Mr. Zlochevsky’s statements were among many that debunked the corruption allegations.

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