WASHINGTON — Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss told the House Judiciary Committee that he was denied “special counsel” status in its investigation into Hunter Biden’s eldest son, the panel’s chairman said Tuesday — although Weiss insisted that his decision-making was not hindered in the case.
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters that Weiss said he initially requested special counsel status in the spring of 2022 from the Justice Department’s chief assistant deputy attorney general, but was not granted it.
“When he was asked specifically, ‘Have you ever requested special counsel authority under Section 515?’ Mr. Weiss’s answer was, ‘Yes, in the spring of 2022,’” Jordan said.
“She won’t answer a lot of questions,” Jordan added, also describing Weiss as inconsistent.
“He insisted, ‘Oh, I’ll always be able to get it if I ask for it.’ But the answer was, ‘I asked for it and it wasn’t given,’” Jordan said.
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley contacted Congress in April to allege a cover-up in the Hunter Biden case, which Shapley oversaw for more than three years. Shapley said that Weiss told investigators at the October 2022 meeting that he did not have the final decision-making authority, contrary to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s sworn claim to Congress.
Delaware US Attorney David Weiss denied “special counsel” status in Hunter Biden case.AP
Jason Foster, founder of Empower Oversight, which represents Shapley, tweeted Tuesday: “So who denied Weiss’ special counsel authority to prosecute, for what reason, and why didn’t he and Garland say so when Congress asked? It went down as described by an IRS whistleblower.
In his prepared remarks, Weiss, who was granted special counsel status by Garland on Aug. 11 after the collapse of a plea deal in the only trial for the president’s son on tax fraud and gun charges, insisted his office’s more than five-year investigation has not been hampered.
“I am, and have been, the decision maker in this case,” claimed Weiss, a Trump administration official who was recommended to his post by two Delaware Democratic senators, who are close Biden allies.
“I did not, however, make this decision in a vacuum. I am bound by federal law, federal prosecutorial principles and DOJ guidelines. As a result there is a process that I must follow in making investigative decisions and charges,” the statement continued.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan told reporters on Tuesday that Weiss’ denial was a “major take.”
“This process does not interfere with the authorities making my decision. I have never been blocked, or otherwise prevented from pursuing charges or taking necessary steps in an investigation by another United States Attorney, the Tax Division or anyone in the Department of Justice.”
Shapley, backed by another IRS agent, Joseph Ziegler, alleges there were numerous irregularities in the first son’s investigation into about $2 million in unpaid taxes from 2014 to 2019 — with Shapley accusing Garland of misleading Congress about Weiss’ independence.
Los Angeles US Attorney Martin Estrada and DC US Attorney Matthew Graves recently confirmed to the Judiciary Committee that they refused to “partner” with Weiss in bringing charges against Hunter Biden, but insisted they were willing to assist Weiss without lending their staff.
Before Shapley and Ziegler came forward, Weiss reportedly considered ending the investigation without charging Hunter Biden with any crimes.
Hunter Biden left the federal court in October.Saquan Stimpson – CNP
Weiss ultimately approved a probation-only plea deal, which erupted dramatically at a July 26 court hearing over a dispute with defense attorneys about the scope of immunity for past conduct.
Weiss in September charged Hunter Biden in Delaware with three felonies related to gun possession, but he has yet to refile the tax charges, which could also come with related charges such as money laundering and alleged violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
A Republican-led House committee is conducting an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden’s alleged role in his son and brother James’ foreign ventures in countries such as China and Ukraine.
During the vice presidency and before winning the presidency, Biden frequently interacted with his relatives’ philanthropists.
Post cover from August after Weiss was appointed special counsel investigating Hunter Biden.
A more complete account of Weiss’s Judiciary Committee testimony was not immediately available, but Republicans likely asked Weiss about her office’s efforts — or lack thereof — on various allegations involving the first family.
Weiss’ office received an unproven FBI whistleblower tip in 2020 that the owner of Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings, Mykola Zlochevsky, who paid Hunter $1 million a year, claimed in 2016 that he was “forced” to pay Joe and Hunter Biden $10 million in bribes.
However, it is not clear whether the information was investigated or how thoroughly it was checked.
Shapley told lawmakers in the summer that federal tax agents had not been told about the allegations and said it “would be very helpful.”
“The team, to the best of my knowledge, has never seen it [FD-1023] document,” he said.
In a separate statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) denounced the phrase, saying: “Broadly understood slogans calling for the total destruction of Israel — like from the River to the Sea — do not advance progress. towards the solution of two situations. On the other hand, it is no longer acceptable to risk polarization, division and incitement to violence. There are millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza who legitimately aspire to peaceful self-determination and economic dignity. The continued presence of Hamas undermines that cause, making it clear that continued efforts to defeat this brutal terrorist regime must succeed.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
