A group of Senate Republicans called on President Biden on Tuesday to withdraw his pick to lead the US Office of Special Counsel because of the nominee’s ties to the disgraced commander-in-chief’s son, Hunter.
Legislators, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), sought the revocation of Hampton Dellinger’s nomination to head the agency, which is tasked with handling whistleblowers.
“It is important for the American people to know that the Special Counsel is fair and impartial,” the senators wrote in a letter to Biden. “Mr. Dellinger’s connection to the Hunter Biden Burisma matter gives us serious pause.”
Dellinger was nominated by President Biden last month.
To secure his position as head of the OSC, Dellinger must be confirmed by the Senate.
Dellinger worked on the Crisis Management and Government Response team at Boies Schiller Flexner in 2014 — the same year Hunter Biden used the firm to help Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, where the first son now serves on the board at the time.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is leading a GOP group demanding the president withdraw his pick to lead the OSC. Getty Images Hampton Dellinger was nominated for the post last month. United States Department of Justice
The pair dined together in March of the same year, an email from Hunter’s laptop left behind.
It is unclear whether Dellinger did any legal work on Burisma’s behalf.
Blackburn (R-Tenn.) was joined by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — in his rebuttal.
One of their main concerns is that Dellinger could oversee agencies tasked with protecting whistleblowers — such as IRS investigators who alleged political interference in the Hunter Biden investigation earlier this year.
Tom Cotton was one of the signatories of the letter to President Biden calling on him to withdraw his OSC nomination. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Earlier this year, Chuck Grassley released an FBI memo alleging wrongdoing by Ukraine’s first son. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
“It is important to note that Mr. Dellinger, as Special Counsel, will be charged with ensuring that retaliation against whistleblowers—including the IRS whistleblower in the Hunter Biden matter—is investigated and that corrective or disciplinary action against whistleblowers is sought,” they wrote.
“The Burisma matter casts significant doubt that he can do his job to protect IRS whistleblowers, who are critical in shedding light on the two-tiered justice system carried out under your watch.”
Back in July, Grassley, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and others asked current Special Counsel Henry Kerner to evaluate allegations of retaliation against IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and agent Joseph Ziegler.
Hunter Biden has criticized Republicans for investigating his past. Saquan Stimpson – CNP Hampton Dellinger previously received Senate confirmation to become a DOJ assistant attorney general to oversee the Office of Legal Policy. YouTube/@SenatorJohnKennedy
Shapley and Ziegler have accused the Justice Department of dragging its feet and showing favoritism in its five-year investigation into 53-year-old Hunter Biden.
Kerner began serving in the position at the end of October 2017. The OSC leader was confirmed to serve a five-year term.
In 2021, Dellinger was confirmed by the Senate to serve as an assistant attorney general to oversee the Office of Legislative Policy at the Department of Justice.
He serves in that role until June 2023, according to the White House.
“[Dellinger] work has led to taxpayer savings by canceling unnecessarily expensive bid awards. His writings on a variety of topics include criticism of government actions and suggestions for improving the public sector,” the White House said in a statement announcing his nomination last month.
The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
House Republicans opened an impeachment inquiry into the president on September 12 to assess whether Joe Biden benefited from influence peddling by his family members.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to him obtaining a gun while addicted to cocaine. Special Counsel David Weiss has reportedly summoned a grand jury in Southern California to examine the prospect of tax charges against the first son.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
