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FACTS FIRST’S GUIDE TO SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON’S HISTORY OF PEDDLING BASELESS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

By October 27, 2023No Comments

House Republicans elected a new Speaker and it’s clear that Mike Johnson will empower his conference to waste even more time and taxpayer money on their baseless “investigations.”

Mike Johnson has vocally supported House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer’s wild goose chase with Rudy Giuliani’s trash. Johnson claimed Comer’s investigation, which has presented no proof of wrongdoing by President Biden, “makes Watergate look like a walk in the park.” Johnson has long supported launching an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, at one pointing calling it “inevitable.” He has gladly peddled Comer’s conspiracy theories about President Biden and even hosted Comer on his podcast:

  • He repeated widely debunked conspiracy theories that President Biden got the Ukrainian prosecutor general fired to help his son.
  • He falsely claimed that “IRS whistleblowers testified President Biden pressured a Chinese company into paying him personally.”
  • He suggested that Devon Archer corroborated Republican allegations of wrongdoing against President Biden when it has been widely reported that Archer’s testimony did the opposite.
  • He claimed the federal government had “shielded” documents Republicans were seeking for their investigations, but Comer previously said that his committee has received “100 percent” of what it had requested through subpoenas.
  • He’s repeated Republican conspiracy theories that the Justice Department tried to intimidate key witnesses, like Devon Archer, who Republicans wanted to interview. Archer’s attorney said Archer did not agree with that Republican speculation as it pertained to him.
  • Johnson has admitted more than once that House GOP “investigations” are all about politics. He said their hearings were about trying the Biden administration in the court of public opinion “for the American people to help make their decisions in the next election cycle.”

Mike Johnson also previously served on the House Judiciary Committee and Jim Jordan’s Weaponization Subcommittee. There he supported Jordan’s efforts to interfere with prosecutors who are investigating former President Trump. He even said it was “our responsibility” to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and claimed, “there’s no crime even alleged there.” Since then, four of Trump’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Johnson claims the Justice Department under President Biden has been “politicized” to do the bidding of Democrats and the president even though multiple witnesses, including two U.S. attorneys, have testified to Congress disputing allegations of political interference in David Weiss’ investigation. He’s even relied on a poll fact checkers have said is bogus to claim that the Hunter Biden laptop story could have swayed the election for Trump.

Mike Johnson will only amplify Comer and Jordan’s conspiracy dreams. Americans are sick of the Republican chaos and dysfunction, it’s time to address the issues they’re facing, not keep wasting resources on settling partisan political scores.

Rep. Mike Johnson Is All-In On The Same Debunked Conspiracy Theories Peddled By House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer

REP. MIKE JOHNSON CLAIMED JAMES COMER’S INVESTIGATION, WHICH HAS PRESENTED NO PROOF OF WRONDOING BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, “MAKES WATERGATE LOOK LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK”REP. MIKE JOHNSON CLAIMED JAMES COMER’S INVESTIGATION, WHICH HAS PRESENTED NO PROOF OF WRONDOING BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, “MAKES WATERGATE LOOK LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK”

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed Evidence And Allegations That Republicans Purported To Have Gathered Against President Biden “Makes Watergate Look Like A Walk In The Park.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “We have to uphold the rule of law but what we have right now is raw evidence. Kelly, what we, the evidence and the allegations against President Biden are the worst in the history of the country. It’s not even close. This makes Watergate look like a walk in the park.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/4/23] (audio)

  • HEADLINE: “Comer Investigation of Biden Relatives Swings and Misses on Allegations of Influence Peddling” [TIME, 5/10/23]
  • HEADLINE: “Comer Releases Biden Family Probe Update Without Showing Link To President” [Politico, 5/10/23]
  • HEADLINE: “House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden” [New York Times, 5/10/23]
  • HEADLINE: “House Republicans Issue New Report On Joe Biden Corruption… That Again Offers No Evidence” [USA Today, 8/9/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON HAS LONG SUPPORTED LAUNCHING AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN, AT ONE POINT CALLING IT “INEVITABLE”

September 2023: Rep. Mike Johnson Supported The Impeachment Inquiry Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Launched Against President Biden. According to a press release from Rep. Mike Johnson’s office: “Based upon the overwhelming facts uncovered by our House Committees through our Congressional oversight responsibility, I fully support the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. This inquiry will allow us to unearth documents and records that the Administration has previously shielded and offer us a larger platform to deliver those facts directly to the American people. Barring declarations of war, impeachment is the most awesome power Congress holds, and we will undertake this great responsibility with a strict fidelity to the truth. It is time to get to work.” [Congressman Mike Johnson, Press Release, 9/12/23]

  • 8/31/23: Rep. Mike Johnson Said He “Definitely” Supported An Impeachment Inquiry Into President Biden. MIKE JOHNSON: “You noted a minute ago that we have credible evidence that the President himself has engaged in bribery schemes okay. So as I explained to the people at back home in Louisiana at a town hall, just yesterday afternoon, listen, we do not have a choice. They asked me about impeachment inquiry. Do I support it? I definitely do because I’m a constitutional law attorney. I’m a member of the House Judiciary Committee. I’m the chairman of the Constitution subcommittee. Okay, I have to be guided by the Constitution.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/31/23] (audio)
  • 8/4/23: Rep. Mike Johnson Said An Impeachment Inquiry “May Be Inevitable Now.” MIKE JOHNSON: “We on the other hand, on the Republican side, we acknowledge the heavy weight of an impeachment inquiry. That’s the first step. And if and when we take that step, and I think it may be inevitable now and we’ll be very sober minded as we continue our investigations into the Biden family right. Now, there are certainly some political realities to impeachment, right.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/4/23] (audio)
  • July 2023: Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed, “We’re Certainly At The Point Of An Impeachment Inquiry.” “Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of the GOP leadership team from Louisiana, told CNN on Tuesday that ‘all the evidence leads to the big guy.’ ‘Speaking as a member of the Judiciary Committee, we’re certainly at the point of an impeachment inquiry. … I feel like we’re there,’ Johnson said. ‘And so we’ll continue to investigate and see if we’re going to follow the facts where they lead we’re not going to use impeachment for a political tool, like the Democrats did in the last administration. We will not do that. But we do have an obligation on the Constitution to follow the facts.’” [CNN, 7/25/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON PUSHED DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND UKRAINE

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed Then-Vice President Joe Biden “Bribed Or Pressured” Ukraine’s Leader To Fire The Country’s Top Prosecutor “Because The Prosecutor Was Investigating His Son.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “This should be the headline in every news outlet in America. Just think of it, the simplicity of it. Here’s the summary: the president bribed or pressured a foreign leader to fire that country’s top prosecutor because the prosecutor was investigating his son and he used $1,000,000,000 of U.S. taxpayer money to have that bidding done and then he bragged about it on video. I can’t understand why every news outlet is not covering this as the first story this morning and throughout this process. Mr. Shokin, of course, is an important voice in this because he was directly involved, he was the target of the president. And the idea that he believes there was bribery confirms what many of us are already thinking.” [Fox News, Fox and Friends, 8/28/23] (video)

  • Mike Johnson Alleged That President Biden “Engaged In Multiple Bribery Schemes.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “We now have credible allegations and stacks of evidence now that are mounting to show that Joe Biden engaged in multiple bribery schemes. Now, we do not have a choice but to pursue that. Why? Because Article 2, Section 4 of the United States Constitution that every member of the House took an oath to uphold and support says very clearly that a president shall be impeached if he’s — if he’s engaged in bribery.” [Fox Business, Mornings with Maria, 9/6/23] (video)

Fact Checkers Have Widely Debunked Allegations Of Corruption Leveled At President Biden Regarding Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin

HEADLINE: “Fact Check: Biden Leveraged $1B In Aid To Ukraine To Oust Corrupt Prosecutor, Not To Help His Son” [USA Today, 10/21/20]

  • USA Today: “Based On Our Research, The Claim That Joe Biden Threatened To Withhold $1 Billion From Ukraine To Save His Son’s Job Is FALSE.” “Based on our research, the claim that Joe Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion from Ukraine to save his son’s job is FALSE. The then-vice president leveraged aid dollars to persuade the country to oust its top prosecutor as part of anti-corruption efforts endorsed by other international players that were unrelated to his son, Hunter Biden.” [USA Today, 10/21/20]

Washington Post Fact-Checker Reported That Contrary To Republicans’ Claims That Vice President Biden Sought Shokin’s Removal To Benefit Burisma, “The Body Of Evidence Shows That Shokin Failed To Act Against Burisma, To The Distress Of Many Senior U.S. Officials.” “House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) this week directed House committees to begin an impeachment inquiry into Biden, with one area of focus whether Biden pushed to fire Shokin to benefit his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings. Republicans have claimed that Biden sought Shokin’s removal to benefit the Ukrainian energy giant Burisma, where Hunter Biden was a board director. But the body of evidence shows that Shokin failed to act against Burisma, to the distress of many senior U.S. officials who at the time closely tracked whether he was meeting certain benchmarks.” [Washington Post, 9/15/23]

FactCheck.Org Said President Biden Carried Out U.S. Policy, Which Found Ukrainian Prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, Guilty Of Corruption – The International Community Also Advocated For Shokin’s Removal From Office. “As we have reported more than once last year, Biden traveled to Kyiv as vice president and warned Ukraine’s then-president, Petro Poroshenko, that the U.S. would withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees until Ukraine removed its prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin, who was widely viewed as corrupt. At the time, the international community and anti-corruption advocates in Ukraine were also calling for Shokin to be removed from office for his failure to aggressively prosecute corruption.” [FactCheck.org, 10/15/20]

  • Former Senior Director For Europe Affairs, Charles Kupchan, Who Was On The National Security Council Staff And Traveled With Biden When He Made The Decision To Withhold The Loan Said, “The Consensus Was That Shokin Had To Go,” And The View Was Echoed By Germany And France. “Charles Kupchan, who was senior director for European affairs on the staff of the National Security Council and also traveled on Biden’s flight, remembers the later phone call more distinctly than Biden calling an audible on the plane. ‘The consensus was that Shokin had to go,’ he said. ‘That was not just our view but the view of the Germans and the French.’” [Washington Post, 9/15/23]

New Yorker: “There Is No Credible Evidence That Biden Sought Shokin’s Removal In Order To Protect Hunter [Biden].” “There is no credible evidence that Biden sought Shokin’s removal in order to protect Hunter.” [New Yorker, 7/8/19]

  • S. Special Envoy For Energy Policy, Amos Hochstein, Said Shokin’s Removal Was Due To Concerns By The International Monetary Fund, European Union, And The U.S. Government That He Wasn’t Pursuing Corruption Investigations. “According to Amos Hochstein, the Obama Administration’s special envoy for energy policy, Shokin was removed because of concerns by the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and the U.S. government that he wasn’t pursuing corruption investigations.” [New Yorker, 7/8/19]
  • S. Special Envoy For Energy Policy, Amos Hochstein Believed The Corruption Claims That Shokin Was Fired For Investigating Burisma Were Actually The Opposite. “Contrary to the assertions that Shokin was fired because he was investigating Burisma and Zlochevsky, Hochstein said, ‘many of us in the U.S. government believed that Shokin was the one protecting Zlochevsky.’” [New Yorker, 7/8/19]

BBC Reported That Vice President Biden And Other Western Leaders Called For The Firing Of Ukraine’s Top Prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, Who Faced Criticism For Blocking Corruption Investigations – Shokin Was Removed By Ukrainian Parliament In 2016. “At the time, his father was actively engaged in anti-corruption work in Ukraine. Vice-President Biden rallied other Western leaders to call for the firing of the country’s top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, who faced criticism for blocking corruption investigations. Mr Shokin was removed by the Ukrainian parliament in 2016. Mr Trump and some of his allies have claimed he was ousted for investigating Burisma.” [BBC, 10/6/22]

  • HEADLINE: “Envoys Pushed To Oust Ukraine Prosecutor Before Biden” [Financial Times, 10/3/19]
  • EU Diplomats Working On Ukraine Told The Financial Times They Were Looking For Ways To Persuade Kiev To Oust Shokin Well Before Then-Vice President, Joe Biden. “EU diplomats working on Ukraine at the time have, however, told the FT that they were looking for ways to persuade Kiev to remove Mr Shokin well before Mr Biden entered the picture. The push for Mr Shokin’s removal was part of an international effort to bolster Ukraine’s institutions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict in the eastern part of the country.” [Financial Times, 10/3/19]

Former President Poroshenko Said Shokin Was Fired Due To His Own Corruption And Shut Down The Republican Narrative About Shokin’s Firing

Asked About The Shokin Allegation, President Poroshenko Claimed There Was Not “One Single Word Of Truth” That Came From Shokin And Poroshenko Confirmed Shokin Wasn’t Fired Because Of Joe Biden But Because Of His Own Corruption. “‘First of all, this is the completely crazy person,’ Poroshenko began. ‘This is something wrong with him.’ ‘Second,’ the nonnative English speaker continued, ‘there is no one single word of truth. And third, I hate the idea to make any comments and to make any intervention in the American election.’ He asked that Kilmeade ‘not use such person like Shokin to undermine the trust between bipartisan support and Ukraine.’ […] ‘Okay, so that is not true,’ Kilmeade continued. ‘He didn’t get fired because of Joe Biden.’ Poroshenko confirmed that he did not, saying that Shokin was fired ‘for his own statement.’” [Washington Post, 9/25/23]

  • HEADLINE: “Fox News Just Accidentally Demolished a Biden-Ukraine Conspiracy Theory” [Daily Beast, 9/25/23]

Devon Archer, A Republican Witness And Former Burisma Board Member, Testified To Lawmakers That He Was Told The Firing Of Shokin Was “Bad For Burisma”

Devon Archer, Former Burisma Board Member, Testified To Lawmakers That The Firing Of Shokin Was A Setback To Burisma, “It Was Bad For Burisma.” “Devon Archer, a fellow Burisma board member, said in a closed-door interview with lawmakers on July 31 that he was told at the time of Shokin’s firing that it was a setback for the company, according to a transcript. ‘That’s what was I told, that it was bad for Burisma,’ he said. ‘But I don’t know. I don’t know if it was good or bad.’” [Washington Post, 8/30/23]

House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin Released A Transcript In Which The Co-Founder Of Burisma Said He And No One From The Company Ever Spoke To Joe Biden

HEADLINE: “Jamie Raskin Releases Transcript Of Ukrainian Oligarch Denying He Talked To Joe Biden” [Huffington Post, 6/29/23]

House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin Released A Three Page Transcript In Which The Co-Founder Of Burisma Said He And No One From Burisma Ever Spoke To Joe Biden While Hunter Biden Was On The Board. “The Ukrainian oligarch Republicans claim bribed Joe Biden said he never actually talked to Biden, according to an interview transcript made public Thursday by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). Mykola Zlochevsky is a co-founder of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma that employed Biden’s son Hunter for several years. Zlochevsky served as Ukraine’s energy minister, but has been in hiding since fleeing corruption charges.  Republicans claim there’s evidence a Burisma executive — apparently Zlochevsky — paid Joe Biden a $5 million bribe when he was vice president in exchange for an official favor. They’ve demanded the FBI hand over a document reflecting a confidential source’s conversation with Zlochevsky. Raskin has now countered with a document of his own — a three-page transcript of a 2019 interview between Zlochevsky and an acquaintance of Rudy Giuliani, who at the time was publicly seeking dirt on Biden on behalf of then-President Donald Trump. ‘No one from Burisma ever had any contacts with VP Biden or people working for him during Hunter Biden’s engagement’ with Burisma, Zlochevsky says in the transcript.” [Huffington Post, 6/29/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON FALSLEY CLAIMED THAT IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN PRESSURED A CHINESE COMPANY INTO “PAYING HIM PERSONALLY”

Rep. Mike Johnson: “IRS Whistleblowers Testified President Biden Pressured A Chinese Company Into Paying Him Personally.” Well, gosh, it looks like he took money from the Chinese Communist Party. Right. So maybe he made commitments to them that he would not intervene against their interest. […] We have evidence of bribes, extortion, I mean, staggering abuses of power by Joe Biden himself. Okay. I mean, just a couple examples. A document from a confidential FBI source alleges that the President accepted a $5 million bribe. Alright, that I mean, that’s the document. IRS whistleblowers testified President Biden pressured a Chinese company into paying him personally. The President’s DOJ, Department of Justice, is intimidating key witnesses involved in the investigation into his family.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/4/23] (audio)

There Is No Evidence That President Biden Benefited From Or Personally Knew Details About His Son’s Transactions With Chinese Businesses

Washington Post “Did Not Find Evidence That Joe Biden Personally Benefited From Or Knew Details About The Transactions With CEFC.” “The Post did not find evidence that Joe Biden personally benefited from or knew details about the transactions with CEFC, which took place after he had left the vice presidency and before he announced his intentions to run for the White House in 2020.” [Washington Post, 3/30/22]

Daily Caller: “Joe Biden Is Not Named In The Corporate Records Related To Hunter Biden’s 2017 Business Dealings With A Chinese Firm.” “Joe Biden is not named in the corporate records related to Hunter Biden’s 2017 business dealings with a Chinese firm, but a much-publicized email purportedly referencing the former vice president as the ‘big guy’ shows that the stakeholders were considering having an intermediary hold his stake in the venture.” [Daily Caller, 10/23/20]

  • Daily Caller Found “No Records” Indicating That Joe Biden Received Any Off-The-Books Stake In Oneida Holdings. “Daily Caller News Foundation found no records in a trove of text messages and other documents from Hunter Biden’s ex-business partner Tony Bobulinski indicating that Joe Biden obtained any off-the-books stake in Oneida Holdings when its structure was finalized in May 2017.” [Daily Caller, 10/23/20]
  • Daily Caller: “None Of The Corporate Documents In The Trove Related To Oneida Identify Joe Biden By Name.” “The Bobulinski document trove includes internal corporate documents for Oneida, which was brokering a joint venture deal with the Chinese energy firm CEFC China Energy Co in May 2017. None of the corporate documents in the trove related to Oneida identify Joe Biden by name. However, an email sent from Hunter Biden associate James Gilliar to Bobulinski on May 13, 2017, suggests that if Joe Biden was to have a stake in the firm, it would be held by an intermediary such as his son.” [Daily Caller, 10/23/20]

Multiple News Investigations Have Found President Joe Biden Had No Role In The CEFC Business Venture

Wall Street Journal: “Corporate Records Reviewed By The Wall Street Journal Show No Role For Joe Biden.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/23/20]

New York Times: “There Is No Evidence In The Records That Mr. Biden Was Involved In Or Profited From The Joint Venture” “There is no evidence in the records that Mr. Biden was involved in or profited from the joint venture. Encrypted messages, emails and other documents examined by The New York Times do not show Hunter Biden or James Biden discussing any role for the former vice president in the project. Mr. Biden’s tax returns, which he has released, show no income from any such venture.” [New York Times, 10/25/20]

Washington Post Fact-Checker: “The Post, In An Extensive Report, Did Not Find Evidence That Joe Biden Personally Benefited From Or Knew Details About The Transactions With CEFC” “To this day, none of those allegations, a staple of Trump’s campaign rhetoric, has been proven […] The Post, in an extensive report, did not find evidence that Joe Biden personally benefited from or knew details about the transactions with CEFC.” [Washington Post, Fact Checker, 2/21/23]

Washington Post Fact-Checker: “The Post Did Not Find Evidence That Joe Biden Personally Benefited From Or Knew Details About The Transactions With CEFC, Which Took Place After He Had Left The Vice Presidency And Before He Announced His Intentions To Run For The White House In 2020.” [Washington Post, 3/30/22]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON SUGGESTED THAT DEVON ARCHER CORROBORATED REPUBLICAN ALLEGATIONS OF WRONDOING AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

Rep. Mike Johnson Alleged That Joe Biden “Personally Engaged” In Discussions At Least 20 Times With Oligarchs, “Big Head Honchos,” And “Adversarial Nations.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “But in essence, what Mr. Archer testified to is that Joe Biden was the brand, right? They were selling the Biden brand, and it was the vice president himself at the time. And we now know that Mr. Biden, Joe Biden himself personally engaged in those discussions at least 20 different times. Now these are discussions with you know, oligarchs, and you know, big head honchos and adversarial nations like China and Russia. I mean, it’s really, really staggering stuff.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/4/23] (audio)

Contrary To Republican Allegations, Devon Archer Testified That President Biden Was Not Involved In His Son’s Business Pursuits

COLUMN: “Devon Archer Said The Opposite Of What Republicans Claimed” [Washington Post, Phillip Bump, 8/3/23]

  • Washington Post’s Phillip Bump: “What Archer Said Not Only Doesn’t Comport With The Presentations Made By Comer And Jordan On Television (Which Were Obviously Wrong From The Outset), His Testimony Undermines The Idea That Burisma Wanted Shokin Fired, That Zlochevsky Paid Any Bribe — And, Crucially, That Joe Biden Was Involved In Any Of This.” “On Thursday, the Oversight Committee released a transcript of Archer’s testimony — testimony for which Comer wasn’t present. What Archer said not only doesn’t comport with the presentations made by Comer and Jordan on television (which were obviously wrong from the outset), his testimony undermines the idea that Burisma wanted Shokin fired, that Zlochevsky paid any bribe — and, crucially, that Joe Biden was involved in any of this.” [Washington Post, Phillip Bump, 8/3/23]
  • Washington Post’s Phillip Bump: “That’s The Pattern Here. Comer And Jordan And Others Hype Claims Of Joe Biden’s Involvement In Hunter Biden’s Work Only To See Those Claims Collapse As More Information Is Made Public.” “That’s the pattern here. Comer and Jordan and others hype claims of Joe Biden’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s work only to see those claims collapse as more information is made public. Devon Archer’s testimony was hailed as a central breakthrough in implicating Joe Biden. Instead, it has a top ally of Hunter Biden stating under penalty of perjury that Joe Biden was not involved in Hunter Biden’s business and that Biden’s trip to Ukraine in 2015 was not centered on protecting Burisma at all. Very much contrary to what those leading Republicans implied on Fox News.” [Washington Post, Phillip Bump, 8/3/23]

HEADLINE: “Hunter Biden Business Associate Testifies He Has No Knowledge Of Wrongdoing By Joe Biden” [NBC News, 8/3/23]

  • NBC News: “But the Transcripts Appear To Back Up Democrats, Including Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., And Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., Who Have Argued That Comer’s Investigation Into The Bidens Has Revealed No Direct Evidence That Joe Biden Was Involved In His Son’s Business Dealings, Was Influenced By Them Or Broke The Law.” “Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., released Archer’s 141-page transcript on the same day former President Donald Trump is set to be arraigned at a federal courthouse in Washington for charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The testimony hands Republicans descriptive details about Hunter Biden and more ammunition as they accuse the Justice Department of aggressively prosecuting Trump for multiple crimes while going easy on Hunter Biden on federal tax and other charges. But the transcripts appear to back up Democrats, including Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who have argued that Comer’s investigation into the Bidens has revealed no direct evidence that Joe Biden was involved in his son’s business dealings, was influenced by them or broke the law.” [NBC News, 8/3/23]

HEADLINE: “Devon Archer Says Joe Biden Discussed ‘Nothing’ Important With Hunter Biden Business Associates, Transcript Shows” [CNN, 8/3/23]

HEADLINE: “Star Witness Undercuts Republican Corruption Case Against Joe Biden” [Huffington Post, 8/3/23]

HEADLINE: “Key Witness Doesn’t Back Up G.O.P.’S Biggest Allegations On Bidens” [New York Times, 8/4/23]

Devon Archer Testified That Biden Said “Nothing” Of Importance When Placed On Speakerphone By His Son

Devon Archer Testified That Joe Biden Did Not Discuss Business When His Son Called Him While With His Business Associates And Republicans Have Presented No Evidence That Joe Biden Personally Benefited Financially From Having Appeared On Those Calls. “Facts First: McCarthy’s claim omits key context about what was – and wasn’t – reportedly discussed in the calls and dinners. A Hunter Biden associate testified that even though Joe Biden was on these calls and at these dinners, he didn’t discuss business. And Republicans have not presented any evidence that Joe Biden himself benefited financially from his appearances at the dinners or on the calls.” [CNN, 9/13/23]

  • Devon Archer Testified Joe Biden Was Occasionally Put On Speakerphone During His Son’s Meetings With Business Partners, But “Nothing” Of Importance Was Ever Discussed. “Archer testified that there were ‘maybe 20 times’ when Joe Biden was placed on speakerphone during meetings with his and Hunter Biden’s business partners. This puts Joe Biden closer to his son’s business activities that he previously let on. However, Archer said ‘nothing’ of importance was ever discussed during these calls.” [CNN, 9/13/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON CLAIMED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD “SHIELDED” DOCUMENTS SOUGHT BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed The Impeachment Inquiry Would “Allow Us To Unearth Documents And Records That The Administration Has Previously Shielded.” According to a press release from Rep. Mike Johnson’s office: “Based upon the overwhelming facts uncovered by our House Committees through our Congressional oversight responsibility, I fully support the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. This inquiry will allow us to unearth documents and records that the Administration has previously shielded and offer us a larger platform to deliver those facts directly to the American people. Barring declarations of war, impeachment is the most awesome power Congress holds, and we will undertake this great responsibility with a strict fidelity to the truth. It is time to get to work.” [Congressman Mike Johnson, Press Release, 9/12/23]

Rep. Mike Johnson Accused Federal Agencies Of Hiding Documents And Claimed That Was Justification To Open An Impeachment Inquiry. Rep. Mike Johnson tweeted: “The reason we must open an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden is because the DOJ and other federal agencies have blocked our investigations at every turn. It’s due time we get access to the documents they’re hiding.” [Twitter, Rep. Mike Johnson, 9/1/23]

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer Said He Had Received “100 Percent” Of What He Had Asked For

June 2023: House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer Told Fox News That The Oversight Committee Had Received “100 Percent” Of What It Had Requested Through Subpoenas. “At the end of June, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) told Kudlow in an interview that the panel’s investigation and expertise are ‘centered around bank statement and bank records,’ but went on to note that the committee has received ‘100 percent’ of what it requested through subpoenas.  ‘Every subpoena that I’ve signed as chairman of the House Oversight Committee over the last five months, we’ve gotten 100 percent of what we’ve requested,’ Comer said. ‘Whether it’s with the FBI or with banks or with Treasury. We have built up success that will lead to more success because now what we’re subpoenaing is a lot more challenge.’” [The Hill, 8/22/23]

  • HEADLINE: “Kevin McCarthy Is Threatening To Impeach Biden For Not Turning Over Documents Republicans Never Requested” [Politics USA, 8/23/23]
  • A House Oversight Committee Aide Confirmed To The Hill That The Committee Had Not Requested Documents From The White House That Speaker McCarthy Claimed They Asked For And Hadn’t Received. “McCarthy at one point added they were seeking bank statements and credit card statements, though did not specify for whom. ‘If they hold that up, we would have to move to an impeachment inquiry. Which you know, Larry, gives the apex of power to Congress when it comes to our subpoena power and others to get the documents we need. The bank statements, the credit card statements and others. Show us where the money went, show us were you taking money from outside sources? And that would clear most of this up, but they seem to fight it every step of the way,’ he added. But an aide for the House Oversight Committee, which has led the investigation into the matter, confirmed the panel has not requested such documents from the White House.” [The Hill, 8/22/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON PUSHED A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT THE DOJ TRIED TO INTIMIDATE DEVON ARCHER BEFORE HE TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS – WHICH ARCHER’S ATTORNEY DEBUNKED

Rep. Mike Johnson Suggested The Justice Department Was Trying To Intimidate Or Obstruct Devon Archer From Testifying To Congress.  Rep. Mike Johnson tweeted: “Update: The weaponized DOJ now ‘clarifies’ they won’t try to prevent Devon Archer from testifying tomorrow. Witness intimidation & obstruction? Nah, nothing to see here.” [Twitter, Rep. Mike Johnson, 7/30/23]

Rep. Mike Johnson Alleged That President Biden’s Justice Department Was “Intimidating Key Witnesses In The Investigation Into His Family.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “Among the mounting evidence that we have against President Biden, okay, I mean, this is whistleblowers. This is, you know, sworn testimony under oath from multiple sources. Documents that we have from the FBI and whistleblowers. We have evidence of bribes, extortion, I mean, staggering abuses of power by Joe Biden himself. Okay. I mean, just a couple examples. A document from a confidential FBI source alleges that the President accepted a $5 million bribe. Alright, that I mean, that’s the document. IRS whistleblowers testified President Biden pressured a Chinese company into paying him personally. The President’s DOJ, Department of Justice, is intimidating key witnesses involved in the investigation into his family.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/4/23] (audio)

Devon Archer’s Lawyer Said Archer Did Not Agree With Republican Speculation That The Justice Department Was Trying To Intimidate Him Before His Testimony To Congress

HEADLINE: “Hunter Biden’s Ex-Biz Partner Shuts Down GOP ‘Speculation’ Over DOJ Prison Letter” [Daily Beast, 7/31/23]

Devon Archer’s Attorney Matthew Schwartz Said Archer Did Not Agree With Republican Speculation That The Justice Department Was Trying To Intimidate Him Before He Testified To Congress. “Matthew Schwartz, Archer’s attorney, also rejected the notion that there’s any connection between Archer’s tiff with the Justice Department and his potentially imminent jail time. ‘We are aware of speculation that the Department of Justice’s weekend request to have Mr. Archer report to prison is an attempt by the Biden administration to intimidate him in advance of his meeting with the House Oversight Committee,’ Schwartz said in a statement. ‘To be clear, Mr. Archer does not agree with that speculation. In any case, Mr. Archer will do what he has planned to do all along, which is to show up on Monday and to honestly answer the questions that are put to him by the Congressional investigators.’” [Politico, 7/30/23]

COLUMN: “The Right Once Again Gins Up A Baseless Claim Of Intimidation” [Washington Post, Philip Bump, 7/31/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON ADMITTED HOUSE REPUBLICAN “INVESTIGATIONS” ARE ABOUT POLITICS

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed The Impeachment Inquiry Would Give Republicans A “Larger Platform.” According to a press release from Rep. Mike Johnson’s office: “Based upon the overwhelming facts uncovered by our House Committees through our Congressional oversight responsibility, I fully support the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. This inquiry will allow us to unearth documents and records that the Administration has previously shielded and offer us a larger platform to deliver those facts directly to the American people. Barring declarations of war, impeachment is the most awesome power Congress holds, and we will undertake this great responsibility with a strict fidelity to the truth. It is time to get to work.” [Congressman Mike Johnson, Press Release, 9/12/23]

Rep. Mike Johnson Said House Republican Hearings Were About Trying The Biden Administration In The Court Of Public Opinion “For The American People To Help Make Their Decisions In The Next Election Cycle.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “But so we’re limited under the Constitution to what we are able to do about all this okay, we don’t have the authority to perp-walk anybody to indict them, you know, to try them in a court of law. We can try them in the court of public opinion, which is what these hearings are about, to lay the facts bare for the American people to help make their decisions in the next election cycle. And we have the power of the purse, very important power we have in Congress in the house.” [Truth be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 6/23/23] (audio)

Rep. Mike Johnson: “We Don’t Have The Power To Indict Anybody. We Can’t Put Anybody On Trial In A Court Right, We Can Put Them On Trial In A Court Of Public Opinion, Which We’re Trying To Do With These Hearings.” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “I mean, what I say Andy is I say listen, you have to remember, we only have the majority in one house right now it’s a small majority at that, it’s difficult just to keep our team together much less anything else. But we don’t have the power to indict anybody. We can’t put anybody on trial in a court right, we can put them on trial in a court of public opinion, which we’re trying to do with these hearings.” [Truth Be Told With Mike and Kelly Johnson, 7/22/23] (audio)

Rep. James Comer Admitted His “Investigation” Is All About Politics

Rep. James Comer Suggested That His Investigations Were Responsible For Former President Trump Being Ahead Of President Biden In Some Polls. FOX NEWS ANCHOR: “So do you think that because of your investigation, that is what’s moved this needle with the media?” REP. JAMES COMER: “Absolutely. Absolutely. There’s no question. You look at the polling, and right now Donald Trump is seven points ahead of Joe Biden and trending upward; Joe Biden’s trending downward. And I believe that the media is looking around, scratching their head, and they’re realizing the American people are keeping up with our investigation.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends First, 5/22/23] (video)

  • HEADLINE: “House GOP Chairman Links His Investigation To Biden’s Poll Numbers” [Washington Post, 5/22/23]
  • HEADLINE: “GOP Rep. James Comer Implies Biden Family Probe Is Really About Helping Trump In 2024” [Huffington Post, 5/22/23]

Rep. Matt Gaetz Said The Quiet Part Out Loud; House GOP Impeachment Pushes Are Just Political Theater To Boost Their 2024 Election Chances

HEADLINE: “Matt Gaetz Admits Biden Impeachment Is Really About Helping Republicans In 2024” [New Republic, 8/16/23]

Rep. Matt Gaetz Said The Point Of An Impeachment Was Not For The Sake Of A Conviction, But For House Republicans To Be Able To Put On A Performance In The Senate. “But Gaetz said that Republicans should go straight to impeachment proceedings, not just an inquiry. ‘The purpose of that impeachment, from my standpoint, is not to force a vote that loses,’ he said during a Twitter Space on Monday night. ‘It’s to put on a trial in the Senate, and by the way, not for the sake of conviction.’  ‘There’s no conviction and removal of Joe Biden coming on impeachment. I know that. You know that,’ Gaetz said, although he blamed that on the Senate being controlled by Democrats, not the utter lack of proof.” [New Republic, 8/16/23]

  • Matt Gaetz: “If We Had The Senate As The Stage And The Platform For James Comer To Put On His Evidence And Advance This Impeachment, It Will Not Result In A Conviction.” “Gaetz argued that Republicans should impeach Biden in order to put him on trial. But ‘the jury is the American people.’ ‘If we had the Senate as the stage and the platform for James Comer to put on his evidence and advance this impeachment, it will not result in a conviction,’ Gaetz said, referring to the chair of the House Oversight Committee, who has been leading the charge against Biden. ‘But the true verdict can still be rendered by the American people.’” [New Republic, 8/16/23]
  • Matt Gaetz: “There’s No Conviction And Removal Of Joe Biden Coming On Impeachment. I Know That. You Know That.” “But Gaetz said that Republicans should go straight to impeachment proceedings, not just an inquiry. ‘The purpose of that impeachment, from my standpoint, is not to force a vote that loses,’ he said during a Twitter Space on Monday night. ‘It’s to put on a trial in the Senate, and by the way, not for the sake of conviction.’ ‘There’s no conviction and removal of Joe Biden coming on impeachment. I know that. You know that,’ Gaetz said, although he blamed that on the Senate being controlled by Democrats, not the utter lack of proof.” [New Republic, 8/16/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON GAVE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIR JAMES COMER ANOTHER PLATFORM TO SPREAD HIS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Rep. Mike Johnson And His Wife Had House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer On Their Podcast To Talk About How He Was “Leading The Charge In Uncovering Shocking New Evidence.” “In this episode, Mike and Kelly discuss the trials and tribulations that so many are enduring right now, including the many victims of our nation’s natural disasters, and the breaking news regarding their dear friend, Majority Whip Steve Scalise. They also discuss the hope that we find in Scripture about endurance. Then, Mike discusses breaking news on the Biden investigations with another good friend and colleague, Congressman James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, who is leading the charge in uncovering shocking new evidence. To end on a cheerful note, Mike and Kelly share the clip of what they refer to as their favorite radio interview of all time. You won’t want to miss today’s program.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/31/23] (audio)

Rep. Mike Johnson Was A Member Of Jim Jordan’s Weaponization Committee And, As Speaker, Would Empower Jordan’s Efforts To Protect Trump

REP. MIKE JOHNSON SUPPORTED JIM JORDAN’S EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH PROSECUTORS INVESTIGATING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP

Rep. Mike Johnson Expressed Support For House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan Launching An Investigation Of Fulton County DA Fani Willis And Said It Was “Our Responsibility.” “It’s absolutely outrageous. You may have seen also development late yesterday out of our Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan, our Chairman made it known that we are now launching an investigation of this county prosecutor outside of Atlanta that caused all this, Fani Willis, because that is our responsibility. We have the oversight responsibility and we want to know very specifically, has she coordinated in any way? Obviously, it looks obvious to us. The DA in New York, in DC. Now the Atlanta area, the Federal Department of Justice, and Special Counsel Jack Smith, are they coordinating all this?” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/25/23] (audio)

  • Mike Johnson Criticized The Fulton County District Attorney For Prosecuting Former President Trump Over His Efforts To Overturn The 2020 Election. “They have weaponized the Department of Justice as I say all the time. But the degree to which they are willing to go now is just completely unprecedented and dangerous is it’s lawlessness. It is open and blatant election interference. That’s what’s going on here. in Fulton County, Georgia, you have a county prosecutor. This isn’t even a state attorney general. It’s not a US Attorney. It’s not a federal or state prosecutor. It is a county prosecutor with very limited jurisdiction and scope trying to indict and convict a, a former president of the United States for his actions at the federal level. There’s no crime even alleged there. They were trying to prosecute him for basically objecting to the outcome of a presidential election.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/25/23] (audio)
  • Mike Johnson: “It Is A County Prosecutor With Very Limited Jurisdiction And Scope Trying To Indict And Convict A Former President Of The United States For His Actions At The Federal Level. There’s No Crime Even Alleged There. They Were Trying To Prosecute Him For Basically Objecting To The Outcome Of A Presidential Election.” “They have weaponized the Department of Justice as I say all the time. But the degree to which they are willing to go now is just completely unprecedented and dangerous, it’s lawlessness. It is open and blatant election interference. That’s what’s going on here. In Fulton County, Georgia, you have a county prosecutor. This isn’t even a state attorney general. It’s not a US Attorney. It’s not a federal or state prosecutor. It is a county prosecutor with very limited jurisdiction and scope trying to indict and convict a former president of the United States for his actions at the federal level. There’s no crime even alleged. They are trying to prosecute him for basically objecting to the outcome of a presidential election.” [Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson, 8/25/23] (audio)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON CLAIMED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WAS “POLITICIZED” TO HELP DEMOCRATS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed Attorney General Merrick Garland Had “Politicized” The Justice Department To Do The “Bidding” Of Democrats And President Biden. FOX BUSINESS NEWS’ BARTIROMO: “So, it really does feel like America is a banana republic, Congressman. I mean, is that what we’re doing now? We’re just going to take down our political enemies?” REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “That’s exactly what’s happening. Merrick Garland, as the Attorney General, has turned the DoJ into a politicized agency. They’re doing the bidding of one political party and particularly the first family.” [Fox Business, Mornings with Maria, 7/20/23] (video)

Rep. Mike Johnson Claimed David Weiss Becoming Special Counsel Was An “Attempt To Obstruct Congress” And That The Justice Department Under Attorney General Merrick Garland And President Biden Was “Corrupted.” Rep. Mike Johnson tweeted: “The appointment of David Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter Biden case is a blatant attempt to obstruct Congress. The corrupted Biden/Garland DOJ is out of control and @weaponization will not let them get away with this and destroy what’s left of our justice system!” [Twitter, Rep. Mike Johnson, 8/11/23]

President Biden Kept The Two U.S. Attorneys Who Were Conducting Investigations That Could Harm Him Politically

The Two U.S. Attorneys The Biden Administration Did Not Ask To Resign Were The U.S. Attorney In Delaware, Who Was Investigating Hunter Biden, And Special Counsel John Durham, Who Was Investigating The Origins Of The Trump-Russia Probe. “The Biden administration will begin removing all Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys appointed during the Trump administration, with two exceptions, a senior Justice Department official said.  The process, which is not uncommon, could start as early as Tuesday. They will be asked to resign.  John Durham will remain in place to investigate the origins of the Russia probe, but not as U.S. attorney for the district of Connecticut, the official said. He was appointed as a special counsel and given extra protections for the inquiry by Attorney General William Barr last fall. David Weiss, U.S. attorney for Delaware, will also remain in place. Hunter Biden, the president’s son, said in December that federal officials in Delaware were investigating his taxes.” [NBC News, 2/8/21]

Attorney General Merrick Garland Denied Allegations Of Wrongdoing In Weiss’ Investigation

HEADLINE: “Garland Denies Allegations Of Politics Impacting Hunter Biden Plea Deal” [Politico, 6/23/23]

  • Attorney General Merrick Garland Said U.S. Attorney David Weiss Was “Permitted To Continue His Investigation And To Make A Decision To Prosecute Any Way In Which He Wanted To And In Any District In Which He Wanted To.” “Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday forcefully rejected allegations from congressional Republicans and an Internal Revenue Service whistleblower that political considerations impacted the federal investigation into Hunter Biden. ‘As I said at the outset, Mr. [David] Weiss, who was appointed by President [Donald] Trump as the U.S. Attorney in Delaware and assigned this matter during a previous administration, would be permitted to continue his investigation and to make a decision to prosecute any way in which he wanted to and in any district in which he wanted to,’ Garland said during a press conference at Justice Department headquarters about a crackdown on fentanyl precursors.” [Politico, 6/23/23]
  • Attorney General Merrick Garland: “[Weiss] Was Given Complete Authority To Make All Decisions On His Own.” “‘I don’t know how it would be possible for anybody to block him from bringing a prosecution given that he has this authority,’ Garland added. ‘He was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own.’” [Politico, 6/23/23]

June 7, 2023: U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Congress He Had Been “Granted Ultimate Authority” In The Hunter Biden Case

U.S. Attorney David Weiss Sent A Letter On June 7th 2023 Which Said He Had Been, “Granted Ultimate Authority Over This Matter, Including Responsibility For Deciding Where, When And Whether To File Charges.” “Mr. Weiss said in the letter, dated June 7, that he had been ‘granted ultimate authority over this matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when and whether to file charges.’” [New York Times, 6/27/23]

U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Congress That He Had The Option To Overrule Other U.S. Attorneys To Be Able To Charge In Their Districts If He Chose To Do So

U.S. Attorney David Weiss Did Not Deny That Offices Turned Down His Request To Bring Charges, But Backed Up Attorney General Merrick Garland Who Said Weiss Had The Option To Overrule Other Prosecutors If He Chose To Reach Out. “While Mr. Weiss did not deny that [California and D.C.] offices had turned down his request to bring the more serious charges, he backed up Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s public statement that he had been given full authority in the case, and that he had the option of overruling prosecutors by simply reaching out to Mr. Garland or his top aides. As the U.S. attorney in Delaware, ‘my charging authority is geographically limited to my home district,’ wrote Mr. Weiss. ‘If venue for a case lies elsewhere, common departmental practice is to contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the district in question and determine whether it wants to partner on the case,’ he added. ‘If not, I may request special attorney status.’” [New York Times, 7/1/23]

  • S. Attorney David Weiss Clarified To Jim Jordan: “I Have Been Assured That, If Necessary After The Above Process, I Would Be Granted § 515 Authority In The District Of Columbia, The Central District Of California, Or Any Other District Where Charges Could Be Brought In This Matter.” “Mr. Weiss did not address those issues explicitly in the letter he sent to Mr. Jordan on Friday. But he said that if he wanted to bring charges against Mr. Biden in California or Washington, he would do so without concern about being blocked by the department’s leadership. ‘I have been assured that, if necessary after the above process, I would be granted § 515 Authority in the District of Columbia, the Central District of California, or any other district where charges could be brought in this matter,” he wrote, referring to the section of federal law that defines the role of a special attorney.’” [New York Times, 7/1/23]
  • S. Attorney David Weiss Sent Another Letter To House Republicans On July 1st, 2023 To Defend The Integrity Of His Investigation Into Hunter Biden. “David C. Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald J. Trump held over by the Biden administration, defended the integrity of his investigation in a two-page letter sent to House Republicans late Friday” [New York Times, 7/1/23]

U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Congress He Had Not Requested Special Counsel Status And Had Not Been Denied Authority To Bring Charges Anywhere In The United States

July 2023: U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Senator Lindsey Graham That He Had Not Asked To Be Named As Special Counsel And Was Never Refused Any Authority To Bring Charges Anywhere In The U.S. “US Attorney David Weiss, who is overseeing the Hunter Biden criminal probe, says in a letter obtained by CNN that he did not ask to be named as a special counsel and was never refused authority to bring charges anywhere in the country, refuting two key allegations from IRS whistleblowers.  Weiss’ comments, in a letter sent Monday to GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, go against claims from IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley and one of his deputies, who said they witnessed political interference in investigation of President Joe Biden’s son.” [CNN, 7/10/23]

U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Congress He Never Requested Special Counsel Status, But Explored The Possibility Of Becoming A “Special Attorney” Under A Different Statute. “Since, Shapley’s allegation came to light in June, Weiss has told Congress that he had never requested special counsel status, but rather explored becoming a ‘special attorney’ under a different statute.” [CNN, 9/19/23]

When U.S. Attorney David Weiss Later Requested Special Counsel Status, He Was Granted It

When U.S. Attorney David Weiss Later Requested Special Counsel Status, He Was Granted It. “After Hunter Biden’s plea deal fell apart, Weiss did request and was granted special counsel status. Weiss has offered to testify to Congress, but securing that testimony is more difficult now that he is a special counsel overseeing the ongoing criminal probe.” [CNN, 9/19/23]

Testimony From Multiple Witnesses To Congress Disputed Allegations Of Political Interference In The Hunter Biden Case

HEADLINE: “Witness Testimony Disputes IRS Whistleblower Allegations In Hunter Biden Probe As Republicans Begin Impeachment Inquiry” [CNN, 9/19/23]

September 2023: During Congressional Testimony Three Witnesses From The FBI And IRS Disputed Allegations Of Political Interference In The Federal Government’s Hunter Biden Case. “In testimony this month, three witnesses from the F.B.I. and the I.R.S. have contradicted key assertions made by a whistle-blower who claimed there was political interference in the Justice Department’s tax case against Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter, according to hundreds of pages of transcripts obtained by The New York Times.” [New York Times, 9/15/23]

Witnesses Told Congress They Did Not Think The Hunter Biden Investigation Had Been Politicized

HEADLINE: “Former FBI Agent Says He Was Not Aware Of Interference In Hunter Biden Probe” [Reuters, 8/14/23]

IRS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent In Charge Told Congress “No,” When Asked If He Thought The Investigation Into Hunter Biden Had Been Politicized. “Mr. Shapley’s former boss, Darrell Waldon, the special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigation division, also told lawmakers on the Ways and Means Committee that he did not witness any political interference. Asked if the case had been politicized, Mr. Waldon said flatly: ‘No.’” [New York Times, 9/15/23]

FBI Assistant Special Agent In Charge Told Congress She Did Not Think Anyone Involved In The Hunter Biden Investigation Was Politicizing It. ” Investigators also asked Ryeshia Holley, assistant special agent in charge with the F.B.I., whether Mr. Weiss had stated that he was not the person who would decide whether charges were filed in the Hunter Biden case. […] The witnesses also testified that while they agreed with Mr. Shapley’s concerns that the investigation into Hunter Biden moved too slowly, they did not believe it was because of political interference.  ‘I did not think anyone involved in the ongoing matter was politicizing it,’ Ms. Holley said.” [New York Times, 9/15/23]

An FBI Agent Managing The Team On The Justice Department’s Case Against Hunter Biden Testified To Congress That U.S. Attorney David Weiss Had Ultimate Authority Over The Case. “The FBI agent managing the team on the Hunter Biden criminal case testified to the House Judiciary Committee that US Attorney David Weiss had ultimate authority over the case, contesting testimony brought forward by whistleblowers. Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office, told committee investigators in a closed-door interview last week that from his perspective, Weiss had the authority to bring forward whatever charges he wanted in whatever venue he preferred.” [CNN, 9/13/23]

  • HEADLINE: “F.B.I. Agent Undercuts Claims Of Political Interference In Hunter Biden Inquiry” [New York Times, 9/12/23]

A High-Ranking FBI Agent Said He Had No Reason To Believe President Biden Interfered In Any Way In The Federal Government’s Investigation Into Hunter Biden

A High-Ranking FBI Agent Said He Had No Reason To Believe That President Biden Interfered In Any Way In The Federal Government’s Investigation Into Hunter Biden. According to a New York Times article about a high-ranking FBI agent that disputed allegations made by IRS whistleblowers about the federal government’s investigation into Hunter Biden: “During the interview, Mr. Sobocinski also pushed back against other claims of political interference. He was asked, ‘Do you have any reason to believe President Biden interfered in this investigation in any way?’  ‘No,’ he replied.” [New York Times, 9/12/23]

Witnesses Disputed Allegations That U.S. Attorney David Weiss Told Investigators He Was Not The Deciding Person On Whether To File Charges Against Hunter Biden

FBI Assistant Special Agent In Charge Told Congress She Did Not Remember U.S. Attorney David Weiss Saying He Was Not The Person Who Would Decide Whether Or Not To File Charges In The Hunter Biden Case, As IRS Whistleblowers Alleged. “Investigators also asked Ryeshia Holley, assistant special agent in charge with the F.B.I., whether Mr. Weiss had stated that he was not the person who would decide whether charges were filed in the Hunter Biden case.  ‘I don’t remember him saying that,’ she testified.” [New York Times, 9/15/23]

FBI Special Agent In Charge Of The Baltimore Field Office Said He Did Not Remember U.S. Attorney David Weiss Saying He Was Not The Deciding Person On Whether To Bring Charges In The Hunter Biden Case, And If Weiss Had Said That He Would Have Remembered It. “In their recent testimony, the other FBI and IRS officials in the October 2022 meeting have supported Weiss’s version of events on several key points of contention, particularly his allegation that Weiss said he was ‘not the deciding person’ on whether to bring charges.  ‘I do not remember – I don’t – he didn’t say that. In my recollection, if he would have said that, I would have remembered it,’ Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office, told the committee.” [CNN, 9/19/23]

IRS Special Agent In Charge Of The Washington, DC Field Office Said He Did Not Recall U.S. Attorney David Weiss Ever Saying That He Was Not The Deciding Person On Whether To File Charges In The Hunter Biden Case. “In their recent testimony, the other FBI and IRS officials in the October 2022 meeting have supported Weiss’s version of events on several key points of contention, particularly his allegation that Weiss said he was ‘not the deciding person’ on whether to bring charges. […]  ‘I do not recall that ever being said,’ said Darrell Waldon, who was previously Shapley’s boss as the IRS special agent in charge of the Washington, DC, field office overseeing criminal investigations.” [CNN, 9/19/23]

Witnesses Said They Did Not Remember U.S. Attorney David Weiss Bringing Up Any Discussion Of Special Counsel Authority During An October 2022 Meeting About The Hunter Biden Case

Three Witnesses Said They Did Not Remember U.S. Attorney David Weiss Bringing Up Any Discussion Of Special Counsel Authority During An October 2022 Meeting About The Hunter Biden Case. “When emailing his supervisor about the October 2022 meeting later the same day, Shapley claimed that Weiss stated he requested special counsel authority, and that the Justice Department ‘denied his request and told him to follow the process.’  Waldon responded to the 2022 email at the time by saying, ‘thanks, Gary. You covered it all.’  But when pressed by committee investigators earlier about it this month, Waldon said, ‘I agreed that he covered it all, but, in terms of the word ‘special counsel’ being requested, I don’t recall those words being used.’  Both Holley and Sobocinski also said they did not remember Weiss bringing up any discussion of special counsel authority during the meeting.” [CNN, 9/19/23]

  • An FBI Agent Managing The Team On The Justice Department’s Case Against Hunter Biden Disputed Allegations That U.S. Attorney David Weiss Was Previously Denied Special Counsel Status And Venues To Bring Forward Charges. “Sobocinski also disputed Shapley’s claim that Weiss said in the October 2022 meeting he was denied special counsel status and denied venues to bring forward charges. Sobocinski told the House Judiciary panel he was informed of Weiss’ special counsel status the day Attorney General Merrick Garland announced it last month, and that Weiss was not previously denied special counsel status as Shapley has claimed. ‘I don’t have a recollection with him saying that there or at any point in my communication with Mr. Weiss,’ Sobocinski said. ‘That would have been a total 180 from all our previous conversations about authorities.’” [CNN, 9/13/23]

Two U.S. Attorneys Said They Did Not Block David Weiss From Bringing Charges In Their Districts And Even Offered Him Logistical Support If Weiss Chose To Do So

U.S. Attorney For Dc Matthew Graves Said He Did Not Block David Weiss From Pursuing A Case Against Hunter Biden In His District And That While He Declined To Formally Partner On The Case He Offered Weiss Logistical Support. “In recent closed-door testimony to Congress, the top-ranking Justice Department prosecutor in Washington, DC, refuted claims from two Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers that he blocked federal investigators from charging Hunter Biden with tax crimes in DC, according to a transcript of his testimony obtained by CNN.  Matthew Graves, the US attorney in Washington, said in his private deposition last week that even though his office declined to formally partner up on the case, that he did offer logistical support to David Weiss, the federal prosecutor leading the Hunter Biden probe. Graves affirmed in his testimony that he never did anything to stop Weiss from pursuing charges in DC on his own.” [CNN, 10/13/23]

U.S. Attorney For The Central District Of California, Martin Estrada, Said He “Did Not And Could Not” Block David Weiss From Pursuing Charges Against Hunter Biden In His District And That He Offered Weiss Logistical Support If He Chose To Do So. “A second U.S. Attorney has testified to Congress that the prosecutor overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation had full authority over filing charges, rebutting whistleblower claims that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss didn’t have the final say on the case against the president’s son. […] Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, said he told the House Judiciary Committee behind closed doors Tuesday that he understood that Weiss had full authority to bring charges and offered him logistical support. ‘I did not and could not ‘block’ Mr. Weiss since he did not need my approval to bring charges in my district,’ he said in a statement.” [Associated Press, 10/25/23]

REP. MIKE JOHNSON TOUTED A BOGUS POLL TO CLAIM THE HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP STORY COULD HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF THE 2020 ELECTION

Rep. Mike Johnson Cited A Poll Rep. Elise Stefanik Entered Into The Congressional Record That He Claimed Showed The Hunter Biden Laptop Story Could Have Swayed The 2020 Election For Trump. REP. MIKE JOHNSON: “The Court said in that case as you know, Andy, among the, you know, the huge issues that were suppressed by this massive Biden administration orchestrated cover up is the fact that the Hunter Biden laptop was buried before the November 3, 2020, election. Okay, so why does that matter? Well, in the hearing, Elise Stefanik, our friend and colleague entered this document into the record that illustrates how much the election outcome was directly affected by that in 2020. And she said there’s this poll with TIPP, poll T-I-P-P, found that eight in 10 voters, if they were made aware of the Biden laptop before the 2020 election, it would have been determinative in changing the outcome of the election. Andy they said, in the poll, 61% of the Democrats included in the poll would have changed their votes. They would not have voted for Joe Biden.” [Truth Be Told With Mike and Kelly Johnson, 7/22/23] (audio)

Fact Checkers Looked At The Polls Republicans Cite And Found Lack Of Media Coverage Of The Hunter Biden Story Would Not Have Made A Substantial Difference In 2020

HEADLINE: “Lawmakers Cite Fishy Poll To Suggest Laptop Tale Would Have Swayed Vote” [Washington Post, Fact Checker, 2/21/23]

Washington Post Fact Checker Gave Two Pinocchios To Republican Claims That A Poll Showed A Lack Of Media Coverage About Hunter Biden’s Laptop Made A Difference In The 2020 Election. “This poll conveniently supports a line that Republicans are pushing — that a lack of media coverage related to the Hunter Biden laptop made a difference in the presidential election. But when you dig into the results, which are swayed by aggressively misleading questions, it shows that for all but a tiny percentage of Biden voters, the story would not have made a difference — even if framed as a still-unproven scandal. In any case, the questions in the poll are similar to messages the Trump campaign used in the final weeks of the campaign — and it still fell short. These lawmakers can claim they are simply quoting poll results — but it says less than they suggest and in many ways undermines their case.  They earn Two Pinocchios.” [Washington Post, Fact Checker, 2/21/23]

Politifact Said Rep. Stefanik’s Claim That “53 Percent Of Americans Made Aware Of The Hunter Biden Laptop Story Would Have Changed Their Vote In 2020” As “False.” “Stefanik claimed that ‘53% of Americans made aware of the Hunter Biden laptop story would have changed their vote in 2020.’ The poll found that of a group of people who had been following the story, 28% would have been ‘very likely’ to change their vote had they known the laptop was not disinformation, and 25% were ‘somewhat likely,’ a less-sure response than Stefanik’s claim implies. However, the pool of respondents who answered this question leans Republican more strongly than the general population, so most of these voters would not have been voting for Biden in the first place. This makes the polling result illogical: Understood literally, if many members of this group were to change their vote because of the laptop story, they might well have changed their vote from Trump to Biden.  So her statement is not accurate. We rate this False.” [Politifact, 2/25/23]