Today, the House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on oversight of the U.S. Justice Department. Chair Jim Jordan will surely use the hearing to boost former President Trump’s 2024 election chances. Therefore, this guide will provide you with the facts and truth behind the fevered conspiracy dreams peddled by Jordan.
1) Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Attorney David Weiss have both stated that Weiss had complete authority to pursue the investigation into Hunter Biden however Weiss saw fit. In a letter to Jordan, Weiss said he had been granted the “ultimate authority” over the matter, including deciding where, when, and whether to file charges. He said he had the option to overrule prosecutors in other districts if he chose to do so. Weiss also told Congress that he had not requested special counsel authority up to that point but had explored the possibility of becoming a “special attorney” under a different statute. When it came down to it and Weiss requested special counsel status, he was granted it.
2) In testimony to Congress, multiple witnesses have disputed allegations made by an IRS whistleblower about the Hunter Biden investigation. Three witnesses from the FBI and IRS told Congress they did not think the Hunter Biden investigation had been politicized. They also disputed an IRS whistleblower’s allegations that during an October 2022 meeting, Weiss said he was not the deciding person on whether to file charges in the case – all three said they did not remember Weiss saying that. They also said they did not recall Weiss bringing up any discussion of special counsel authority during the meeting.
3) President Biden has acted with integrity when it comes to the U.S. Justice Department. After assuming the presidency, Biden kept the two U.S. attorneys who were conducting investigations that could harm him politically: U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote, who is leading the investigation into his son, and Special Counsel John Durham, who the Trump administration tapped to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
4) In contrast, former President Trump blatantly weaponized the U.S. Justice Department for his own political ends. In June of 2020, for example, Trump abruptly fired Geoffrey Berman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which turned into a chaotic series of events. Berman’s office had overseen investigations into a number of Trump allies, including Michael Cohen, Rudy Giuliani, and Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two Giuliani associates.
Americans see right through Jordan’s conspiracy theories because the facts always come first.
U.S. Attorney David Weiss Has “Ultimate Authority” Over The Investigation Into Hunter Biden
ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND AFFIRMED THAT U.S. ATTORNEY DAVID WEISS HAD “COMPLETE AUTHORITY” TO MAKE WHATEVER DECISION HE NEEDED TO
HEADLINE: “Garland Denies Allegations Of Politics Impacting Hunter Biden Plea Deal” [Politico, 6/23/23]
- Attorney General Merrick Garland Claimed, 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 Said, “[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 Claimed 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]
- S. Attorney David Weiss Had Sent A 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 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]
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]
Multiple Witnesses Have Contradicted IRS Whistleblower Allegations About U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ Investigation
TESTIMONY FROM MULTIPLE WITNESSES TO CONGRESS DISPUTED ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL INTEREFERNCE 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]
President Biden Has Acted With Integrity When It Comes To The U.S. Justice Department
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]
Appointed By President Trump, David Weiss, A Republican Who Has Been Described As A “Straight Shooter,” Was Confirmed By Voice Vote In 2018
CBS News Reported David Weiss, A 66-Year-Old Republican, Was Described As A “Straight Shooter” And Neither A “Trumper” Nor Is He Close To Biden. “The 66-year-old Weiss, a Republican, will have to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to seek a federal grand jury indictment against the son of a sitting president, Democrat Joseph Biden. ‘David is a straight shooter,’ said a former close associate of Weiss who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity. The former associate described Weiss as a moderate Republican who is apolitical in his work. “He is not a Trumper nor is he close to Biden.” [CBS News, 4/14/22]
February 2018: David Weiss Was Confirmed By The U.S. Senate To Be A U.S. Attorney By Voice Vote. According to the actions taken on PN1313 during the 115th Congress on David Weiss being confirmed as a U.S. Attorney “02/15/18 Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.” [PN1313 — David C. Weiss — Department of Justice, 115th Congress, 2/15/18]
Former President Donald Trump Weaponized The Justice Department For His Own Political Ends
HEADLINE: “Trump Says The Justice System Has Been Weaponized. He Would Know.” [New York Times, 3/29/23]
HEADLINE: “All The Ways Trump, Not His Foes, Sought To ‘Weaponize’ The Government” [Washington Post, 7/10/23]
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABRUPTLY FIRED THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK WHO HAD PROSECUTED SOME OF HIS ALLIES
HEADLINE: “President Trump Fires Top U.S. Prosecutor Who Investigated His Allies, Barr Says” [NPR, 6/20/20]
June 2020: President Trump Fired Geoffrey Berman, U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of New York, Whose Office Had Overseen The Prosecutions Of Several Trump Associates. “President Trump has removed Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, from office, ending the tenure of a top Justice Department official whose office has overseen the prosecutions of several of the president’s associates. Attorney General William Barr announced the termination Saturday, less than a day after initially suggesting that Berman was resigning — only to be contradicted by Berman himself. ‘Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service,’ Barr said in a letter to Berman Saturday. ‘Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so.’ By Saturday evening, Berman confirmed that he would indeed step down, effective immediately, and allow for Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss to become acting U.S. attorney.” [NPR, 6/20/20]
- Under U.S. Attorney Berman, Michael Cohen Pleaded Guilty To Financial Crimes, Lying To Congress, And Campaign Finance Crimes. “Under Berman’s watch, Cohen ultimately pleaded guilty to financial crimes, lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes. Under oath, Cohen implicated Trump in payments made to two women ahead of the 2016 elections to keep them quiet about affairs they said they had with Trump.” [NPR, 6/20/20]
- S. Attorney Berman Issued A Grand Jury Indictment Against Lev Parnas And Igor Fruman, Giuliani Associates, Who Pleaded Not Guilty To Setting Up A Shell Company To Hide The Foreign Sources Of A $325,000 Donation To A Super PAC Supporting Trump. “Berman also issued a grand jury indictment against Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two Giuliani associates. The two have pleaded not guilty to setting up a shell company to hide the foreign sourcing of a $325,000 donation to a superPAC committed to Trump’s reelection. The two also allegedly helped Giuliani in efforts to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine. And Berman’s office has investigated the business dealings of Giuliani himself, but no charges have been brought against him.” [NPR, 6/20/20]
- S. Attorney Berman Had Been Investigating Rudy Guiliani’s Business Dealings. “Berman also issued a grand jury indictment against Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two Giuliani associates. The two have pleaded not guilty to setting up a shell company to hide the foreign sourcing of a $325,000 donation to a superPAC committed to Trump’s reelection. The two also allegedly helped Giuliani in efforts to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine. And Berman’s office has investigated the business dealings of Giuliani himself, but no charges have been brought against him.” [NPR, 6/20/20]
The Trump Administration’s Firing Of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman Was Chaotic
HEADLINE: “U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman Agrees To Step Down After Trump Fires Him, House Democrats Launch Probe” [NBC News, 6/20/20]
The Attorney General Had First Issued A Statement Saying U.S. Attorney Berman Was Stepping Down And President Trump Would Immediately Nominate SEC Chair Jay Clayton. “The standoff began late Friday night, when the attorney general released a statement saying that Berman was ‘stepping down.’ In the announcement, he said that the president would be nominating Jay Clayton, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to succeed Berman.” [NPR, 6/20/20]
Shortly After, U.S. Attorney Berman Said He Learned From A Press Release That He Was Stepping Down He Said He Had Not Resigned And Had No Intention To Resign. “Just a short time later, Berman fired off his own announcement, denying Barr’s statement. ‘I learned in a press release from the Attorney General tonight that I was ‘stepping down’ as United States Attorney,’ said Berman, who spearheaded the prosecution of Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen and brought the grand jury indictment against associates of the president’s current personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. ‘I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position, to which I was appointed by the Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,’ he said. ‘I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption.’” [NPR, 6/20/20]
A NEW YORK TIMES INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE DURHAM PROBE ACTUALLY SHOWCASED THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
HEADLINE: “How The Durham Inquiry Backfired To Show Weaponization Of Trump DOJ” [The Guardian, 2/10/23]
New York Times Reported Special Counsel John Durham’s Investigation Became “Roiled By Internal Dissent And Ethical Disputes As It Went Unsuccessfully Down One Path After Another Even As Mr. Trump And Mr. Barr Promoted A Misleading Narrative Of Its Progress.” “Interviews by The Times with more than a dozen current and former officials have revealed an array of previously unreported episodes that show how the Durham inquiry became roiled by internal dissent and ethical disputes as it went unsuccessfully down one path after another even as Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr promoted a misleading narrative of its progress.” [New York Times, 1/26/23]
- Special Counsel Durham And Attorney General Barr Never Disclosed That The Inquiry Expanded To Include An Investigation Into Suspicious Financial Dealings By Trump – The Specifics Remain Unclear. “Mr. Barr and Mr. Durham never disclosed that their inquiry expanded in the fall of 2019, based on a tip from Italian officials, to include a criminal investigation into suspicious financial dealings related to Mr. Trump. The specifics of the tip and how they handled the investigation remain unclear, but Mr. Durham brought no charges over it.” [New York Times, 1/26/23]
- Special Counsel Durham Used Russian Intelligence Memos Suspected Of Containing Disinformation To Gain Access To Emails Of An Aide To George Soros Even Though A Judge Repeatedly Rejected His Requests For Access And The Emails Yielded No Evidence That Durham Cited. “Mr. Durham used Russian intelligence memos — suspected by other U.S. officials of containing disinformation — to gain access to emails of an aide to George Soros, the financier and philanthropist who is a favorite target of the American right and Russian state media. Mr. Durham used grand jury powers to keep pursuing the emails even after a judge twice rejected his request for access to them. The emails yielded no evidence that Mr. Durham has cited in any case he pursued.” [New York Times, 1/26/23]
- Two Of Special Counsel Durham’s Team, Including His Longtime Aide, Quit In Protest Of His Tactics And Decisions. “There were deeper internal fractures on the Durham team than previously known. The publicly unexplained resignation in 2020 of his No. 2 and longtime aide, Nora R. Dannehy, was the culmination of a series of disputes between them over prosecutorial ethics. A year later, two more prosecutors strongly objected to plans to indict a lawyer with ties to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign based on evidence they warned was too flimsy, and one left the team in protest of Mr. Durham’s decision to proceed anyway. (A jury swiftly acquitted the lawyer.)” [New York Times, 1/26/23]
- Attorney General Barr Visited Special Counsel John Durham Often Even Though “Attorneys General Overseeing Political Sensitive Inquiries Tend To Keep Their Distance From Investigators.” “While attorneys general overseeing politically sensitive inquiries tend to keep their distance from the investigators, Mr. Durham visited Mr. Barr in his office for at times weekly updates and consultations about his day-to-day work. They also sometimes dined and sipped Scotch together, people familiar with their work said.” [New York Times, 1/26/23]
Former George H.W. Bush Attorney General: “It Was Clear To People Following The Durham Investigation As It Unfolded That It Was Highly Irregular From The Start… Indeed There’s Good Reason To Believe That Its Purpose And Primary Function Was To Create Fodder To Advance Trump’s Election Prospects.” “Ex-DoJ officials say the Durham inquiry seemed aimed from the start at boosting Trump’s political fortunes. ‘It was clear to people following the Durham investigation as it unfolded that it was highly irregular from the start,’ said former deputy AG Donald Ayer who served in the George HW Bush administration ‘Indeed there’s good reason to believe that its purpose and primary function was to create fodder to advance Trump’s election prospects.’” [The Guardian, 2/10/23]