Today, the House Ways and Means Committee is conducting a closed-door interview with two IRS whistleblowers. Chair Jason Smith and House Republicans will surely use the interview to peddle more baseless claims about a politicized Justice Department. Therefore, this guide will provide you with the facts and truth behind their fevered conspiracy dreams.
- Attorney General Merrick Garland and Weiss have both stated that Weiss had complete authority to pursue the investigation into Hunter Biden however Weiss saw fit. While testifying to the House Judiciary Committee in September, Garland repeatedly stated that he had kept his promise not to interfere in Weiss’ investigation. Weiss reaffirmed his status as “decision maker” on the Hunter Biden case when testifying in front of the House Judiciary Committee.
- In a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim 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 recently testified to the House Judiciary Committee that he was the “decision maker” on the case. Weiss’ spokesperson said Weiss took the “unprecedented step of testifying before the conclusion of his investigation to make clear that he’s had and continues to have full authority over his investigation and to bring charges in any jurisdiction.” Weiss also previously 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. Later, when Weiss requested special counsel status, he was granted it.
- In testimony to Congress, multiple witnesses have disputed allegations made by IRS whistleblowers about the Hunter Biden investigation. During closed-door testimony to Congress, both U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said they did not block Weiss from bringing charges in their districts, and that while they declined to formally partner with Weiss on the case, they offered him logistical support should he choose to bring charges in their districts.
- Multiple other 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. Furthermore, two high-ranking IRS officials who had supervisory authority over one of the IRS whistleblowers testified that they were the reason for the whistleblower’s removal from the case and cited the whistleblower’s behavior during the investigation as the reason.
- 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: 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.
Americans see right through these Republican conspiracy theories because the facts always come first.
U.S. Attorney David Weiss Said He Has “Ultimate Authority” Over The Investigation Into Hunter Biden
DURING HIS COMMITTEE TESTIMONY, U.S. ATTORNEY DAVID WEISS REBUTTED CLAIMS OF FAVORITISM AND BIAS TOWARDS HUNTER BIDEN
HEADLINE: “Special Counsel Rebuts Claims of Favoritism Toward Hunter Biden” [New York Times, 11/7/23]
- During His Testimony To Congress, U.S. Attorney Weiss Refuted Both I.R.S. Whistleblowers, Gary Shapley And Joseph Ziegler, And Claimed To Have Been The “Decision Maker” On The Hunter Biden Case. “Mr. Weiss suggested that Mr. Shapley, a career Treasury Department official, had misunderstood the complicated procedures of the Justice Department and misinterpreted what he said about his interactions with department brass. Another I.R.S. investigator, Joseph Ziegler, supported Mr. Shapley’s account. Others who were present at the meeting have cast doubt on their testimony. Mr. Weiss said he discussed the possibility of asking Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to be appointed ‘special attorney,’ a more limited designation that allows prosecutors to bring cases outside their home districts. ‘I am, and have been, the decision maker on this case,’ he said during his testimony on Tuesday, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.” [New York Times, 11/7/23]
November 6, 2023: Weiss Spokesperson Said Weiss Was Testifying To Make Clear “He’s Had And Continues To Have Full Authority Over His Investigation”
Special Counsel Weiss Spokesperson: “Mr. Weiss Is Prepared To Take This Unprecedented Step Of Testifying Before The Conclusion Of His Investigation To Make Clear That He’s Had And Continues To Have Full Authority Over His Investigation And To Bring Charges In Any Jurisdiction.” “Weiss has written multiple letters to Congress rejecting those claims and is expected to be very specific about his level of authority in his testimony on Tuesday. ‘Special Counsel Weiss is appearing voluntarily to testify before the House Judiciary Committee about the scope of his authority,’ special counsel spokesperson Wyn Hornbuckle said in a statement to NBC News. ‘Mr. Weiss is prepared to take this unprecedented step of testifying before the conclusion of his investigation to make clear that he’s had and continues to have full authority over his investigation and to bring charges in any jurisdiction.’” [NBC News, 11/6/23]
- Special Counsel Weiss Spokesperson: “At The Close Of This Matter, Special Counsel Weiss Will Prepare A Report, Which The Attorney General Has Committed To Making Public To The Greatest Extent Possible, Consistent With The Law, Department Policy And The Public Interest.” “While House Republicans are interested in learning more about the DOJ’s probe into Hunter Biden, and specifically if it extends to the president himself, Weiss plans to only clear up any discrepancies about his authority to bring charges and not divulge details about the probe itself, according to Hornbuckle. ‘Consistent with department policy and the law, he will be unable to address the specifics of his investigation,’ Hornbuckle said. ‘At the close of this matter, Special Counsel Weiss will prepare a report, which the Attorney General has committed to making public to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the law, department policy and the public interest.’” [NBC News, 11/6/23]
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]
During A September 2023 House Judiciary Committee Hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland Repeatedly Said He Kept His Promise That He Would Not Interfere In U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ Investigation
HEADLINE: “Attorney General Garland Tells Congress He Doesn’t Take Orders From White House” [USA Today, 9/20/23]
During A House Judiciary Committee Hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland Cited His Promise That He Would Not Interfere In U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ Investigation. “On Wednesday, they homed in on one of the biggest unexplained questions: why Mr. Weiss requested to be appointed special counsel in August. Mr. Garland told a Senate committee this year that as the U.S. attorney in Delaware, Mr. Weiss had all the authority he required — and had never asked for a change in status. ‘Did you ask him what had changed, that made him now need to be made a special counsel?’ asked Representative Dan Bishop, Republican of North Carolina. In response, Mr. Garland cited a promise he had made to senators during his confirmation in 2021 — that he would not interfere with the work of Mr. Weiss to avoid any appearance that he was influencing an investigation into his boss’s son. ‘The way to not interfere is to not investigate an investigation,’ he said.” [New York Times, 9/20/23]
- Attorney General Merrick Garland: “No One That I Know Of Has Spoken To The White House About The Hunter Biden Case.” “Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department’s independence Wednesday during a lengthy House Judiciary Committee hearing that touched on the investigations into Hunter Biden and former President Trump. Driving the news: ‘I am not the president’s lawyer. I will add I am not Congress’ prosecutor. The Justice Department works for the American people,’ Garland told the committee, which is led by chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). ‘No one that I know of has spoken to the White House about the Hunter Biden case,’ Garland said.” [Axios, 9/20/23]
- Attorney General Merrick Garland: “I Am Not The President’s Lawyer.” “Republicans see Mr. Garland as a critical link, even though he has taken steps to insulate himself from the case, including by reappointing Mr. Weiss, who was installed under the Trump administration. Similarly, officials say, Mr. Garland has virtually cut off communications with the White House since the department began investigating Mr. Trump. ‘As the president himself has said, and I reaffirm here today: I am not the president’s lawyer,’ he said in his opening statement.” [New York Times, 9/20/23]
- Attorney General Merrick Garland: “Our Job Is Not To Do What Is Politically Convenient. Our Job Is Not To Take Orders From The President, From Congress, Or From Anyone Else, About Who Or What To Criminally Investigate.” “Garland repeatedly pushed back against Jordan, and turned the tables on Republicans who have used their majority in the House to demand DOJ documents about the Hunter Biden and Trump cases. ‘Our job is not to do what is politically convenient. Our job is not to take orders from the president, from Congress, or from anyone else, about who or what to criminally investigate,’ the attorney general said.” [CNBC, 9/20/23]
New York Times Reported That Claims and Insinuations By House Republicans That Attorney General Merrick Garland Was Protecting President Biden “Were Not Supported By Fact”
New York Times: ‘Many Of The Claims And Insinuations [House Republicans] Leveled Against Mr. Garland — That He Is Part Of A Coordinated Democratic Effort To Shield The Bidens And Persecute Mr. Trump — Were Not Supported By Fact.” “House Republicans view Mr. Garland as a linchpin as they seek to bolster an impeachment inquiry into President Biden that is grounded, thus far, in inconclusive evidence that he profited from the business dealings of his son, Hunter. They have suggested Mr. Garland also might face impeachment, or contempt charges, for not fully answering their questions or providing access to documents and witnesses they have demanded. Many of the claims and insinuations they leveled against Mr. Garland — that he is part of a coordinated Democratic effort to shield the Bidens and persecute Mr. Trump — were not supported by fact. And much of the specific evidence presented, particularly the testimony of an investigator who questioned key decisions in the Hunter Biden investigation, was given without context or acknowledgment of contradictory information.” [New York Times, 9/20/23]
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
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 BRING CHARGES
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]
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]
U.S. ATTORNEY DAVID WEISS DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF RETALIATION AGAINST IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS
HEADLINE: “U.S. Attorney In Hunter Biden Case Defends Investigation To House Republicans” [New York Times, 7/1/23]
- S. Attorney David Weiss Denied Retaliating Against An IRS Official Who Disclosed Details Of The Hunter Biden Investigation. “The U.S. attorney in Delaware denied retaliating against an I.R.S. official who had disclosed details of the Hunter Biden investigation, and denied being blocked from pursuing serious charges against Mr. Biden, the president’s son, in Los Angeles and Washington.” [New York Times, 7/1/23]
- S. Attorney David Weiss Wrote To House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan That The Department Of Justice “Did Not Retaliate” Against Gary Shapley, The IRS Whistleblower. “The Department of Justice ‘did not retaliate’ against Gary Shapley, who claims Mr. Weiss helped block a promotion he had sought after reaching out to congressional investigators, Mr. Weiss wrote in the letter to Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.” [New York Times, 7/1/23]
Two High-Ranking IRS Officials Disputed Allegations Made By IRS Whistleblower, Gary Shapley, And Testified They Were The Reason For His Removal From The Case Citing Shapley’s Behavior
HEADLINE: “Top IRS Official Latest Witness To Dispute Allegations From Whistleblower On Hunter Biden Tax Case” [CNN, 9/20/23]
- During A Closed-Door Testimony, IRS Director Of Field Operations, Michael Batdorf, Told The House Committee It Was His Decision To Remove Gary Shapley From The Hunter Biden Case, Batdorf Cited Shapley’s Tendency To Sound A “Five-Alarm Alarm Fire On Everything.” “In closed-door testimony obtained by CNN, IRS Director of Field Operations Michael Batdorf told a House committee last week that it was his decision to remove the whistleblower, Gary Shapley, from the criminal probe into Biden’s son in December 2022. But Shapley wasn’t informed of that decision until May, the same month he brought his claims to Congress. Batdorf, who testified at the behest of House Republicans, directly contradicts Shapley’s claims that he was removed from the investigation as a direct result of his decision to criticize the way IRS and Department of Justice officials handled the high-profile tax case. […] In his interview, Batdorf complimented Shapley for his work ethic, calling him a ‘fantastic agent’ and ‘passionate’ but also said there had been concerns over Shapley’s behavior for months. ‘Gary has a tendency to go to level like grade seven, five-alarm alarm fire on everything’ Batdorf testified. ‘He has a mindset that if you don’t agree with him, I mean, you’re just incompetent,’ Batdorf said.” [CNN, 9/20/23]
- Gary Shapley’s Supervisor, Darrell Waldon, Testified That He Recommended Shapley Be Removed From The Case Due To “Unsubstantiated Allegations About Motive, Intent, Bias.” “[Gary Shapley’s Supervisor, Darrell] Waldon also testified that he recommended to Batdorf that Shapley be removed from the case, due to what Waldon described as Shapley’s ‘unsubstantiated allegations about motive, intent, bias,’ according to Waldon’s testimony to the House committee.” [CNN, 9/20/23]
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]