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Republican congressmen claim DOJ intervened in investigation against Hunter Biden to protect him

Testimony from two anonymous whistleblowers indicated that the Justice Department used a "Delay, Divulge and Deny" campaign to get preferential treatment for the president's son.

Familia Biden, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, James Biden

(Cordon Press/ Voz Media)

Published by
Verónica Silveri Pazos

Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Jason Smith reported that, according to the testimony of two anonymous whistleblowers, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interfered in the investigation of Hunter Biden's tax evasion to "protect" him:

The Department of Justice interfered in the investigation into Hunter Biden's clear tax issues with a "Delay, Divulge and Deny" campaign that ultimately shielded him by allowing the statute of limitations to pass on his tax crimes. The testimony shows the tactics used by the Justice Department to delay the investigation long enough to reach the statute of limitations.

Smith also indicated that the DOJ allegedly informed Hunter Biden that they would be conducting a search of his "storage unit." With prior notice, an investigation involving Biden with a Chinese national was paused:

The whistleblowers also said IRS investigators were told by federal prosecutor Lesley Wolf that because evidence would be found in Joe Biden's guest house, 'there is no way' that a search warrant would ever get approved (...) Biden's attorneys were informed prior to any search, which provided them with valuable time to remove any material that might be useful evidence.

The evidence shown by Smith, revealed a 2017 message, where Hunter Biden threatened Henry Zhao, a Chinese partner, over an unfulfilled payment "commitment."

I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled (...) I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I'm sitting here waiting for the call with my father.

DOJ interference and "unequal treatment of enforcing tax law"

According to the whistleblowers, who worked investigating Hunter's case at the IRS, the president's son would have never paid the money he owed to the IRS for his taxes ($2.2 million) and allegedly received illegal payments of about $8.3 million from foreign entities in Ukraine, China and Romania:

The allegations point to an ongoing campaign of: unequal treatment of enforcing tax law; Department of Justice (DOJ) interference in the form of delays, divulgences and denials into the investigation of tax crimes that may have been committed by the President's son; and finally, retaliation against IRS employees who blew the whistle on the misconduct.

The Republican said the whistleblowers testified that prosecutor David Weiss tried on two different occasions to file charges against Hunter, but they were rejected. According to Smith, "misconduct and government abuse at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the investigation of Hunter Biden" is evident.

DOJ response: no interference

Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to Republican allegations that the DOJ and IRS interfered in U.S. Attorney David Weiss' investigation of Hunter:

As I said at the outset, Mr. Weiss, who was appointed by President Trump as a U.S. attorney in Delaware and assigned this matter during the 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. Mr. Weiss has since sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee confirming that he had that authority. I don't know how it would be possible for anyone to block him from bringing a prosecution, given that he has this authority.

In addition, Garland said the congressmen's lawsuit is "an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy":

Some have chosen to attack the integrity of the Justice Department ... This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy and essential to the safety of the American people.
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