FBI advised Hunter Biden investigator to not answer House Oversight Committee query.

The ​FBI ⁣warned ⁤a former⁢ supervisory agent who investigated Hunter Biden ​that he ​was expected ‍to ⁢“𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝” to @GOPoversight questions.

FBI general counsel⁤ Jason Jones sent ⁢the letter the night before this‍ former agent ⁤was⁣ set‌ to testify. https://t.co/pWLLv9GEiy

— Rep. ⁢James Comer (@RepJamesComer)‌ July ‍18, 2023

“You should ‌instead refer such questions to the⁣ FBI’s Office⁤ of Congressional ‌Affairs,” he ‍wrote.

“Consistent with longstanding practice, this ​will‍ afford ⁤the Department the full‌ opportunity ‍to consider particular‌ questions⁢ and possible⁣ accommodations ⁣that may fulfill ⁢the Committee’s ⁣legitimate need for information while protecting Executive Branch confidentiality​ interests,” he wrote.

More⁤ than​ once ‌in ⁣the ‌letter, Jones used the phrase “ongoing⁤ criminal investigation‍ and prosecution.”

Jones explained ⁤that only when‌ a case‍ is closed should anyone ⁤talk ‌about​ it. ‌Hunter ⁣Biden has reached a plea ‌deal‌ to​ settle the long-running‌ investigation of ‍his taxes and is scheduled to appear in ⁤court on⁣ July 26.

JUST IN:​ The FBI tipped off the Biden‍ team to ​help ⁢Hunter‍ Biden⁢ evade punishment from the ⁢criminal investigation ​into​ his finances according to ‍a former FBI supervisory⁣ agent.

Instead⁢ of approaching Hunter Biden​ like the FBI would‍ do with any ⁤other person‍ under⁢ investigation,… ⁣pic.twitter.com/iWgjDukIo3

— Collin ⁢Rugg (@CollinRugg) July ⁣17,⁢ 2023

“Specifically, the Committee ​has stated an interest in what the Committee has‍ described ⁣to⁢ you‌ as certain ⁣events ⁢that ⁢took place in ‍December ⁤2020‍ as part of this investigation. ‌As the Department recently emphasized when affirming⁢ that U.S. ⁣Attorney David Weiss will ‌appear before the House ⁣Committee‍ on the⁣ Judiciary ⁤‘at an appropriate ‍time, ⁣consistent ⁤with the law and Department policy,’ the Department’s longstanding policy is to⁢ seek ‍‘wherever⁤ possible⁤ to‌ provide information ⁣about ‌closed, rather ​than open, matters,’” ‍the⁢ letter said.

Although the individual⁢ in​ question⁢ was cited⁢ by the​ House Oversight​ Committee as‌ a former⁣ FBI ⁣supervisory ​agent, the⁤ letter said leaving ​the ‍agency did not⁢ mean ​the former ⁤agent was‍ exempt from its ⁤rules.

“Department⁣ officials, including ⁢those ‌who ⁤have left the​ Department, are obligated ⁣to‍ protect non-public​ information they​ learned in⁢ the⁢ course of their work. Such information⁤ could⁢ be subject ‍to various ⁢privileges,⁤ including law enforcement, deliberative⁤ process, attorney⁢ work ⁤product,⁤ and⁤ attorney-client privileges, and ‌privacy interests. Current and former⁤ Department officials‌ also‍ must protect ‍classified information, sources⁣ and⁤ methods, ‍and​ grand jury information ⁤protected⁣ by Federal​ Rule of​ Criminal Procedure 6(e),” the letter ‍said.