GOP subpoenas 4 witnesses of alleged politicization in Hunter Biden probe.

House Republicans have taken a⁤ significant step in their investigation‍ into ⁤Hunter⁢ Biden by​ issuing subpoenas to‌ two IRS agents and two FBI special agents. These officials are alleged to have attended or been briefed on ⁤a meeting where prosecutor David Weiss discussed the extent of his authority to⁣ pursue charges against Hunter Biden.

The subpoenas were issued ‌by Reps. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) and Jason Smith (R., Mo.), chairmen⁤ of the House Judiciary Committee‌ and House Ways and Means Committee, respectively. They are seeking the officials’ participation in an Oct. 7, 2022, ‍meeting where the⁢ Department of Justice’s probe into the first son was reportedly discussed.

During the meeting, ‌IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley revealed that Weiss,⁢ who is now the special⁣ counsel in the Biden investigation,⁣ stated that he​ was “not⁢ the deciding person on whether ⁢charges are filed” against Hunter Biden. However, Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland have both claimed that Weiss had total prosecutorial⁢ discretion.

The subpoenaed officials ​include IRS director of field operations Michael Batdorf, IRS ​special agent in charge Darrell ​Waldon, FBI special agent in charge Thomas Sobocinski, and FBI assistant ⁣special agent in charge Ryeshia Holley. According to Shapley, all the officials attended the meeting except for ⁤Batdorf, to whom Shapley sent an email recounting the details of the meeting.

“Our Committees, along with the Committee on Oversight ⁣and Accountability, have sought these interviews since IRS whistleblowers⁢ came forward with‌ concerning allegations of political interference in the investigation into ‌Hunter ⁣Biden’s foreign ⁤influence peddling and tax evasion,” the Republicans said⁤ in a ‍statement.

They added that they ‌are seeking understanding on “how the President’s son received special treatment from federal prosecutors and who was the ultimate decision maker in the case.”

This development comes after the ⁣ Washington Post ​ reported that Weiss had previously worked with President Joe Biden’s late ⁢son, Beau Biden. Weiss was also reportedly prepared ⁣to drop the investigation without charging ‍Hunter Biden before Shapley and another IRS whistleblower, Joseph Ziegler, came forward, alleging that the Justice Department had ⁣sabotaged the investigation into⁣ the ​first son.

After years of probing Hunter Biden⁣ over alleged tax and gun crimes, Weiss “appeared willing to forgo any prosecution of Mr. Biden at all, and his office came close to agreeing to end the investigation without requiring a guilty plea on any charges,” the New York Times reported.

However, after the whistleblowers testified before Congress that the DOJ shielded Hunter Biden ‍and his father from scrutiny, Weiss and his deputy Lesley Wolf changed their tune,⁢ deciding that the ⁣first son should plead guilty to tax charges.

These subpoenas‌ are part of a larger House investigation into a plea deal that Hunter⁢ Biden struck with the DOJ this summer, which ultimately ‍fell apart. House Republicans initiated the probe last⁢ month with a letter‌ to Garland, seeking more details on the approval process of the deal.

The deal would have allowed the first⁣ son to avoid prison time and receive broad immunity from⁢ further prosecution in exchange for pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax crimes.

However, federal​ judge Maryellen‌ Noreika rejected the plea deal, taking issue with the⁢ broad immunity that Hunter ‍Biden would have received. She‌ instructed prosecutors and Biden’s⁣ legal team to craft ⁣a new agreement, stating that​ the original‍ deal was “not standard” and “different from what I normally see.”