Washington Examiner

New emails reveal David Weiss’s discussion on ex-DOJ official linked to Hunter Biden.

Newly Released Emails Reveal Concerns⁢ About Potential‍ Conflict of ‌Interest in⁣ Hunter Biden Case

Recently disclosed emails have shed⁢ light on discussions‍ held by Delaware U.S. Attorney ⁢David⁣ Weiss and his⁢ team regarding a congressional request for information about a Justice Department official with​ a potential conflict‌ of interest in the Hunter Biden ⁣case. The emails, although heavily redacted, ⁤indicate that the Justice Department, rather than Weiss’s⁣ office,⁤ took‍ the lead in responding to Congress, despite assurances from Attorney General Merrick Garland that Weiss was operating independently in the investigation.

“[T]he Acting​ Assistant Attorney General is screened and⁢ recused from matters in which he has​ a financial ⁣interest or a personal⁢ business relationship, including matters involving his former⁣ law ⁣firm,” the DOJ ‌had‍ written in its‌ letter.

The emails, obtained by the Heritage‌ Foundation through a Freedom⁣ of Information Act lawsuit, primarily focus on the congressional requests concerning then-Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid, who​ had a potential ‍conflict of interest. The Justice ⁢Department’s ​Office of Legislative⁣ Affairs worked on a response to Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron⁢ Johnson, with Weiss only given the opportunity to review the letter produced by the Justice ⁣Department, rather than‍ drafting his own.

Questions⁤ Surrounding McQuaid’s ⁤Involvement

Grassley and Johnson’s letter to‍ Weiss, which was ⁣later ‌taken over by the Justice Department, raised ‍concerns about McQuaid’s potential involvement in ‍the Hunter Biden case. Prior to joining the Justice ​Department, McQuaid ‌had been a partner⁤ at the law‌ firm representing⁣ Hunter​ Biden, and ​he had worked closely with Christopher Clark, Hunter Biden’s former lead⁤ defense attorney.⁤ Grassley and Johnson questioned whether​ McQuaid had recused himself from‍ overseeing the investigation due to ‌his previous ties to Hunter Biden’s defense team.

The Justice Department had previously hinted at McQuaid’s ‍possible recusal in a letter to Grassley ‌and Johnson, but no definitive information or recusal memo was provided. McQuaid left the ⁤Justice Department shortly before ⁢Weiss’s meeting with ⁤investigators on ​the Hunter Biden case,​ during which he revealed that ⁣his⁤ request for special counsel status had been⁤ denied ‌and that two other U.S. attorneys appointed by President Joe Biden⁣ had hindered his ability to charge Hunter Biden outside⁢ of Delaware.

McQuaid has since returned to ⁢Latham & Watkins, the law ⁤firm assisting⁣ in Hunter Biden’s defense. While at ‌Latham & Watkins, McQuaid did not represent Hunter Biden‌ or have any‌ involvement in ‌the case. However, several of Hunter Biden’s defense attorneys,​ including Christopher‍ Clark until April, ‍currently work at the firm.

Implications for ​Weiss’s Independence

The emails‌ obtained through the⁢ FOIA lawsuit suggest that​ Weiss was not allowed by⁢ the Justice Department to address ​questions about his⁢ work. This ⁢raises doubts about the​ independence of Weiss’s investigation, contradicting statements made by Attorney General Garland. ⁤The Heritage Foundation’s ​Oversight⁤ Project, which ⁤filed the lawsuit, ​seeks documents related to Weiss’s potential request for special counsel status and his⁤ attempts to bring⁣ charges against Hunter‍ Biden outside of Delaware.

Despite ​the heavily redacted⁤ nature⁣ of‌ the emails, they are significant as they reveal discussions about the limitations imposed on Weiss’s ⁢office ⁢by the Justice‍ Department. The multiple congressional ⁢inquiries regarding McQuaid and other aspects of ⁢the Hunter Biden ‍investigation appear to have sparked these discussions.

President Joe Biden appointed McQuaid to his ‍position at the ​DOJ Criminal Division on his​ first day in office, prompting scrutiny due to his previous connection to Hunter Biden’s defense team. The Justice ‌Department’s response to concerns‌ about McQuaid’s⁣ involvement has been limited, with a letter in February 2021⁢ confirming that he had received ethics training and would hypothetically recuse himself‍ from matters involving his former law firm, Latham & Watkins.

During⁣ his time at the‍ Justice ​Department, McQuaid visited the ‍White House on multiple occasions,‍ as indicated by White House visitor logs.



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