FBI instructed agent to not answer questions confirming whistleblower testimony.
A Lawyer for the FBI Instructs Former Agent to Decline Questions on Hunter Biden Investigation
A lawyer representing the FBI has advised a former supervisory special agent not to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee regarding the bureau’s investigation into Hunter Biden, according to a letter obtained on Tuesday.
The letter, dated July 16, was delivered to the former agent the night before his scheduled interview with the House committee. During the interview, the agent had confirmed important aspects of testimony provided by two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service.
“The Department expects that you will decline to respond to questions seeking non-public information likely covered by one or more components of executive privilege or other significant confidentiality interests, in particular information about deliberations or ongoing investigative activity in law enforcement matters,” FBI general counsel Jason Jones wrote in a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
According to Jones, the investigation into Hunter Biden is still ongoing, which may restrict the release of certain information by the bureau. Instead of answering the questions directly, the lawyer instructed the agent, whose identity remains undisclosed, to refer the questions to the FBI’s Office of Congressional Affairs. This would allow the bureau to assess how to respond while safeguarding confidential information.
The former supervisory special agent confirmed on Monday that both the FBI and Secret Service were alerted about an interview with Hunter Biden a day before it was scheduled to take place.
As per the agent’s testimony, IRS and FBI criminal investigators were instructed to remain outside Biden’s residence on the day of the interview and were told not to approach him until he made contact.
House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) stated that due to the tipoff in December 2020, Biden was never interviewed as part of the investigation.
“The NIGHT BEFORE our team interviewed the former FBI supervisory special agent who confirmed key portions of the IRS whistleblowers’ testimony, the agent received a letter from the FBI directing him to ’DECLINE TO RESPOND’ to our committee’s questions regarding our ongoing Biden Family investigation,” Comer said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is just another account of the Biden Administration attempting to intimidate critical witnesses in this investigation. Regardless of their tactics, there will be accountability.”
The former FBI agent testified that he had never been instructed to wait outside and be contacted by the subject of an investigation before conducting an interview. However, the agent also acknowledged that disagreements between FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors regarding investigative steps and charging decisions are common, according to a source familiar with the transcribed interview.
Whistleblowers to Testify on Justice Department’s Interference
Two whistleblowers, IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and an anonymous whistleblower referred to as ”Whistleblower X,” have alleged that the Justice Department interfered in the criminal investigation of Hunter Biden. They claim that David Weiss, the lead U.S. attorney on the case, was prevented from bringing charges in his preferred jurisdiction and was denied special counsel status. However, both the Justice Department and Weiss have denied these allegations, asserting that Weiss had full authority in the investigation.
Both whistleblowers are expected to testify on Wednesday in front of the Oversight Committee, where the identity of Whistleblower X will be revealed.
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