Garland unsure if he talked about Hunter Biden case with FBI.
Attorney General Merrick Garland claims he cannot recall whether he discussed the Hunter Biden case with the FBI.
During his testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on September 20, Mr. Garland faced questions about allegations that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had used its power to shield Hunter Biden and the first family from an IRS tax crime investigation.
On June 26, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) revealed allegations suggesting that high-ranking officials at the DOJ and IRS had taken steps to protect Hunter Biden from a million-dollar tax crime case.
Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.) directly asked Mr. Garland if he had discussed the Hunter Biden investigation with anyone at FBI HQ.
“I don’t remember the answer to that,” Mr. Garland responded.
“So, you don’t remember if you talked to anyone at FBI HQ about an investigation into the president’s son?” Mr. Johnson pressed.
“I don’t believe I did,” Mr. Garland replied.
This response reflects a recurring theme throughout Mr. Garland’s hearing, where he often claimed a lack of awareness or referred to “ongoing investigations.”
Since President Joe Biden took office, the DOJ and FBI have faced numerous allegations of politically motivated behavior, including recent claims that they sought to protect Hunter Biden and his family.
Mr. Garland firmly denied these allegations in his opening remarks.
Allegations Against DOJ
In June, whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler made public statements claiming that both agencies deliberately hindered and obstructed the investigation, with an assistant U.S. attorney citing political “optics” as a primary concern.
Shapley testified that “career DOJ officials dragged their feet on the IRS taking… investigative steps” that would have been standard in any other case.
He also revealed that IRS investigators were informed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf that obtaining a search warrant for evidence in a guest house owned by President Biden would never be approved due to political considerations.
Furthermore, Hunter Biden’s attorneys allegedly received “crucial information” about the investigation.
In one instance, the attorneys were reportedly informed that the IRS was aware of documents stored in a Northern Virginia storage unit, allowing them to remove any potentially incriminating evidence before it could be used against their client.
The whistleblowers also claimed that U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was supposed to oversee the investigation into Hunter Biden, was prevented from filing charges in both the District of Columbia and the District Court of Central California.
During an October 7, 2022 meeting, Shapley and Ziegler stated that Weiss declared he was ”not the deciding person” on whether charges would be brought against the president’s son, contradicting Mr. Garland’s repeated assertion that Weiss had “full authority” over the case.
Previous Charges
“I don’t know how it would be possible for anybody to block him from bringing a prosecution, given that he has this authority,” Mr. Garland stated. “I’d say he was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own.”
Mr. Garland suggested that Weiss possessed the same or even greater authority than the special counsel, who operates independently from the rest of the DOJ.
Shapley and Ziegler recommended three felony charges against Hunter Biden for failing to report millions of dollars from foreign sources to the IRS.
However, earlier this year, Weiss brought forth much milder charges against the president’s son: two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay taxes and a felony gun charge that would have been resolved through a pretrial agreement.
Unfortunately, this plea agreement fell apart when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected it due to procedural irregularities.
The day after the plea agreement collapsed, Mr. Garland officially appointed Weiss as the special counsel for Hunter Biden’s case.
1) How do the allegations regarding the DOJ and FBI’s alleged delay in the investigation and failure to pursue certain leads impact the integrity and impartiality of these agencies?
That the DOJ and FBI deliberately delayed the investigation and failed to pursue certain leads in order to protect the Biden family from legal scrutiny.
These allegations raise serious concerns about the integrity and impartiality of the DOJ and FBI. If true, they suggest that the agencies may be operating with political motivations, rather than upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice is served.
During his testimony, Mr. Garland repeatedly emphasized the importance of an independent DOJ that is free from political interference. He stated that he is committed to ensuring that the DOJ operates with integrity and follows the facts wherever they lead, without regard for political considerations.
However, his inability to recall whether he discussed the Hunter Biden case with the FBI raises questions about his awareness and involvement in the matter. If he did indeed discuss the case, it is imperative that he be transparent and forthright about the nature and extent of those discussions.
The American people deserve to have confidence in the DOJ and FBI, knowing that they are committed to upholding the law and pursuing justice without bias. Any perception of favoritism or political protection undermines this confidence and erodes the public’s trust.
It is crucial that a thorough investigation into these allegations takes place. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate measures must be taken to hold accountable those responsible. Similarly, if the allegations are unfounded,
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