House GOP investigates ‘troubling’ aspects of Hunter Biden’s plea in DOJ deal.
Republicans Request Records and Briefing on Hunter Biden Deal
Three top Republicans have reached out to Attorney General Merrick Garland, seeking records and a briefing on the ”troubling” provisions of the deal between President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and the Department of Justice. The agreement unexpectedly fell apart in court last week.
The chairmen of the House Judiciary, Oversight, and Ways and Means Committees, Jim Jordan (R-OH), James Comer (R-KY), and Jason Smith (R-MO), respectively, have expressed their concerns and requested clarity on the “ongoing” nature of the Hunter Biden investigation.
Seeking Answers from the Department of Justice
In their letter to Garland, the chairmen stated, “Given recent unusual events relating to the Department’s plea and pretrial diversion agreements with Mr. Biden, we write to better understand the Department’s decision to sign off on such apparently atypical agreements.”
The deal involved Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and entering into a pretrial diversion agreement to avoid a felony gun charge. However, during Hunter Biden’s court hearing, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about the deal’s implications for future charges related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Specifically, the chairmen focused on paragraph 14 of the diversion agreement, which Noreika deemed potentially unconstitutional, as it would make her the “gatekeeper” to criminal charges. They also highlighted paragraph 15 and Noreika’s concerns about its broad immunity provision, which could improperly shield Hunter Biden from future criminal charges.
Request for Documents and Briefing
The chairmen have requested that Garland provide them with various documents and communications related to the plea deal by August 14. They specifically asked for examples of similar provisions in deals over the past 10 years.
Additionally, the Republicans are seeking a briefing to gain insight into the status of the investigation. The Department of Justice has previously withheld information from the committees, citing the ongoing nature of the Hunter Biden investigation. However, the chairmen expressed concerns that this reasoning is being used as a “shield” to avoid congressional oversight.
They also questioned how Hunter Biden’s attorneys and the prosecutors failed to reach an agreement on the immunity provision, leading to the deal unraveling in court. The chairmen wrote, “It is difficult to understand how the parties would not have a meeting of the minds regarding a clause of the agreement as fundamental as the scope of the immunity provision, and it raises questions about what discussions have taken place between the Department and Mr. Biden’s counsel regarding the status of those investigations.”
U.S. District Judge Noreika acknowledged the unexpected turn of events and requested that Hunter Biden’s attorneys and the prosecution revisit the deal and submit briefings in the coming weeks.
The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the matter.
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