More Hunter Biden Drama: In a recent twist, emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit have revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) stepped in to support the Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss in responding to congressional inquiries related to their ongoing investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings.
This revelation has raised concerns about whether Weiss’ responses to congressional investigators were directed by the DOJ and if there was any collusion to mislead Congress.
Awkward Emails Unveiled
The probe into the president’s son, Hunter Biden, reportedly involves allegations of tax fraud, money laundering, and violations related to firearms and foreign lobbying. Trump-appointed United States Attorney David C. Weiss is leading it.
The Federalist reported on an email exchange that questioned whether the DOJ’s Office of Legislative Affairs was involved in responding to Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson’s inquiries about the Hunter Biden investigation.
According to the emails, one of Weiss’ lead assistant U.S. attorneys, Shannon Hanson, initially stated that she had no knowledge of the DOJ’s involvement in responding to the senators’ letter.
However, it was later revealed that the DOJ’s Office of Legislative Affairs had indeed intervened, informing Grassley and Johnson that the DOJ would not answer their questions.
Subsequently, when Grassley and Johnson sent another letter requesting information about the investigation, addressing it to Weiss, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, the Office of Legal Counsel once again stepped in, stating that they would take the lead in drafting a response to the senators’ letter.
DOJ’s ‘Conspiratorial’ Actions
Kash Patel, a former federal public defender and House Intelligence Committee aide, told MAGA-leaning Breitbart News, that it is standard procedure for congressional inquiries to be routed through an agency’s legislative affairs shop.
However, he stressed that it is not standard for the DOJ to engage in “conspiratorial schemes” that could be perceived as an attempt to subvert constitutional oversight and obstruct the production of documents.
Weiss had previously told House investigators that he had the “ultimate authority” to decide whether to charge Hunter Biden with potential wrongdoing. However, FOIA emails now suggest that Attorney General Merrick Garland was also involved in controlling the flow of responses to House investigators, raising questions about the extent of Weiss’ authority.
Collapse of ‘Sweetheart Deal’
This controversy comes amidst a backdrop of scrutiny over Hunter Biden’s so-called “sweetheart” plea deal with the Justice Department, which recently fell apart under examination by a Delaware judge.
Prosecutors now expect the case to proceed to trial, possibly in Delaware or California, where Hunter Biden faces charges related to unpaid taxes and a felony gun violation.
The plea deal, if upheld, would have allowed Hunter Biden to plead guilty to failing to pay taxes on substantial income, potentially avoiding jail time and enjoying immunity from future charges.
As the investigation and legal proceedings continue, the controversy surrounding the DOJ’s involvement in responding to congressional inquiries adds another layer of complexity to the case.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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