Republicans ramp up pressure on Hunter prosecutor: Sen. Graham demands information on $10M ‘bribe’

Top GOP Senator Lindsey Graham steps up pressure on Hunter Biden’s accuser, demanding information on alleged phone calls between President Joe Biden and a Burisma executive about a $10 million “bribe” he says was U.S. Attorney David Weiss informed.

Graham, R.S.C., who serves as the senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday sent letters obtained by DailyMail.com to Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Attorney David Weiss – the chief prosecutor investigating federal tax and gun crimes committed by Hunter Pray.

“I have been informed that you and your office have been informed of allegations in an FD-1023 form suggesting that telephone conversations may have been recorded between Hunter Biden and Joe Biden with a senior official of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company,” Graham wrote. in the letter to Weiss.

“The FD-1023 in question alleges that the confidential informant told the Justice Department and the FBI that such ties may exist,” he continued.

An internal FBI form FD-1023 uncovered by a whistleblower and published by the House Oversight Committee alleged that Joe and Hunter Biden each received $5 million in “bribes” from a Ukrainian foreign national in exchange for policy decisions. The citizen, a director of Burisma, also reportedly has phone recordings of the Joe and Hunter that he kept as an “insurance policy.”

Top GOP Senator Lindsey Graham steps up pressure on Hunter Biden’s prosecutor

The House Oversight Committee headed by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also stepped up pressure on the Treasury Department on Wednesday to turn over Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to Burisma Holdings and the alleged $10 million total payment to Joe and Hunter.

The letters follow explosive testimony from IRS whistleblowers alleging that top Justice Department officials, including Garland, have interfered with the criminal investigation of Hunter Biden, including by denying Weiss “special prosecutor” status. .

The South Carolina senator asks Weiss in a letter to answer whether he denied being appointed as special counsel and also about additional whistleblower allegations that he tried to sue Hunter in Washington, DC and California – but was turned down .

IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, a 14-year veteran of the agency who helped oversee the investigation into the president’s son, alleges Hunter Biden has received preferential treatment from investigators investigating his tax affairs and lying about filing for an gun permit.

Shapley pointed to a WhatsApp message sent by Hunter to Chinese Communist Party official Henry Zhao on July 30, 2017, threatening him to follow his “orders” and saying his father was with him. Shapley claims he raised concerns about the WhatsApp message to DOJ prosecutors, who dismissed his concerns.

During an interview with Fox News Wednesday night, Shapley also described an October 7, 2022 meeting with top IRS and FBI officials regarding the investigation of President Joe Biden’s son.

“I was there and I personally witnessed it,” Shapley said, noting that Weiss began by saying “he’s not the person who decides whether or not to press charges.”

Shapley claimed the final decision was made by officials in Washington, DC. He noted that in March 2022, Weiss met with Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia who was appointed by President Joe Biden.

“After that happened, he was no longer looking to attack,” Shapley said.

“So that’s earth-shattering news,” said Fox News’ Bret Baier. “It’s a Biden-appointed DCUS attorney, Matthew Graves, who wouldn’t allow him to sue in his precinct?”

“I didn’t learn that fact until October 7, 2022, so looking back to March 2022. And then David Weiss said on October 7, 2022 that the DCUS law firm will not allow us there,” Shapley responded.

The House Ways and Means Committee last week released testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who alleged that Justice Department, FBI and IRS officials interfered in Weiss’ investigation. Shapley was one of those two whistleblowers.

In response to the release of that information, Garland denied interfering with the Hunter Biden investigation.

“I don’t know how it would be possible for anyone to stop him from prosecuting,” Garland said of Weiss last week.

The defense came a day after Shapley’s stunning allegations on the case were unsealed by House Republicans, and after both Hunter Biden and the attorney general were guests at a White House state dinner.

When asked about a directive not to press charges against Hunter in 2022, Garland responded, “As I said at the outset, Mr. Weiss was appointed by President Trump as the U.S. Attorney in Delaware and assigned this case during the previous administration. .’

Garland said Weiss would be allowed to continue his investigation and make a decision to prosecute any way he wants and in any district he wants. Mr Weiss has since sent a letter to the House Judiciary confirming that he had that authority.

“I don’t know how it would be possible for someone to dissuade him from prosecuting, given that he has this authority,” he said.

Hunter Biden agreed in his plea deal with the U.S. government to plead guilty to two counts of failure to make timely tax payments on $1.5 million in revenue

He claimed that Weiss never asked to be appointed special prosecutor.

‘Mr. In fact, Weiss had more authority than a special counsel would have.”

“He was given full authority to make all decisions alone,” he noted.

“Some have chosen to attack the integrity of the Justice Department by claiming that we do not treat cases equally. This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy,” Garland said.

Hunter Biden, in his plea deal with the U.S. government, agreed to plead guilty to two counts of failure to make timely tax payments on $1.5 million in revenue. Weiss announced that agreement, noting that he had sued Hunter in connection with his 2018 gun purchase, but said he would not pursue the charges under a two-year diversion program.

Republicans are investigating Garland’s role in the case and whether Weiss really had the authority to make impeachment decisions.

“If it comes true what the IRS whistleblower says, we’re going to open an impeachment inquiry against the Attorney General,” Chairman Kevin McCarthy told Fox News.

President Biden has repeatedly said he had nothing to do with Hunter’s business dealings and the White House has stressed that they are out of any Justice Department investigation.