DOJ fires back at ‘premature’ subpoenas by Republicans seeking details on ‘political interference’ in the ongoing Hunter Biden probe and WON’T allow involved FBI and IRS agents to testify
The Justice Department is berating Republicans in the House of Representatives for “prematurely” issuing subpoenas for agents to testify about “political interference” in the ongoing Hunter Biden investigation.
Earlier this month, Republicans issued subpoenas against four IRS and FBI agents they say have inside information about a meeting where U.S. attorney David Weiss β the top prosecutor in the Hunter case β allegedly said he was not the “decisive person.” is about what charges are being filed. to the president’s son.
DailyMail.com got DOJ’s response to the request to compel the officers as witnesses, calling it a “premature” move by the Republicans that could affect the ongoing investigation into Hunter.
βThese subpoenas have no legal effect and cannot be constitutionally enforced,β says the DOJ, which requires the officials to be accompanied by legal counsel β which is against house rules β or they won’t be allowed to testify.
Multiple whistleblowers have suggested that Hunter received “special treatment” during the five-year investigation led by Weiss.
Whistleblowers have suggested Hunter received ‘special treatment’ during the five-year investigation led by Weiss
Gary Shapley, a longtime IRS agent, claimed Weiss said at a rally on October 7, 2022, that he was blocked by Biden appointees in Washington, D.C. and California from bringing charges against Hunter.
And after Shapley voiced his concerns at that meeting, he said he was completely barred from working on Hunter’s case two weeks later in retaliation.
Weiss also allegedly declined to file felony tax charges against the president’s son, despite whistleblowers in the case saying it was warranted.
The president’s son and Weiss’ team last month agreed to a plea deal over lower taxes and gun crimes.
Hunter was said to have pleaded guilty to two counts of tax fraud and a gun count and walked away with a slap on the wrist and no jail time.
However, the plea deal imploded in court and now Hunter could face trial if charged with additional crimes related to his foreign business dealings.
Weiss directly refuted the whistleblowers’ claims.
He stressed in a July letter to House of Representatives Republican investigators that he “has never been denied the authority to press charges in any jurisdiction” and said allegations of whistleblower retaliation are false.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has also strongly denied that the Hunter Biden investigation faced any outside influence, insisting that Weiss, a Trump appointee, had ultimate indictment authority.
But after mounting pressure, Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter investigation earlier this month.
With his new special counsel authority, Weiss now has the formal authority to press charges in any jurisdiction and does not need permission from Biden’s appointed U.S. attorney in that district.
DOJ has committed to Weiss preparing a “report to the Attorney General” that will explain his “prosecution and dismissal decisions” at the conclusion of the Hunter investigation β which is still ongoing.
“The attorney general is committed to making as much of that report as possible public, consistent with legal requirements and the Department’s policy,” Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte wrote to Republicans on Tuesday.
Uriarte says his team remains “hopeful” they can agree on adjustments for “timing and topics for testimonials.”
The issue at issue revolves around whether the four IRS and FBI agents who were called to testify could be accompanied to the Hill by Justice Department counsel.
Republicans say house rules don’t allow agency advisers to enter the room for statements.
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![DOJ fires back at 'premature' subpoenas by Republicans seeking details on 'political interference' in the ongoing Hunter Biden probe and WON'T allow involved FBI and IRS agents to testify 4 The president's son and Weiss' team last month agreed to a](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1693476311_471_DOJ-fires-back-at-premature-subpoenas-by-Republicans-seeking-details.jpg)
The president’s son and Weiss’ team last month agreed to a “sweetie” plea deal over lower taxes and gun crimes, but it fell through
![DOJ fires back at 'premature' subpoenas by Republicans seeking details on 'political interference' in the ongoing Hunter Biden probe and WON'T allow involved FBI and IRS agents to testify 6 DOJ has instructed Special Counsel David Weiss to prepare a](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1693476314_868_DOJ-fires-back-at-premature-subpoenas-by-Republicans-seeking-details.jpg)
DOJ has instructed Special Counsel David Weiss to prepare a “report for the Attorney General” that will explain his “prosecution and denial decisions.”
But DOJ is requesting the presence of their own counsel to “protect its confidentiality interests.”
Therefore, “these subpoenas have no legal effect” and are unconstitutional, DOJ says.
A GOP aide told DailyMail.com that negotiations over the legal amendments are still ongoing and could be resolved.
They point out that former FBI agent Peter Strozk appeared in 2018 for a transcribed interview about Russian conspiracy allegations while the Mueller investigation was still ongoing.
Weiss himself is set to testify for the House of Representatives in September or October.