By Steve Neavling
Attorney General Merrick Garland pushed back against claims by two IRS whistleblowers that the Justice Department hindered the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden.
Garland told reporters Friday that David Weiss, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Delaware, had “compete authority to make all decisions on his own” and was not beholden to DOJ leadership to authorize charges, CBS News reports.
“Mr. Weiss was appointed by President Trump. As the U.S. attorney in Delaware and assigned this matter during the previous administration, [he] would be permitted to continue his investigation and to make a decision to prosecute any way in which he wanted to and in any district in which he wanted to,” Garland said Friday, repeating sworn statements he made to Congress.
In private interviews last week with lawmakers, two IRS whistleblowers said the agency recommended charging the president’s son with attempted tax evasion and other felonies and that the Justice Department hampered the probe.
Biden ended up entering a plea agreement that included far less serious charges, and as a result, he’ll likely dodge jail time.
One of the whistleblowers, Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS veteran who oversaw some of the investigation, alleged Weiss tried to be named a special counsel but was rejected.
Garland denied that claim.
“The only person with authority to make somebody a special counsel or refuse to make somebody a special counsel is the attorney general. Mr. Weiss never made that request to me,” Garland said.
“Mr. Weiss had in fact more authority than a special counsel would’ve had,” Garland added. “He had and has complete authority … to bring a case anywhere he wants, in his discretion.”
Why is Weiss quiet on this he said/she said argument?