By Steve Neavling
The U.S. attorney overseeing the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden defended his handling of the case and rejected claims that he was prevented from pursuing more serious charges against the president’s son.
In a two-page letter to House Republicans on Friday, David C. Weiss, an appointee of former President Trump, reiterated that he had sole authority over the case.
Weiss also denied that the Justice Department retaliated against two IRS whistleblowers who alleged the DOJ hindered the investigation.
“The Department of Justice did not retaliate against ‘an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent and whistleblower, as well as his entire investigative team… for making protected disclosures to Congress,’” Weiss wrote, quoting a letter from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Weiss also doubled down on his previous statements that he was “granted ultimate authority” by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“As the US Attorney for the District of Delaware, my charging authority is geographically limited to my home district,” Weiss says. “If venue for a case lies elsewhere, common Departmental practice is to contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the district in question and determine whether it wants to partner on the case. If not, I may request Special Attorney status from the Attorney General pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 515.”
“Here, I have been assured that, if necessary after the above process, I would be granted § 515 Authority in the District of Columbia, the Central District of California, or any other district where charges could be brought in this matter,” he added.
Last month, Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS veteran who oversaw some of the investigation, told lawmakers that Weiss wanted to bring federal charges against Biden in the Central District of California and in Washington D.C. last year but was stymied by President Biden-appointed US attorneys Martin Estrada and Matthew Graves.
Shapley also testified that Weiss tried to be named special counsel to investigate the case but was denied.
Weiss and Garland both rejected 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 late last month.
Weiss concluded the letter by saying he was open to answering more questions from lawmakers.
“At the appropriate time, I welcome the opportunity to discuss these topics with the Committee in more detail, and answer questions related to the whistleblowers’ allegations consistent with the law and Department policy. It is my understanding that the Office of Legislative Affairs will work with the Committee to discuss appropriate timeline and scope,” Weiss wrote.
