House GOP Presses IG on Whether Biden DOJ Is Throttling Probe into IRS Whistleblower Allegations
House Republicans wrote to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz Tuesday, asking if the office of the inspector general is limited in its investigation of IRS whistleblower testimonies about the DOJ Hunter Biden probe.
National Review obtained a letter from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan. The letter expressed concern that the DOJ was preventing the Inspector General’s Office from “fully examining the disclosures” that were provided to the IG.
The letter states: “As you know, IRS whistleblowers have made protected disclosures regarding DOJ’s Hunter Biden investigation to Congress.” The IRS whistleblowers stated that the DOJ investigation was deliberately slowed down and subjected improper and political interference. The DOJ and IRS are also alleged to have engaged in illegal whistleblower reprisals against IRS employees. Their testimony raised serious doubts about the federal government’s commitment to fair justice.”
They go on to state that new evidence corroborates the testimony of whistleblowers. This evidence includes the collapsed plea agreement reached between David Weiss, now special counsel, and Hunter Biden’s defense lawyers.
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They note that Weiss became special counsel only after the plea agreement fell through. Hunter Biden’s lawyers also acknowledged that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware didn’t contact Hunter Biden until May to begin settlement talks, a month after IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley had written to Congress to seek whistleblower protections in order to disclose how the investigation of the younger Biden was plagued by “preferential treatments and politics.”
The letter points out that former Hunter Biden Business Associate Devon Archer testified recently that President Biden’s son sold him as “the brand” to foreign nationals for millions of dollar.
The lawmakers stated that “the DOJ continues to sacrifice its professional responsibilities to cover for President’s Son–and possibly, the President Himself.”
The three committees had first written to the DOJ OIG in July, asking for an update on the investigation of the IRS whistleblower.
Two days later, the DOJ OIG replied to this letter and confirmed it had received information about Shapley.
In undertaking this assessment we are aware of the potential limitations on the OIG’s jurisdiction due to Section 8E(b),(3) of the Inspector General Act (5 U.S.C.). SS 413 (b)(3) requires that my office refers to DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility, any allegations of misconduct involving Department Attorneys, Investigators or Law Enforcement Personnel, if the allegations are related to the exercise of authority by an attorney to investigate or litigate or to provide legal advice.
The three Republicans have now asked the Inspector General to provide documents and other information that will explain if, based on law or regulation, the IG’s office has “any limitations in fully investigating whistleblowers’ disclosures”. If the office does not have any limits then they must explain why and how.
The legislators gave the Inspector General a deadline for a response of 6 September.
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