WASHINGTON — Delaware US Attorney David Weiss told the House Judiciary Committee that he was denied “special attorney” status in his investigation of first son Hunter Biden, the panel’s chairman said Tuesday— though Weiss insisted that his decision-making was not impeded in the case.
Committee chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters that Weiss said he initially requested special attorney status in spring 2022, but was not granted it.
“That’s the key takeaway from this whole deposition,” Jordan said, according to a tweet from Punchbowl News reporter Max Cohen.
“So who denied Weiss special attorney charging authority, for what reason, and why didn’t he and [Attorney General Merrick] Garland just say so when Congress asked?” responded Jason Foster, founder of Empower Oversight, which represents IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley.
“It went down just as IRS whistleblowers described,” Foster tweeted.
In his prepared remarks, Weiss, who was finally granted special counsel status Aug. 11 following whistleblower claims of a coverup, insisted his more than five-year investigation of tax fraud and related charges was not impeded.
“I am, and have been, the decision-maker on this case,” Weiss claimed.
“I do not, however, make these decisions in a vacuum. I am bound by federal law, the principles of federal prosecution and DOJ guidelines. As a result there are processes that I must adhere to in making investigative and charging decisions,” the statement went on.
“These processes did not interfere with my decision-making authority. At no time was I blocked, or otherwise prevented from pursuing charges or taking the steps necessary in the investigation by other United States Attorneys, the Tax Division or anyone else at the Department of Justice.”
Shapley, backed up by another IRS agent, Joseph Ziegler, alleged numerous irregularities in the investigation of the first son over about $2 million in unpaid taxes from 2014 to 2019 — with Shapley accusing Attorney General Merrick Garland of misleading Congress on the issue of Weiss’ independence.
Los Angeles US Attorney Martin Estrada and DC US Attorney Matthew Graves previously confirmed to the Judiciary Committee that they declined to partner with Weiss in bringing charges against Hunter Biden, but insisted they were willing to assist Weiss without lending him their staff.
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