Global Courant
WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead prosecutor in the case against Hunter, President Joe Biden’s son, says he is willing to testify publicly this fall, clashing with House Republicans who have demanded he come soon for a closed-door interview.
In a two-page letter to Rep. Jim Jordan on Monday, the Justice Department offered to make Delaware U.S. attorney David Weiss available to the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing after the August break as Republicans continue their investigation into his handling of the Hunter Biden investigation.
“The Department believes it is in the public interest of the American people and of Congress to hear directly from U.S. Attorney Weiss about these allegations and questions about his authority at a public hearing,” Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote to Jordan.
House Republicans, led by Jordan – chairman of the Judiciary Committee – had last month requested Weiss and nearly a dozen other officials to provide transcribed interviews with the committee as part of its investigation into allegations that the Justice Department improperly interfered with the Hunter Biden financial dealings case. Weiss’ investigation ended last month with a plea deal likely to spare Biden time behind bars.
The congressional inquiry was opened after testimony from two IRS agents working on the Hunter Biden case detailed what they called a pattern of “sluggish investigative steps” and delays in enforcement action in the months before his father’s 2020 presidential election. of elections, in order to avoid possible influence on the outcome.
But the whistleblowers, those testified publicly last weekinsist their testimony reflects a pattern of interference and preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden case and not just disagreement with their superiors about what investigative steps to take.
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In recent weeks, the Justice Department has been back and forth with the commission, dismissing the IRS agents’ claims, including one of the more explosive claims that Weiss did not have full authority on the case. long-term research.
Weiss himself wrote to Jordan saying that the department had assured him that if he filed a suit in any location other than Delaware, he would receive special status to do so. In general, US attorneys are limited to their own jurisdictions when filing criminal charges.
Uriarte also wrote to Republicans earlier this month that due to longstanding policies of the department, Weiss or other officials involved in the case would not be allowed to testify before Congress while the investigation is ongoing. But the committee continued to push for a behind-closed-door interview with Weiss.
The openness to making Weiss available now comes as Hunter Biden is expected to appear before a judge on Wednesday to officially plead guilty to the federal tax offenses, leaving the prosecution open to giving public testimony in the case.
And the Justice Department, seeking to correct the record of what it sees as misrepresentation of the investigation, hopes that by offering Weiss to appear before Congress in a public venue, he can respond directly to allegations of wrongdoing by Republicans.
“U.S. Attorney Weiss is the appropriate person to speak to on these matters, as he is both the senior department official responsible for the investigation and the person with direct knowledge of the facts necessary to respond to the allegations in which you have expressed interest,” Uriarte wrote.
House Democrats see the offer of a public hearing as a way for Biden’s Justice Department to regain control of the narrative surrounding what has become a high-profile prosecution of the president’s son. And those on the committee, including the distinguished member, Rep. Jerry Nadler, DN.Y., recently accused Jordan and other Republicans of withholding certain aspects of closed-door interviews over the past six months that could potentially hurt their case.
It is unclear whether Jordan will accept the offer for a public hearing.
