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☆ Why Naming Weiss Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden Case Isn’t Likely to Change Much
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Charlie Savage | More About Charlie Savage | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

That means making Mr. Weiss a special counsel may be more of a cosmetic gesture — essentially formalizing what has already been the case — than a new reality. The attorney general’s move came against the backdrop of accusations by Republicans that Mr. Weiss had offered what they portrayed as a sweetheart plea bargain to the younger Mr. Biden because of political manipulations by Mr. Garland or by the White House. Functionally, the formalization of Mr. Weiss’s independence could serve as a shield against such accusations. A special counsel is a prosecutor who wields the same powers as a U.S. attorney but is granted broader day-to-day independence from supervision. In making the announcement, Mr. Garland reminded the public that he had already said Mr. Weiss, who was appointed by President Trump, was operating outside the normal system of hierarchical oversight and control for the Hunter Biden case.

Persons: General Merrick B, David Weiss, Biden’s, Hunter, Garland, Weiss, general’s, Biden, President Trump, Hunter Biden Organizations: Trump, White House Locations: Delaware, U.S

☆ Reactions to appointment of a US special counsel in Hunter Biden case
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Weiss said Hunter Biden may be headed for trial on criminal charges after talks on a potential plea deal reached an impasse. If Weiss negotiated the sweetheart deal that couldn’t get approved, how can he be trusted as a Special Counsel? Garland appointing Weiss as a sham special counsel on Hunter is a way to block info from Congress while claiming they're investigating. The Biden Justice Department is trying to stonewall congressional oversight as we have presented evidence to the American people about the Biden family's corruption." REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN BOEBERT ON X:"Merrick Garland just announced that he will appoint US Attorney Weiss as Special Counsel to look into Hunter Biden's matters.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, General Merrick Garland's, David Weiss, Joe Biden's, Weiss, KEVIN MCCARTHY, Biden, couldn’t, DICK DURBIN, Garland, Biden’s, Trump, Trump’s, STEVE SCALISE, Hunter, STEVEN CHEUNG, DONALD TRUMP, RUSSELL, JIM JORDAN, David Weiss can’t, JAMES COMER, General Garland, Biden's, LINDSEY GRAHAM, you've, BYRON DONALDS, LAUREN BOEBERT, Merrick Garland, I'm, NIKKI HALEY, Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Josephine Walker, Jasper Ward, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, TWITTER, DOJ, Republicans, DEMOCRATIC, Justice Department, U.S, Justice Department’s, Biden, REPUBLICAN, Biden Justice Department, FOX, Biden Fam, US, Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, Delaware, Washington

☆ The new twist in Hunter Biden’s case is a huge political headache for his father
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —A sudden new twist in the investigation into Hunter Biden means his legal tribulations will likely stretch on for months, creating an unwelcome new drag on his father’s White House and reelection bid. Just weeks ago, the shadow of criminal suspicion over Hunter Biden seemed about to lift. The change of status followed the collapse of a deal last month that likely would have seen Hunter Biden get sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges. But the symbolic weight of an appointment of a special counsel stiffens the perception of scandal and potential wrongdoing even if the legal realities of the case haven’t shifted. Important differences between Hunter Biden and Trump casesThere are two important distinctions between Biden and Trump that the Republicans are trying to blur.

Persons: Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Joe Biden’s, Weiss, Joe Biden, Alberto Gonzales, Jake Tapper ”, it’s, …, ”, Gonzales, George W, Bush, Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden’s, Abbe Lowell, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Lowell, Trump, Garland, Clinton, Biden, Donald Trump, It’s, Tanya Chutkan, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Biden’s, Hunter, Tapper, James Comer –, –, “, Joe Biden hasn’t, ” Comer, Comer, he’s, General Garland, Kevin McCarthy, couldn’t, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, General Garland’s, Hunter Biden – Organizations: CNN, House, Justice Department, White, House Republicans, Trump, Republican, GOP Locations: Delaware, Weiss, Florida, Ukraine, China, Kentucky, California, Carolina

☆ Hunter Biden: US attorney leading Hunter Biden criminal probe is now a special counsel after plea talks break down and a trial looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Marshall Cohen Hannah Rabinowitz Devan Cole | Marshall Cohen | Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —The Trump-appointed US attorney who is investigating Hunter Biden has been given special counsel status after plea talks between the Justice Department and the president’s son fell apart. It’s the latest dramatic turn in the long-running criminal investigation of Hunter Biden that’s impacted President Joe Biden’s White House and has been a priority of congressional Republicans. The probe appeared to reach its conclusion when a plea deal was announced in June. The GOP had criticized the plea deal, accusing Weiss of giving Hunter Biden preferential treatment. Two career IRS agents who worked on the Hunter Biden probe went public as whistleblowers, claiming there was political meddling in the probe.

Persons: Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Merrick Garland, Weiss, It’s, Joe Biden’s, Hunter, Maryellen Noreika, ”, “, Garland, Jim Jordan, “ David Weiss can’t, ” Jordan, Russell Dye, “ Weiss, James Comer of, Biden, coverup, California Weiss, Hunter Biden’s, Chris Clark, Robert Mueller, John Durham, ” Garland Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Justice Department, Republicans, GOP, Department, Hunter Biden, Ohio Republican, Biden, Central District of, District of Columbia, District of Locations: Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, DC, California, Delaware, Washington, Central District, Central District of California, District, Delaware , Washington, “, District of Delaware

☆ Exclusive: A veteran FBI agent told Congress that investigations into Giuliani and other Trump allies were 'suppressed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

An FBI veteran said his superiors suppressed investigations of Trump, Insider can exclusively reveal. Those figures, the statement claims, explicitly included "anyone in the [Trump] White House and any former or current associates of President Trump." The directions he received included a strict prohibition on filing intelligence reports relating to Giuliani or any other Trump associate. Even before the emergence of this new whistleblower, there has been ample evidence of individual FBI agents with pro-Trump partisan sympathies. Some FBI agents were reportedly satisfied by an assertion made by Trump's legal team that he'd turned over all his classified documents, and wanted to close the Mar-a-Lago government records investigation down.

Persons: Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, President Trump, Scott Horton, Robert Mueller, Trump, Pavel Fuks, Joe Biden, Giuliani wasn't, doesn't, Charles McGonigal, Spokespeople, Fuks, Christopher Wray, Donald Trump's Mar, Hunter Biden, insurrectionists, Jim Jordan, Biden, Jordan, Russell Dye, Dye, Jared Wise, —, Trump's, James Comey, Peter Strzok —, he'd, Genius, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: FBI, Trump, Trump White House, Service, White, Committee, Rolling Stone, New, GOP, Federal Government, Rep, Capitol, Capitol Police, Washington Post, Post, Justice Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukrainian, York, New York, Fuks, Lago, Burisma, Anchorage, San Juan

☆ Hunter Biden, FARA and Unequal Justice
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The real question is whether his father was involved. Images: Getty Images/William J. Hennessey, Jr. Composite: Mark KellyUnequal justice has emerged as a theme in the Hunter Biden plea deal, and one example came last week when Judge Maryellen Noreika asked the prosecution and defense in court if their agreement meant the President’s son could still be prosecuted for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Hunter’s lawyers said no, but the prosecutor said yes, and Hunter can thank Robert Mueller if he is prosecuted under that statute.

Persons: William J, Hennessey, Jr, Mark Kelly, Hunter, Judge Maryellen Noreika, Robert Mueller

And, of course, the Hunter Biden saga plays right into that narrative …. Bret: If Hunter had been poor and Black, would the justice system have been as indulgent? And, while Republicans are jumping to conclusions without rock-solid evidence, I’m not entirely confident that Joe Biden really had no inkling of what his son was up to or that the larger Biden family didn’t benefit from Hunter’s shenanigans. Gail: Absolutely no evidence Joe Biden knew about Hunter’s lawbreaking. But one charge I’d bet on is that Hunter dropped dad’s name a lot when trying to do business with foreign honchos.

Persons: Gail, Bret, Trump, Hunter Biden, you’d, Hunter, who’s, Hmmmm, —, Biden, I’m, Joe Biden, Hunter’s Organizations: Republican

☆ House GOP chairmen announce probe into Hunter Biden plea deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Three House GOP chairmen sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding documents and information regarding circumstances related to Hunter Biden’s plea deal with the Justice Department. A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department is on hold after a dramatic court hearing Wednesday. Noreika said she had “concerns” about the parties seemingly linking the tax plea agreement to resolving a felony gun charge. While the investigation was ongoing, Hunter Biden fully paid his federal tax bill, along with interest and penalties, his lawyers have previously said. Last month, Garland rejected claims the Justice Department improperly interfered in the Hunter Biden probe.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Hunter, Jim Jordan of, James Comer of, Jason Smith of, Hunter Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Devon Archer, “, ”, Maryellen Noreika, Noreika, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Garland Organizations: CNN, GOP, Justice Department, Republicans –, House Republicans, Justice, Trump -, White House, Department Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, Jason Smith of Missouri

☆ Opinion: The Donald Trump and Hunter Biden surprises
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

So it was remarkable Wednesday when the deal for Hunter Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanors for his failure to pay taxes on time fell apart in a federal courtroom after the judge raised questions about it. Special counsel Jack Smith unexpectedly added a major allegation to the indictment charging former President Donald Trump with mishandling classified documents. The Trump and Hunter Biden developments underlined how America’s political climate is being shaped by what happens in the courts. This addition, an alleged surveillance tape conspiracy, almost reads like a spy novel.”“It features Trump employee and co-defendant Walt Nauta’s surprise clandestine trip to Florida. To W. James Antle III, it was the Hunter Biden plea deal snafu that brought to the forefront the “powerful split screen that drives” how Republican voters see the emerging 2024 presidential race.

Persons: Robert Burns, beasties, ”, Burns, aren’t, Hunter Biden, Jack Smith, Donald Trump, ” Smith, Trump, Dana Summers, Norman Eisen, Walt Nauta’s, Nauta, De Oliveira, De Oliveria, ’, ” Eisen, James Antle III, Hunter, Joe Biden’s, Maryellen Noreika, ” “ Noreika, couldn’t, Joe Biden, wasn’t, ” Bill Bramhall, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Julian Zelizer, “, ” “, Walt Handelsman, Elon Musk’s, Twitter “, Bill Carter, it’s, … Musk, —, Musk, ” Carter, Bill McGuire, ” McGuire, Mark Wolfe, Cassandra Lovejoy, Clay Jones, David Grusch, Jason Colavito, Colavito, Barbara Lee, Abigail E, Moore, ” Lee, Michael Bociurkiw, Odesa, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Bociurkiw, “ Handshakes, ” Netanyahu Israel’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Frida Ghitis, Netanyahu, Drew Sheneman, Peniel, Joseph, Kamala Harris, Sophia A, Nicole Hemmer, Patrick T, Brown, David J, Skorton, Frank R, Lisa Benson, Barbie, Dean Obeidallah, ‘, GOP Sen, Ted Cruz, Mattel, Barbie —, Greta Gerwig’s, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling —, ” Obeidallah, Taylor Swift Taylor Swift, Swift, Barbra Streisand, Margaret H, Willison, O’Connor Sinéad O'Connor, Andrew Chin, Sinéad O’Connor, Sarah Gundle, Taylor, Sinead O’Connor’s, ” Don’t, Lawrence, Kara Alaimo, Jill Filipovic, Jeff Pearlman, He’s, Catherine Steenkeste, David A, Andelman, Mort Rosenblum, who’s, he’s, ” We’ll Organizations: CNN, Mar, Trump, Justice Department, Fox, Republicans, GOP, of Justice, New York Daily, Times, Twitter, SpaceX, World Meteorological Organization, University College London, Pentagon, “, Disney, Supreme, Agency, Education, African, Trinity, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Billboard, Machine, Vogue Theatre, International Herald Tribune Locations: Scottish, Florida, Bedminster, New, California, Rhodes, Corfu, Evia, Europe, United States, Odesa, Miami, York, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Israel’s, North America, Vancouver, Canada, White, Paris, Seine, gunpoint, ”

☆ The real reason Republicans are forcing Mark Zuckerberg to turn over thousands of pages of Facebook documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Jordan, who sits atop the powerful House Judiciary Committee, has embarked on a fishing expedition at Facebook, demanding Zuckerberg turn over reams of internal documents that pertain to Meta’s content moderation decisions. In effect, Jordan is coercing Zuckerberg into turning over documents that will then be used to mendaciously smear the Meta chief’s company. Meta, for its part, had previously said it had already turned over thousands of pages of documents and was cooperating with the committee. Most news organizations gave Jordan’s “Facebook Files” entry little attention on Thursday. In this case, the awesome powers of the federal government are being weaponized to threaten Zuckerberg into handing the information over.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Mark Zuckerberg, Jordan, Zuckerberg, coercing Zuckerberg, Meta, ” Jordan, Joe Biden, ”, Hunter Biden, — Jordan, X’d, Biden, Jordan’s, Donald Trump, Federal Government — Organizations: CNN, Ohio Republican, Meta, Judiciary, Facebook, Elon, GOP, White House, White, Twitter, OF, Fox News, Federal Government Locations: Silicon, Jordan

Hunter Biden, appearing in court wearing a dark suit and sporting slicked back hair, appeared agitated and worried as the plea deal began to unravel. She said she has “concerns about the constitutionality” of the gun deal because it might violate separation of powers principles. Noreika also has the ultimate decision on what sentence Hunter Biden will receive if a plea deal is accepted or he is tried and convicted. “At least there is some scrutiny going on,” Texas Rep. Chip Roy told CNN in reaction to the Hunter Biden plea deal being refined. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio credited IRS whistleblowers critical of the investigation for the collapse of a plea deal, although the issue did not come up during a hearing.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Hunter, Maryellen Noreika –, Donald Trump, Senate Democrats –, Noreika, Hunter Biden’s, Chris Clark, FARA, ” Noreika, isn’t, –, plop, couldn’t, Judge Maryellen Noreika, Bill Hennessy, Will DOJ’s, Justice Department’s, “, Chip Roy, Delaware’s Trump, David Weiss, Jim Jordan, Weiss, Jordan Organizations: CNN, US, Senate Democrats, Justice Department, Justice, ” Texas, GOP, Committee Locations: FARA, Wilmington , Delaware, Ohio

☆ Top US Republican McCarthy ponders Biden impeachment probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"What is happening right now are the committees of jurisdiction are continuing to investigate," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters. McCarthy spoke to reporters a day before Hunter Biden was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge. Among other allegations, Republicans claim that the Justice Department intervened to restrain the Hunter Biden probe, though the Trump-appointed prosecutor in that case has said he was not constrained. House Republicans have sought to defend Trump against allegations of wrongdoing by accusing Biden of "weaponizing" the Justice Department against the leading 2024 Republican White House candidate. "There is no evidence of Joe or Hunter Biden interfering with Ukrainian politics, and there never has been," Parnas said in a July 18 letter to the House Oversight Committee.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, He's, Jean, impeaching Biden, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Trump, REBUTS, David Weiss, Weiss, Lindsey Graham, Trump's, Lev Parnas, Rudy Giuliani, Joe, Parnas, David Morgan, Steve Holland, Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Republican, U.S . Congress, Democratic, White, Justice Department, House Republicans, Trump, Republican White House, Internal Revenue, Department, New, New York City, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, New York, Ukrainian, American, Russian

This week, he delivered his most explicit threat yet to Biden, saying their investigations into the Biden family’s business deals appear to be rising to the level of an impeachment inquiry. The only way Congress can do that is go to an impeachment inquiry,” McCarthy said Tuesday, stopping short of formally moving to open such a probe. Nebraska GOP Rep. Don Bacon, whose district Biden carried in 2020, told CNN that the House needs to be deliberate. It’s not good for the country.”In the first Trump impeachment, House Democrats led a number of closed and open hearings before charging Trump with abuse of power and obstructing Congress. Comer confirmed he has been regularly briefing McCarthy on his Hunter Biden probes, which he thinks helped give McCarthy the “confidence” to publicly raise the idea of an impeachment inquiry.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Newt Gingrich, Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Donald Trump, ” McCarthy, Alejandro Mayorkas, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, Mike Johnson, we’re, ” Johnson, “, ”, Andy Ogles, coalescing, Andy Biggs, ” Biggs, we’ve, Bob Good, “ I’m, Ken Buck, Caucus hasn’t, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Williams, impeaching Biden, –, expunge, Ralph Norman, ” Norman, Don Bacon, ” Bacon, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, “ Pelosi, Trump, ” Jaime Harrison, Greene, Lauren Boebert, Boebert, ” Boebert, ” Hunter Biden, Fort, Saul Loeb, GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, Hunter, Burisma, Devon Archer, David Weiss, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Comer, it’s, can’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republicans, Biden, House Democrats, Homeland, GOP, Tennessee Republican, Caucus, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Arizona, ”, Virginia Republican, Georgia Republican, Capitol, Firebrand, South Carolina Republican, Nebraska GOP, Trump, Democrat, Democratic National Party, GOP Rep, Fort McNair, Getty, Iowa, FBI, Justice Department, Hunter Biden, Congress, House Republicans, firebrand Locations: Louisiana, Trump, Ken Buck of Colorado, Georgia, Colorado, Washington ,

☆ Kevin McCarthy makes most direct impeachment threat against Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jedd Rosche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested that House Republicans may be approaching the point where they’d pursue an impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden, the California Republican’s most explicit threat of impeaching the president to date. McCarthy’s comments come amid a series of congressional investigations in the Republican-led House that have targeted Biden, his administration and his family members – most prominently his son Hunter. Hunter Biden has agreed to plead guilty to two federal tax misdemeanors as part of a plea deal. House Republicans have also floated possible impeachment inquiries against Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republican allegations of political interference in the Hunter Biden probe have been met with adamant denials from Weiss, Garland and other top Justice Department officials who were involved.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, “ We’ve, Hannity, ” McCarthy, Fox News ’ Sean Hannity, McCarthy’s, Biden, –, Hunter, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, “, ”, Ian Sams, Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas, Lauren Boebert, impeaching Biden, McCarthy, Jim Jordan of Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Fox News, Republican, House Republicans, Hunter Biden, GOP, Homeland, Trump, Justice Department, Committee, GOP Rep Locations: California, Colorado, Jim Jordan of Ohio

☆ WSJ Opinion: Justice and The Hunter Biden Whistleblowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Wsj Opinion | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WSJ Opinion: Cluster Bombs, Vilnius, and the NATO Leadership Review and Outlook: As the U.S. announces cluster bombs will be included in its $800 million package of military aid to Ukraine, a revived NATO comes to Vilnius with uncertainty surrounding the future leadership. Images: AP/Zuma Press Composite: Mark Kelly

Persons: Mark Kelly Organizations: NATO, Zuma Locations: Vilnius, Ukraine, NATO

☆ The Hunter Biden Whistleblowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Credible IRS whistleblowers are accusing the Justice Department of blocking investigators in the Hunter Biden probe from following leads that involved President Biden. Images: AP/Zuma Press/The News Journal Composite: Mark KellyWith each day it’s getting harder to believe Attorney General Merrick Garland ’s insistence that there was no interference in the Hunter Biden case. A month ago President Biden’s son was given a deal on tax and gun charges that probably means no prison time. Now comes Wednesday’s testimony by two IRS whistleblowers, who say their attempt to investigate Hunter faced unprecedented meddling.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden, Mark Kelly, Merrick Garland ’, Biden’s, Hunter Organizations: Department, Zuma Press

Trump spoke Tuesday with both House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who leads the House GOP’s messaging efforts, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversation. Firebrand GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has previously called for similar action. Despite Trump facing the potential of a third criminal indictment, several House Republicans made clear they would support the former president no matter what. “Donald Trump’s the leader of our party, and Donald Trump is going to be Joe Biden in 2024 for a second time.”Nehls accused the “far left” of having a “severe crush on this guy.”“They have a crush on Donald Trump. Because Donald Trump will win in 2024 and the left just they’re scared shitless,” he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Elise Stefanik, ”, Jack Smith, McCarthy, Stefanik, Smith, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Gaetz, Byron Donalds of, Smith “, Jim Jordan, they’ve, Jordan, There’s, Joe Biden, Hunter, Merrick Garland, David Weiss, Marc Molinaro, “ We’re, I’ve, “, Mitch McConnell –, –, McConnell, Troy Nehls, ” Nehls, “ Donald Trump’s, shitless, Tim Burchett, he’s, ” Burchett, Ralph Norman of, ” Norman, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, House GOP, GOP, Trump, Capitol, Firebrand, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Representatives, Caucus, Department of Justice, Democratic, Justice Department, Hunter Biden, Republicans, Republican, Texas Rep, Tennessee, DOJ Locations: strategize, Manhattan, Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, New York, Ralph Norman of South Carolina

CNN —House Republicans unloaded a barrage of criticism directed toward FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday, outlining a litany of complaints while Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman Jim Jordan opened the hearing launching into a wide array of attacks on the FBI. “House Republicans will attack the FBI for having had the audacity to treat Donald Trump like any other citizen. FBI Director Christopher Wray is sworn in prior to testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “We did stand up a whole dedicated unit to focus on threats to FBI, individuals, FBI employees and FBI facilities because of the uptick that we saw over that time period,” Wray said.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Jim Jordan, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “, ”, Matt Gaetz, ” Wray, ” Gaetz, Edgar Hoover, Gaetz, Jonathan Ernst, ’ Wray, Trump . Jordan, Jordan, Jerry Nadler, ” Nadler, Saul Loeb, –, John Durham, Biden, Hunter, ” that’s, ” Jordan, Thomas Massie, Massie, Nadler, Jack Smith’s, – Wray Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, FBI, Catholic Church, Florida Republican, Reuters, GOP, Foreign Intelligence, Republican, Trump ., Ohio Republican, Republicans, Trump, DOJ, FISA, “, White, ” New York Rep, ”, Committee, Getty, CNN, US State Department, Biden, White House, Democratic National Committee, Capitol, Trump’s Locations: Richmond, Florida, Washington , DC, Ohio, United States, Russia, Durham, Ukrainian, Louisiana, Kentucky, Lago, Mar

☆ FBI chief Wray defends against US House Republicans' accusations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wray appeared before the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee panel for the first time since former President Donald Trump was indicted for retaining highly classified documents and obstructing justice. Republicans have repeatedly accused the FBI and other federal agencies of "weaponizing" their law enforcement and regulatory powers to silence critics on the right, target political enemies and protect political allies. House Republicans have claimed without evidence that the documents case against Trump is politically motivated. "Absolutely not," replied Wray, a fellow Republican who has increasingly become the target of Republicans' wrath. "The idea that I am biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background," Wray said.

Persons: Chris Way, Hunter Biden, Wray, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Hunter, General Merrick Garland, Christopher Wray, Jonathan Ernst, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Terry Doughty, Biden, Sarah N, Lynch, Scott Malone, Susan Heavey Organizations: Republicans, Republican, House, FBI, House Republicans, Trump, U.S, Federal Bureau of, Capitol, REUTERS, District, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana, Missouri, U.S

☆ The G.O.P. Backed Him on Hunter Biden Claims. Now He Has Been Indicted.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Glenn Thrush | More About Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Luft has denied any wrongdoing, and claims he only became a subject of Justice Department scrutiny after discussing the Hunter Biden investigation with prosecutors who met with him in Belgium in 2019. But prosecutors painted a portrait of Mr. Luft, who split his time between Israel and Washington, as an unscrupulous political fixer working for China who made much of his cash as a back-channel arms and oil broker. He told an associate that the unwillingness of U.S. officials to sell weapons to Kenya provided them with an “opportunity” for profit, prosecutors said. In one instance, Mr. Luft received a letter telling him explicitly that a shipment of the oil was Iranian but that it should be “be presented as U.A.E. origin without Iranian papers,” according to the filing.

Persons: Luft, Hunter Biden, Mr Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Institute, Global Security, Justice Department Locations: Belgium, Israel, Washington, China, Libya, Kenya, Iran, Gaithersburg, Md, Beijing

☆ Hunter Biden prosecutor says Justice Dept didn't interfere in probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I have not requested Special Counsel designation," wrote Weiss, who was appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. Weiss' office last month revealed that it was charging Hunter Biden with two misdemeanor tax charges, to which the president's son is expected to plead guilty later this month. Hunter Biden also has agreed to enter into a pretrial diversion program to avoid facing a more serious felony count of possessing a firearm while he was using illegal drugs. Their criticism has been fueled in part by claims from Gary Shapley, an IRS criminal supervisory agent who worked on the Hunter Biden investigation. Hunter Biden's attorney has also denied that his client received any special treatment.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Hunter, David Weiss, Lindsey Graham, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, Weiss, Donald Trump, Gary Shapley, Shapley, Trump, Garland, Sarah N, Lynch, Scott Malone, Peter Graff Organizations: U.S, Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service, Delaware U.S, Republican, Attorney, D.C, Thomson Locations: Delaware, Washington, California

The U.S. attorney in Delaware denied retaliating against an I.R.S. official who had disclosed details of the Hunter Biden investigation, and denied being blocked from pursuing serious charges against Mr. Biden, the president’s son, in Los Angeles and Washington. David C. Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald J. Trump held over by the Biden administration, defended the integrity of his investigation in a two-page letter sent to House Republicans late Friday, in which he provided the most detailed explanation yet of the five-year probe that culminated in a plea agreement last month that would rule out prison time for Mr. Biden, who was facing misdemeanor tax charges and a separate gun charge. The Department of Justice “did not retaliate” against Gary Shapley, who claims Mr. Weiss helped block a promotion he had sought after reaching out to congressional investigators, Mr. Weiss wrote in the letter to Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Mr. Weiss went on to address, in hypothetical terms, the core of Mr. Shapley’s allegations: that Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys in California and Washington had blocked Mr. Weiss from prosecuting Hunter Biden on felony tax charges during a period when the president’s youngest son was earning millions representing foreign-controlled businesses.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Mr, Biden, David C, Weiss, Donald J, Trump, Justice “, Gary Shapley, Jim Jordan of Organizations: House Republicans, Justice Locations: Delaware, Los Angeles, Washington, Jim Jordan of Ohio, California

☆ US attorney investigating Hunter Biden defends probe in letter to House Judiciary panel
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Sara Murray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

If not, I may request Special Attorney status from the Attorney General,” Weiss wrote to the House Judiciary Committee on Friday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy recently suggested the House chamber could open an impeachment inquiry into Garland over the IRS agents’ allegations. Weiss added that he would not provide the committee with additional information about the Hunter Biden case while it is being prosecuted. Hunter Biden is set to formally plead guilty in federal court in Delaware on July 26. “Thus, I will not provide specific information related to the Hunter Biden investigation at this time.”

Persons: CNN — David Weiss, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, Gary Shapley, Merrick Garland, Weiss, ” Weiss, ” Hunter, Kevin McCarthy, Garland, Tristan Leavitt, Shapley, Weiss “, ” Organizations: CNN, IRS, Central, Central District of, U.S, Attorney, District of, States Attorney’s Office, Republicans, Justice Department, Twitter Locations: Delaware, – Washington, Central District, Central District of California, District of Delaware, “, Weiss ’

☆ House Republicans Summon Officials to Testify About Hunter Biden Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Shapley provided emails and messages to support crucial portions of his account, which was backed up by a second I.R.S. The New York Times has also independently confirmed a key allegation made by Mr. Shapley: that prosecutors in California denied a request from Mr. Weiss to pursue charges against Hunter Biden in that state. He also denied that the elder Mr. Biden or his staff “in any way” assisted Mr. Zlochevsky. Republicans produced no proof that the elder Mr. Biden accepted payments from foreign businesses or that he took any action as a result of Hunter Biden’s overseas work. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has pledged to add Mr. Garland to the list if Republicans determine that he lied about Mr. Weiss’s authority in the Hunter Biden investigation.

Persons: Gary Shapley, Hunter Biden, Shapley, Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Mr . Shapley, Weiss, General Merrick B, Garland, —, Hunter, Donald J, Rudolph W, Giuliani, Mykola Zlochevsky, Burisma, ”, Zlochevsky, Kevin McCarthy, ” Mr, McCarthy, Merrick Garland Organizations: Republicans, Mr, Justice Department, New York Times, House Republicans, Trump, Democrats, What’s, Biden, Twitter Locations: California

☆ Competing Accounts of Justice Dept.’s Handling of Hunter Biden Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Glenn Thrush | Michael S. Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At a Senate hearing in March, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, spent seven minutes grilling Attorney General Merrick B. Garland about the Hunter Biden investigation, reading a series of unusually specific queries from a paper in his hands. Did David C. Weiss, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Delaware kept on under Mr. Garland to continue overseeing the inquiry, have full authority to bring charges against President Biden’s son in California and Washington if he wanted to? Had Mr. Weiss ever asked to be made a special counsel? official, Gary Shapley, oversaw the agency’s role in the investigation of Mr. Biden’s taxes and says his criticism of the Justice Department led to him being denied a promotion. He told the House Ways and Means Committee that Mr. Weiss had been rebuffed by top federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and Washington when he had raised the prospect of pursuing charges against the president’s son in those jurisdictions.

Persons: Charles E, Grassley, Merrick B, Garland, Hunter Biden, David C, Weiss, Biden’s, Gary Shapley Organizations: Republican, Trump, Republicans, Internal Revenue, Justice Department Locations: Iowa, Delaware, California, Washington, Los Angeles

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