U.S. Treasury tells Republican that committee request needed for Hunter
Biden data
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[September 03, 2022]
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Treasury on
Friday issued a formal response to a Republican lawmaker who has been
requesting financial "suspicious activity reports" on President Joe
Biden's son Hunter, saying that it would consider only official requests
from relevant congressional committees.
Democrats control Congress and its committees, making such a request
from Republicans virtually impossible, though mid-term congressional
elections could shift control. The request to Treasury was made under
the Bank Secrecy Act which is intended to help prevent money laundering.
Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the top Republican on the House
Oversight and Reform Committee, has accused the Treasury of changing
rules to shield Hunter Biden's business dealings with foreign companies.
Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made
Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack
against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Hunter Biden
has denied any wrongdoing.
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In July, Comer said Treasury officials had told the committee's
Republican staff that the department would not provide access to the
suspicious activity reports unless Democrats join the request.
Suspicious activity reports are filed by financial institutions when
clients make large cash transactions or transfers above $5,000 that
could signal money laundering or other offenses, although many such
transactions are legitimate.
In a letter to Comer seen by Reuters, the Treasury said such reports are
normally kept confidential but that it complies with current statutes
and regulations on providing requested information to Congress. Such
access would require written requests from committees, but Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen has the final say.
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![](../images/090322PIX/news_r97.jpg)
U.S. President Joe Biden and his son
Hunter Biden depart from Holy Spirit Catholic Church after attending
Mass on St. Johns Island, South Carolina, U.S., August 13, 2022.
REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
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"Under the current regulation, the Secretary may make BSA
information available to 'Congress, or any committee or subcommittee
thereof, upon a written request stating the particular information
desired, the criminal, tax or regulatory purpose for which the
information is sought, and the official need for the information,'"
the Treasury wrote. "These decisions are entrusted to the
Secretary's discretion."
A spokesperson for Comer could not immediately be reached for
comment.
Treasury said a requesting committee should provide a detailed
statement of purpose for seeking the information to ensure that it
meets Bank Secrecy Act purposes and protecting law enforcement
investigations.
"It is not a political process," a Treasury official said in a
statement. "Since the beginning of this Administration, Treasury has
made SARs available in response to authorized committee requests and
continues to engage on the process with any individual members
seeking information."
Similar notices have previously been sent to Democratic lawmakers
requesting suspicious activity reports.
While House Republicans currently in the minority do not have
authority to make formal committee requests for such reports,
including for Hunter Biden, the tide could shift if they win control
of the House in November congressional elections.
The Treasury said that when it approves requests for Bank Secrecy
Act information to any authorized party, it is provided only in
secure reading rooms that are meant to keep the information
confidential.
(Reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis
and William Mallard)
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