Hunter Biden prosecutor faced no political pressure in probe, he tells
lawmakers
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[November 08, 2023]
By Makini Brice and Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, who is leading
the probe into President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, told the
Republican-led House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that he faced no
political interference in a nearly seven-hour interview, contradicting
earlier whistleblower testimony.
Weiss has charged Hunter Biden, 53, with crimes related to owning a
firearm while using illegal drugs. The president's son has said he
struggled with addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine.
House Republicans allege the Justice Department improperly interfered
with the investigation of Hunter Biden, whose brushes with the law are a
central focus of their impeachment inquiry into the president. The White
House has denied wrongdoing. Democrats say the impeachment inquiry is
politically motivated.
"Throughout this investigation, the career prosecutors on my team and I
have made decisions based on the facts and the law," Weiss said during
testimony behind closed doors, according to a statement. "Political
considerations played no part in our decision-making."
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Weiss, the first special counsel to testify in Congress before his final
report is completed, pushed back against comments by two Internal
Revenue Service whistleblowers, who say he told officials at a meeting
that he did not have final authority on deciding to bring charges as
part of his probe.
Weiss told lawmakers he has had and continues to have full authority
over his investigation.
In keeping with Justice Department policy, Weiss would not address
specifics about his probe.
"Mr. Weiss reflected on his authorities, but then when we asked about
the influences on those authorities - were there emails or meetings
where people tried to move him in one direction or another? - he was
entirely recalcitrant," Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz told reporters.
Democrats participating in the interview sharply criticized it, saying
Republicans' questions were misleading and labeling the meeting a waste
of time.
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![](../images/110823PIX/news_v21.jpg)
U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, arrives to appear in a
federal court on gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., October
3, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File photo
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At least 10 current and former officials from the FBI, IRS and
Justice Department have testified behind closed doors as part of
lawmakers' inquiry. Attorney General Merrick Garland also testified
before the House Judiciary Committee in a public hearing in
September.
The impeachment inquiry has been cheered on by Republican former
President Donald Trump, who is the frontrunner for the Republican
presidential nomination to take on Biden again in the 2024 election.
Trump was also the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. The
Senate acquitted him both times.
Trump is facing four criminal indictments for charges related to his
business activities, mishandling of classified documents and attempt
to overturn the 2020 election.
It is not clear if the full House of Representatives, controlled by
a narrow 221-212 Republican majority, would support impeaching
Biden.
Democratic lawmaker Glenn Ivey said the beginning of the testimony
had mostly centered on letters between Weiss and lawmakers, and
noted that the interview was unprecedented.
"The irony is they're always pushing to prosecute Hunter Biden, but
this is the kind of stuff that could derail or cause problems for
it," Ivey told reporters.
Originally nominated during Trump's administration, Weiss was
allowed to remain in place under Biden.
(Reporting by Makini Brice and Andrew Goudsward; additional
reporting by David Morgan and Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott
Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
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