Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz directly questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has “told President [Joe] Biden to knock it off with Hunter [Biden]” in a Wednesday hearing.
Gaetz pressed Garland on his involvement with the investigations of Hunter Biden by U.S. District Attorney of Delaware David Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, according to the House Judiciary Committee hearing. The congressman asked whether anyone at the DOJ has advised Biden to distance himself from his troubled son.
“I guess I’m just wondering Mr. Attorney General, has anyone at the Department told President Biden to knock it off with Hunter? I mean you guys are charging Hunter Biden on some crimes, investigating him on others. You’ve got the president bringing Hunter Biden around to state dinners. Has anyone told him to knock it off?” asked Gaetz.
“Our job in the Justice Department is to pursue our cases without reference to what’s happening in the outside world,” answered Garland.
“Just yes or no, have you done that?” said Gaetz.
“And that is what we —” said Garland.
“So that’s a no?” asked Gaetz.
“No one that I know of has spoken to the White House about the Hunter Biden case, of course not,” said Garland.
Gaetz then pressed the attorney general on Hunter selling art, and whether buyers might be “trying to gain favor with the president,” according to the hearing. The congressman then asked Garland about how the president’s son allegedly sold“the appearance of access to then-Vice President Biden,” and whether Hunter has continued to do so.
Garland maintained that he hasn’t and doesn’t intend to interfere with Weiss’ investigations into the president’s son.
The attorney general appointed Weiss as special counsel on Aug. 11 to continue investigating Hunter. Weiss allegedly informed lawmakers last fall that he didn’t have ultimate authority when it came to bringing charges against the president’s son, according to an email presented by IRS Whistleblower Gary Shapley.
Shapley alleged that the DOJ was slowing down the process and obstructing the investigation into Hunter. The president’s son entered into a deal to avoid jail time when charged with two tax misdemeanors and one gun felony, which later collapsed when Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned the immunity provision.
Weiss indicted Hunter on Sept. 14 on three gun charges for allegedly providing false statements and knowingly possessing a firearm when under the influence of drugs.
“It’s like you’re looking the other way on purpose, because everybody knows this stuff is happening,” said Gaetz.
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