The corruption just keeps getting deeper. Records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) indicate that one of the federal prosecutors involved in the investigation of Hunter Biden’s alleged tax fraud had made donations to President Joe Biden, while the other prosecutor had made contributions to Vice President Kamala Harris when they were in the private sector. Both attorneys were later appointed by the Biden administration to their current position.
Former President Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss oversaw the DOJ’s investigation into Hunter Biden and asked two other U.S. Attorneys in the Central District of California and the District of Columbia to pursue tax charges against Hunter Biden. However, Weiss’s requests were rejected by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada, both appointed by President Biden. Weiss subsequently requested special counsel authority, which Attorney General Merrick Garland also denied.
According to testimony from IRS Whistleblower Gary Shapley, the alleged tax evasion by Hunter Biden from 2014-2015 needed to be charged in the District of Columbia before the statute of limitations expired. However, Shapley was informed by U.S. Attorney Weiss that the D.C. U.S. Attorney would not allow the charges to be filed in his district. Shapley further stated that the exclusion of these years prevented the prosecution of significant criminal conduct and concealed important facts, including foreign income from Burisma and a scheme to evade taxes through a partnership with a convicted felon, as well as potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in 2014 and 2015.
The Biden administration nominated U.S. Attorney Graves, who had previously worked at the law firm DLA Piper, where he donated to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. He joined the Fraud and Corruption unit in the U.S. Attorney’s office before being promoted to Acting Chief in 2015.
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney Estrada, also nominated by President Biden, became a U.S. Attorney shortly before the case against Hunter Biden was presented in California’s Central District. The case agent and Shapley requested to participate in the presentation but were denied. Estrada had previously worked at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP and donated to Kamala Harris’ campaign for the Senate in 2015.
The charges against Hunter Biden, which included tax avoidance and felony gun possession, were announced on June 20, and he pleaded guilty, avoiding jail time in what many consider a sweetheart deal. U.S. Attorney Weiss stated that the investigation into Hunter Biden was ongoing despite the charges.
Shapley’s IRS testimony raised concerns about Attorney General Garland potentially providing false information under oath regarding the Hunter Biden investigation. It revealed that the FBI was aware of the authenticity of Hunter Biden’s laptop in 2019. Shapley also mentioned a threatening text allegedly sent by Hunter Biden to a Chinese business executive, accusing the DOJ of delaying the investigation and claiming that Joe Biden was present at the time.
House Republicans on the Judiciary, Oversight, and Ways and Means committees have requested testimonies from U.S. Attorneys Weiss, Graves, Estrada, and other DOJ attorneys regarding the Hunter Biden investigation.