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House Republicans issued subpoenas Monday ordering testimony from four FBI and IRS employees who lawmakers believe can sort through the political machinations that led to a no-jail plea deal for Hunter Biden.
Republicans said the four employees can shed light on whether the Justice Department constrained David Weiss, the U.S. attorney charged with investigating the president’s son.
In particular, they were all supposed to be aware of an Oct. 7, 2022, meeting during which Mr. Weiss may have indicated he was being blocked from pursuing the kind of case he wanted.
The subpoenas went to Michael T. Batdorf, the director of field operations at the IRS; Darrell J. Waldon, an IRS special agent in charge; and Thomas J. Sobocinski and Ryeshia Holley, both FBI special agents in charge.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said the IRS and Justice Department have refused requests to have the four people come in voluntarily.
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“Unfortunately, the Biden administration has consistently stonewalled Congress,” the chairmen said. “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and our subpoenas compelling testimony from Biden administration officials are crucial to understanding how the president’s son received special treatment from federal prosecutors and who was the ultimate decision maker in the case.”
Republicans say Hunter Biden made millions of dollars from foreign companies under shady circumstances, offering little of value other than his connection to his father.
The president has denied involvement in his son’s business affairs, though a former business partner of Hunter Biden has said his father was part of phone calls and at least some in-person dinner meetings with foreign executives involved in the dealings.
Democrats have said the Republican’s pursuit of Hunter Biden is an attempt to sully the president. They say President Biden has not been tied to any personal financial gain from his son’s activities.
Mr. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, has become the center of scrutiny. Republicans say Hunter Biden has received special treatment.
Two IRS agents testified to Congress that Mr. Weiss had planned to bring an array of cases against the president’s son, but he was stymied by internal Justice Department wrangling.
The two IRS agents who testified said their investigation into Hunter was plagued by decisions that seemed to shield him. At one point, higher-ups tipped Hunter Biden off about a looming interview with investigators, giving him a chance to lawyer up.
Attorney General Merrick Garland previously said publicly that Mr. Weiss had the “ultimate” ability to make decisions in the case. Yet as questions mounted about that assurance, Mr. Garland this month elevated Mr. Weiss to the status of a special counsel, giving him that freedom.
Republican critics say the move, after Mr. Weiss already worked out a plea deal, seems more about covering up bungling than about empowering the prosecutor.
Under the deal, Hunter Biden would have pleaded guilty to two tax misdemeanors and enter into a diversionary agreement to avoid a felony gun charge. It fell apart after a bizarre court appearance last month in which a judge said the arrangement seemed unconstitutional.
The Republican chairmen said Mr. Weiss, since being named special counsel, has taken a more aggressive approach and now wants to bring charges in California or Washington rather than Delaware. He also says the case can’t be resolved through a plea deal.
The reversal has raised more questions.
“The decision to grant Weiss special counsel status, especially in light of his handling of the case to date and his inconsistent statements to Congress about his authority, raises serious questions about the Department’s handling of this investigation, and reinforces the Committee’s need to speak with individuals with knowledge of the investigation,” the chairmen said.
The power to subpoena had generally been denied to Republicans over the past two years. They lacked control of either chamber of Congress.
Now with a majority in the House, Republicans have been flexing that power.
The House Homeland Security Committee issued its subpoena Monday to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding that he turn over documents about use of his “parole” power to let in migrants who lack a visa or other permission for lawful entry.
Rep. Mark Green, Tennessee Republican and the panel chairman, said the data is months overdue and the department has been giving his staff the runaround on when it might be produced, so he had to resort to the compulsory method.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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