Two U.S. Attorneys who allegedly blocked the indictment of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter reportedly donated to major Democratic candidates, potentially expanding the impact of testimony by two IRS whistleblowers.
IRS employee Gary Shapley testified that U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves and U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California E. Martin Estrada interfered with the investigation of U.S. Attorney David Weiss into Hunter Biden’s activities.
Public records show that Graves donated $1,500 to Biden’s 2020 campaign. Similarly, Federal Election Commission data indicate that Graves donated $500 to the 2016 senate campaign of future Vice President Kamala Harris.
Weiss’ recommendations that Biden be indicted on tax charges were rejected by the Department of Justice (DOJ) officials.
According to Shapley’s testimony, Graves’ refusal led to concerns about the ability to bring charges.
“That process meant no charges would ever be brought in the District of Columbia, where the statute of limitations on the 2014 and ’15 charges would eventually expire,” he said.
The period in question includes Hunter Biden’s time on the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, earning about $1 million per year. The company is at the center of allegations regarding possible bribes paid to both Joe and Hunter Biden.
Furthermore, Shapley asserts that Weiss requested the utilization of a special counsel after each rejection, but this was denied by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
NYT buries in the 21st paragraph that it has an independent source who confirms the two IRS whistleblowers' claim that David Weiss said he was blocked from bringing charges against Hunter Biden in California. https://t.co/nH55AVQAJq pic.twitter.com/wSPKT4aiMG
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) June 27, 2023
Garland rejected accusations that the DOJ interfered with the investigation.
“I don’t know how it would be possible for anybody to block him for bringing a prosecution given that he has that authority,” he said last week. “He was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own.”
A number of congressional Republicans have called for an impeachment probe into the attorney general following Shapley’s statements, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
When asked about possible impeachment proceedings last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that if the IRS whistleblower’s testimony is verified, then the House Republicans would “start impeachment inquiries on the attorney general.”
