Two IRS whistleblowers, including a 13-year veteran special agent whose identity will be revealed during the proceedings, are set to testify before Congress regarding alleged political interference in the Hunter Biden investigation. They claim a pattern of deliberate delays and obstruction hampered their efforts. This includes being instructed to avoid contacting Hunter Biden at his home, tipping off the president's son and his associates about the investigation, and postponing enforcement actions leading up to the 2020 election.
The whistleblowers' testimony comes as House Republicans intensify their scrutiny of President Biden and his family, following the Justice Department's failure to uncover evidence of criminal wrongdoing. The hearing, a joint effort of the House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees, promises to be a closely watched event. The two IRS agents were central to the federal investigation into Hunter Biden's tax and gun charges, which concluded with a plea deal that drew criticism from Republicans.
One of the whistleblowers, in a pre-released statement, expressed his commitment to revealing the truth and exposing systemic issues within the federal legal system. He emphasized his desire for accountability and reform, asserting the public's right to know the truth regardless of political implications.
The House Ways and Means Committee has already released substantial testimony from these IRS agents, detailing numerous obstacles encountered during the investigation. These included difficulties in interviewing key individuals and executing search warrants. One specific incident involved a search warrant for a Virginia storage unit containing Hunter Biden's documents. The whistleblower alleges that advance notice given to Hunter Biden's legal team compromised their ability to secure potential evidence.
Furthermore, it's alleged that the lead prosecutor, U.S. Attorney David Weiss, requested special counsel status to expand the tax case beyond Delaware, a request purportedly denied by the Justice Department. Both Weiss and the Justice Department have disputed this claim. The second whistleblower, who initiated the Hunter Biden investigation back in 2015, has voiced long-standing frustrations with the case's handling, even under the previous Trump administration.
Republican leaders have characterized the Justice Department as riddled with political bias and criticized Hunter Biden's plea agreement as overly lenient. While the Justice Department has acknowledged some of the whistleblowers' accounts, they largely refute the allegations, citing common disagreements within investigations and the unique challenges of investigating a presidential candidate's family member. Department policy also cautions against charging politically sensitive cases near elections to avoid influencing the outcome. House Democrats have defended the Justice Department, highlighting Weiss's appointment by former President Trump and the investigation's origins during the Trump administration. Hunter Biden's plea hearing is scheduled for the following week.
