Handwritten notes from IRS agent Gary Shapley seem to support his congressional testimony that U.S. Attorney David Weiss felt he lacked final say in investigations of Hunter Biden, according to a Politico report.
Shapley’s notes from an October 7, 2022, meeting between FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents indicate Weiss stated “He is not the deciding person.”
This revelation adds another layer to the ongoing debate about whether political considerations have influenced the probe into the president’s son. It contradicts accounts of an IRS whistleblower, who said differently.
David Weiss also countered Shapley’s claims, asserting to lawmakers that he was “never…denied the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction.”
Empower Oversight, a nonprofit organization with ties to former staffers of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), reportedly made the notes available to Politico.
It also shared a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, which is currently examining the Biden family.
The notes from the October 7 meeting are significant, as they are the first written records from a participant to be publicly disclosed.
Two other law enforcement officials present at the meeting told lawmakers their recollection of the meeting does not align with Shapley’s, the report noted.
The notes also touch upon discussions related to the possibility of charging Hunter Biden with tax crimes outside of Delaware.
“USA CA [U.S. Attorney, California Martin] Estrada in charge of authorizing those charges in that jurisdiction” and “Weiss requested Special Counsel status in D.C. Main DOJ said ‘NO’ – follow the process,” were noted by Shapley.
The Washington Post reported Thomas Sobocinski, an FBI agent involved in the investigation, told congressional investigators he did not recall Weiss expressing limitations on his authority during the October 7 meeting.
Another FBI agent present at the meeting shared a similar sentiment, stating she did not remember Weiss making such a comment, according to the report.
Earlier this year, Hunter Biden and his legal team had negotiated a plea deal with the Department of Justice, where he would admit to intentionally not paying his taxes for the years 2017 and 2018.
That deal fell apart after Judge Maryellen Noreika objected to the sweetheart deal for the president’s son, explaining she would not act as a rubber stamp for the DOJ.
Prosecutors have since expressed their intention to charge Biden with tax-related offenses either in California or D.C.
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