Following Hunter Biden's plea agreement on two misdemeanor tax charges and a pretrial diversion agreement for a firearm possession charge, former Attorney General William Barr emphasized the increased importance of the Justice Department disclosing a document alleging a criminal bribery scheme involving President Biden. Barr advocates for cooperation with House Republicans demanding the release of the FD-1023 form, provided measures are taken to protect the source's safety.
Barr highlighted the public's need for reassurance that investigations concerning the Bidens are being conducted with the same rigor as the case against former President Trump, especially given recent whistleblower allegations suggesting potential interference in the Delaware investigation. He believes Attorney General Garland should take swift action to address these concerns.
The FD-1023 document, dated June 30, 2020, details an alleged $5 million payment to Joe Biden from a Burisma executive, purportedly part of a bribery scheme involving influence over U.S. policy. While the House Oversight Committee has reviewed a redacted version, Republicans are pushing for full disclosure. Barr suggests providing the document to Chairman Comer and supporting senators, with necessary precautions to protect the source.
Barr confirmed the document's review during his tenure and its routing to U.S. Attorney Weiss in Delaware, who is leading the Hunter Biden probe. He expressed concern over alleged attempts to dismiss the allegations within the FBI. While acknowledging the DOJ's policy against sharing such reports, Barr believes the unique circumstances warrant transparency. He draws parallels to Congressional investigations into Russian collusion claims, emphasizing the potential benefits of allowing scrutiny of the document. Barr believes that protecting sources is paramount while balancing the public interest.
