Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss has countered allegations made by whistleblowers, asserting he possessed full authority in the Hunter Biden investigation and wasn't hindered by political interference. Weiss's statement comes in response to claims he was "hamstrung" in making prosecutorial decisions and denied special counsel status.
Weiss, appointed by former President Trump, affirmed his control over where, when, and whether to file charges in the case, directly refuting the whistleblowers' accounts. He explained that while his charging authority is geographically limited to Delaware, standard Department of Justice procedure involves collaboration with other U.S. Attorney's Offices if a case falls under a different jurisdiction. Weiss emphasized he received assurances of being granted special attorney status if needed in other districts, such as the District of Columbia or the Central District of California.
The backdrop to this exchange is Hunter Biden's plea agreement, announced last month, involving two misdemeanor tax charges and a firearm possession charge. Hunter Biden's initial court appearance is scheduled for July 26th.
One of the key whistleblowers, Gary Shapley Jr., who spearheaded the IRS involvement in the investigation, testified before the House Ways and Means Committee. Shapley contended that Weiss lacked independent charging power and was consistently constrained by DOJ officials. Weiss has denied these claims, reiterating his authority in the matter.
Weiss also addressed allegations of retaliation against the whistleblowers, stating that the Department of Justice took no retaliatory actions for their disclosures to Congress. He has expressed willingness to engage with the House Judiciary Committee to provide further details and answer questions, subject to legal and departmental policy constraints.
This development follows requests from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith for transcribed interviews with Weiss and other officials. These requests relate to broader concerns about potential politicization and misconduct within federal agencies during the Hunter Biden investigation.
