Transcripts reveal extensive misconduct claims by two IRS whistleblowers in the Hunter Biden tax investigation

Two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have made allegations of widespread misconduct, including interference in the tax investigation of Hunter Biden. This information comes from the chairman of the GOP House Ways and Means Committee and transcripts of interviews conducted by Congress with the whistleblowers. Earlier this week, Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges related to his failure to pay taxes on over $3 million in income. The plea deal was made with Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and continues to oversee the investigation under the current administration. The agreement must be approved by a Delaware judge at a hearing scheduled for July 26. According to IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, the findings of the IRS supported more severe penalties for Hunter Biden, including felony tax evasion charges and false tax return charges for multiple tax years. Chairman Jason Smith of the House Ways and Means Committee revealed that the released testimony highlights a lack of independence on the part of U.S. Attorney David Weiss, along with unjustified delays and unusual actions during the investigation. Smith claimed that Weiss attempted to bring charges in different districts but was denied each time. Weiss, however, stated in a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan that he has ultimate authority over the matter and that his decisions are made without political considerations. The Justice Department also confirmed that Weiss has full authority over the charging decisions and requires no further approval.

House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Democrat Richard Neal criticized the released interview transcripts, stating that two interviews are not sufficient for a proper investigation when there are more than 50 employees involved. Neal called the release premature and accused the investigation of being an abuse of power. Attorney General Merrick Garland, after Hunter Biden’s plea deal, reiterated that the Justice Department leadership had no role in the charging decision and that it was left in the hands of U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by former President Trump. Since gaining the majority in the House, Republican members of Congress have focused their investigations on Hunter Biden’s business deals, even dating back to his father’s time as vice president. During the presidential campaign, Joe Biden maintained that he was not involved in his son’s business dealings, and the White House continues to deny any connection. Congressional Republicans are particularly interested in an email from Hunter Biden that suggested a deal with a Chinese energy company and included a reference to “the big guy,” which they claim is referencing Joe Biden. The transcripts revealed that a senior prosecutor working for Weiss blocked further investigation into the references to “dad” and “the big guy.” James Gilliar, the author of the email, previously denied Joe Biden’s involvement. Hunter Biden’s legal team did not respond to requests for comment. Shapley, in his statement, called for further examination of the facts by interviewing other witnesses and reviewing documents to fully understand the investigation. The White House reiterated that President Biden has not been involved in the investigation and that it is being handled independently by U.S. Attorney Weiss.

This content was written by Catherine Herridge, a senior investigative correspondent for CBS News, covering national security and intelligence based in Washington, D.C.