Republicans running the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Hunter Biden claim an FBI agent has confirmed allegations that Hunter had been given favorable treatment by investigators.
The Committee is looking into whether investigators delving into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs and his lying about drug use on a gun permit gave the 53-year-old preferential treatment.
Two IRS whistleblowers – one anonymous, the other named Gary Shapley – have claimed that Hunter Biden was treated more leniently than ordinary Americans.
On Monday, the Committee said in a lengthy tweet that a FBI agent who worked on the case agreed with Shapley that Hunter was given favorable treatment.
‘The agent’s testimony is sickening and reveals the lengths to which the DOJ is willing to go to cover up for the Bidens,’ the Committee tweeted.
Democrats were quick to dismiss the agent’s claim, saying it was common for the FBI and DOJ to disagree about how to proceed with an investigation.
Shapley and his colleague said there had been a pattern of ‘slow-walking investigative steps’ and delaying enforcement actions in the months before the 2020 election, won by Joe Biden.
It is unclear whether the conflict they describe amounts to internal disagreement about how to pursue the investigation or a pattern of interference and preferential treatment.
Department policy has long warned prosecutors to take care in charging cases with potential political overtones around the time of an election, to avoid influencing the outcome.
Shapley will testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
Shapley has already told the House Ways and Means Committee that U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has overseen the years-long Hunter Biden probe, said he doesn’t make the ultimate decision on charges.
Weiss, according to Shapley, also said he had been denied special counsel authority.
But Weiss denied Shapley’s claims, saying he was given free rein to do what he wanted, and he never sought special counsel powers.
The House Oversight Committee, led by James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said the FBI agent’s testimony was shocking.
They said the Biden transition team was given advance warning that Hunter Biden was about to be interviewed regarding his tax affairs and the gun charge, and Hunter then refused to speak to them.
He was charged with possessing a handgun, a Colt Cobra .38 Special, for 11 days in October 2018 despite knowing he was a drug user.
Last month Hunter agreed a plea deal on both separate charges, and will appear in court at the end of this month.
