Contradictory Testimony from FBI Agent Undermines Republican Inquiry into Hunter Biden Taxes
In a recent development that has dealt a significant blow to House Republicans’ wide-ranging inquiry into the Biden administration, a high-ranking FBI agent has provided testimony that contradicts a key claim made by an IRS agent. The contradictory statements pertain to allegations of political interference in the investigation into the taxes of Hunter Biden, the president’s son.
Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI, testified in closed-door hearings last week before the House Judiciary Committee. According to a transcript obtained by The New York Times, Sobocinski stated that U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss, who oversees the Justice Department’s inquiry into Hunter Biden, never denied having full authority to pursue charges against the president’s son. This testimony undermines a claim made by IRS agent-turned-whistleblower Gary Shapley, who accused the Justice Department of giving preferential treatment to Hunter Biden.
Sobocinski’s testimony aligns with the account provided by Weiss himself, who has maintained that he has never been denied the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction. The statement from Sobocinski directly contradicts Shapley’s claim that Weiss had declared himself “not the deciding person on whether charges are filed” during a meeting on October 7, 2022.
The revelation of Sobocinski’s testimony coincides with Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s announcement of an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. This reinforces the notion that the evidence upon which Republicans are building a case against the president and his family is often unreliable.
House Republicans have heavily relied on Shapley’s testimony to support their allegations that the Justice Department has obstructed the investigation into Hunter Biden. While federal prosecutors have indicated that Biden will face gun and tax charges, Republicans argue that he should have been charged sooner and with more severe counts.
During his testimony, Shapley expressed his frustration with how the case was handled and claimed to have witnessed Weiss stating that he was “not the deciding person on whether charges are filed.” Shapley found this statement offensive, as he had witnessed Attorney General Merrick B. Garland assure the nation that Weiss had full authority to bring charges.
However, Sobocinski, who was present at the same meeting, testified that Weiss never made such a comment. He said, “If he would have said that, I would have remembered it,” further affirming his belief that Weiss had the authority to bring charges.
In response to the conflicting testimonies, Shapley’s legal team attributed the discrepancies to variations in memories of the same event. They emphasized that Shapley had taken notes in real-time and shared a summary of the meeting via email on the same day, which was corroborated by his supervisor, providing contemporaneous corroboration.
Shapley’s lawyers also highlighted the recent appointment of Weiss as a special counsel by Garland, enabling him to bring charges in jurisdictions outside Delaware. They argued that this appointment is evidence that Weiss initially lacked the full authority needed to prosecute Hunter Biden in California or the District of Columbia, where some of the alleged offenses took place.
Despite the conflicting testimonies, Republicans have shown little change in their stance. Spokesperson Russell Dye, representing Representative Jim Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, dismissed the contradictions, claiming that Shapley and another IRS agent who testified consistently supported their account. Dye criticized Weiss, Garland, and their supporters, labeling them as “liberal cronies.”
With the contradictory testimony, Republicans’ attempts to build a case against the Biden administration face scrutiny, as the reliability of the evidence they rely on comes into question.