In an upcoming closed-door session scheduled for Tuesday, Special Counsel David Weiss, who is overseeing the investigation into Hunter Biden, will provide a private briefing to the House Judiciary Committee, currently under Republican leadership. This confidential meeting unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden.
Weiss is anticipated to address and counter statements from two IRS whistleblowers. These individuals have claimed that Weiss indicated a lack of sole decision-making power in pressing charges within his investigation. In response, a spokesperson for Weiss has conveyed that he intends to affirm his comprehensive authority over the probe and the associated charge decisions during his testimony.
The Republican faction in the House accuses the Justice Department of meddling inappropriately with the inquiry into Hunter Biden, a key element in their broader impeachment investigation of President Biden. While the White House has dismissed any accusations of misconduct, Democrats criticize the inquiry as a vehicle for partisan agendas.
According to a report by NBC News, Adhering to the norms of the Justice Department, Weiss will steer clear of delving into the specifics of his ongoing investigation during his testimony, as per his spokesperson.
Once concluded, Weiss’s investigation will culminate in a formal report, though the timeline remains unspecified.
In conjunction with this inquiry, confidential testimonies have been provided by a minimum of nine individuals affiliated with the FBI, IRS, and Justice Department.
Weiss, who initiated the Hunter Biden investigation in 2019 during the Trump administration, continued in his role through the subsequent Biden presidency. He has brought forward allegations against Hunter Biden, 53, concerning firearm possession during drug use. These allegations followed a failed plea agreement concerning minor tax and gun charges. Hunter Biden has publicly acknowledged his past struggles with substance abuse.
The impeachment investigation has garnered encouragement from former President Donald Trump, who is a frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race. Trump himself, having faced two impeachment trials with subsequent acquittals, is currently dealing with four criminal indictments related to his business dealings and political conduct.
With the House marginally controlled by Republicans, with a tally of 221-212, the likelihood of a collective agreement to impeach President Biden remains uncertain.