In a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee, former federal prosecutor Lesley Wolf, who was involved in the Hunter Biden probe, refused to answer questions, according to Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).
“Miss Wolf refused to answer most of our questions,” Jordan told reporters following the interview with Wolf, who was subpoenaed in November to appear before the panel.
“She refused to answer based on instructions she was given from the Justice Department,” Jordan said.
Wolf cited instructions from the Justice Department as the reason for her silence. This development has added fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding the investigation into Hunter Biden and his alleged ties to political influence.
The Hunter Biden investigation, which began in 2018, has been the subject of intense scrutiny.
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Allegations of political influence surrounding prosecutorial decisions have emerged, raising concerns about the impartiality of the probe. Gary Shapley, the lead investigator from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the case, claimed that Lesley Wolf actively worked to limit questioning related to President Biden and references to him as “dad” or “the big guy.”
Despite Wolf’s refusal to answer questions during the interview, Jordan emphasized that the core of the whistleblower allegations has been consistently supported by testimonies from Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, another IRS investigator.
During the closed-door interview, Wolf declined to answer most of the questions posed by House members. Chair Jim Jordan informed reporters that Wolf cited instructions from the Justice Department as the reason for her lack of cooperation.
However, Wolf clarified that she did not receive any additional instructions from the DOJ after the House formalized the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Despite the lack of answers from Wolf, Jordan reiterated that the whistleblower allegations have remained unrefuted and continue to hold weight.
The allegations of political influence surrounding the Hunter Biden investigation have cast a shadow over the impartiality of the probe.
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Gary Shapley, the supervisory IRS special agent, accused Lesley Wolf of actively obstructing certain lines of questioning that involved President Biden.
Specifically, Shapley claimed that Wolf limited questioning related to the President and any apparent references to him as “dad” or “the big guy.” These allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the potential impact of political pressures on the outcome.
Hunter Biden’s Subpoena and Defiance
Hunter Biden, the central figure in the investigation, defied a congressional subpoena to testify under oath behind closed doors this week.
Instead, he made a public statement outside the Capitol, criticizing the Republican impeachment inquiry and asserting that his father was not financially involved in his business dealings. Jordan and Rep. Comer have threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for his defiance.
Read: Arizona Rep. Biggs: Hunter Biden Can’t Ignore Congress And Either Can Biden’s DOJ
Wolf’s Departure from the Justice Department
According to Fox News, Lesley Wolf is no longer employed by the Justice Department and had longstanding plans to move on from the agency.
At the time of the Hunter Biden investigation, Wolf served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Delaware. Her departure from the Justice Department raises questions about the timing and potential implications for the ongoing probe.
The Implications of the Closed-Door Interview
The closed-door interview with Lesley Wolf has elicited mixed reactions from lawmakers. Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, criticized the interview as a waste of time and accused House Republicans of being desperate to find justifications for an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
However, Jordan defended the interview, highlighting the importance of addressing the whistleblower allegations and seeking transparency in the investigation.
Charges Against Hunter Biden
In addition to the ongoing investigation, Hunter Biden has faced other legal challenges. Special Counsel David Weiss charged him with multiple felonies and misdemeanors related to tax evasion.
The charges alleged that Hunter Biden did not pay federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020 and filed false tax reports. Weiss also indicted him on federal gun charges. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, has moved to dismiss them.
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