A top official with the DOJ Tax Division told the House Judiciary Committee that now-Special Counsel David Weiss needed approval from his unit at the Justice Department before bringing charges in the Hunter Biden probe, according to a transcript of his interview reviewed by Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Tax Division Stuart Goldberg participated in a transcribed interview before the House Judiciary Committee last week as part of the panel\u2019s investigation into whistleblower allegations that politics impacted prosecutorial decisions throughout the years-long federal investigation into the president\u2019s son.<\/p>\n
Goldberg\u2019s testimony on the issue appears to confirm testimony from IRS whistleblowers who said that Weiss did not have ultimate authority in bringing charges in the Hunter Biden case.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Goldberg told committee investigators that Weiss, who before being granted special counsel status served as the U.S. attorney for Delaware, had to get approval from the Tax Division within theDepartment of Justice before bringing charges.<\/p>\n
\u2018We have approval authority, though some can appeal us if they disagree, but yes, it\u2019s our responsibility in the first instance to do that,\u2019 Goldberg testified.<\/p>\n
Goldberg was asked: \u2018If felony tax charges are going to be brought, the Tax Division has to sign off? Has to okay it?\u2019<\/p>\n
Goldberg said, \u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018In a typical case, yes, we would have to okay that,\u2019 he said. \u2018But if somebody thought we should have okayed it, and we didn\u2019t, then they could appeal, but, yes, it\u2019s our responsibility.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
When asked whether Weiss had been granted \u2018special attorney status or special counsel status,\u2019 and whether he still would be required to \u2018go through the Tax Division to get approval of the tax charges,\u2019 Goldberg said, \u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Generally speaking, we approve specific charges,\u2019 he said. \u2018But we might provide an option, I guess.\u2019<\/p>\n
Goldberg added: \u2018In some tax cases, the Tax Division might say, \u2018U.S. Attorney, you have discretion to bring this charge or this other charge.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Sometimes cases get sent back for more work. So that is an option,\u2019 he said. \u2018And there is declination, approval or prosecution with discretion or prosecution authorized.\u2019<\/p>\n
Goldberg explained that in \u2018approval prosecution authorization, there is an expectation the case would be brought by the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018If it is prosecution with discretion, then the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office has the ability to decide not to bring the case,\u2019 he said. \u2018That is within their purview. They don\u2019t have to come back to the Tax Division.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
IRS Whistleblower Gary Shapley said that Weiss did not have charging authority and was \u2018constantly hamstrung, limited and marginalized\u2019 by DOJ officials as he sought to make prosecutorial decisions. Shapley also alleged that Weiss had requested special counsel authority but had been denied. He has since been appointed special counsel.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Goldberg was asked whether the DOJ\u2019s Tax sign-off was necessary due to Hunter Biden\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n
\u2018Well, without getting into the case, again trying to answer a question at a slightly higher level, there are cases that are sensitive, people\u2014some would say sensitive, sometimes say significant cases,\u2019 he explained. \u2018And those cases typically have a closer supervision than other, more run-of-the-mill cases.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Goldberg was also pressed on whether the target having \u2018some political significance attached to him or her\u2019 would \u2018trigger any heightened review process.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018If something can be termed as sensitive pursuant to the case, it might be because it\u2019s a public official, or it\u2019s a person that has a noteworthy profile, or it\u2019s going to generate a lot of media attention, or might be of congressional interest,\u2019 He explained. \u2018It could be a corporation or an individual.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018That might mean that the case would come to my level for ultimate sign-off on the case as opposed to be handled at the chief\u2019s level,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
When asked whether it was \u2018fair to say that the Hunter Biden case fell into that category,\u2019 Goldberg said, \u2018Yes.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Weiss charged Hunter Biden last month with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The president\u2019s son pleaded not guilty to all charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n