Special Counsel David Weiss told the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that he was not \u2018blocked\u2019 or \u2018prevented from pursuing charges\u2019 against Hunter Biden in his years-long probe, and he maintained that \u2018political considerations played no part\u2019 in his decision-making.<\/p>\n
Weiss appeared for a voluntary and \u2018unprecedented\u2019 transcribed interview before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning to address \u2018misunderstandings about the scope\u2019 of his \u2018authority to decide where, when and whether to bring charges.\u2019<\/p>\n
In a statement after his hours-long testimony, Weiss said that to the best of his knowledge he is \u2018the first Special Counsel to testify before the submission of the Special Counsel report.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018I have done so out of respect for the committee\u2019s oversight responsibilities and to respond to questions raised about the scope of my authority,\u2019 Weiss said.<\/p>\n
Weiss said he is \u2018in the midst of conducting an ongoing investigation and prosecution\u2019 and that he is \u2018limited as to what I can say at this point.\u2019 But Weiss also said that at the conclusion of his work he will prepare a report and \u2018will be able to share more information at that time.\u2019<\/p>\n
Weiss said that during his transcribed interview he was \u2018prepared to address misunderstandings about the scope of my authority to decide where, when and whether to bring charges in this matter.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, he also said he would not answer questions \u2018that could jeopardize the ongoing litigation, our investigations, or the rights of defendants or other individuals involved in these matters.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018I am, and have been, the decision-maker on this case,\u2019 Weiss said. \u2018I do not, however, make these decisions in a vacuum. I am bound by federal law, the principles of federal prosecution and DOJ guidelines.\u2019<\/p>\n
As a result, he said, \u2018there are processes that I must adhere to in making investigative and charging decisions.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018These processes did not interfere with my decision-making authority,\u2019 Weiss said. \u2018At no time was I blocked or otherwise prevented from pursuing charges or taking the steps necessary in the investigation by other United States attorneys, the Tax Division or anyone else at the Department of Justice.\u2019<\/p>\n
Weiss also noted that he \u2018did not request special counsel status until August 2023.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018When I made that request, it was promptly granted,\u2019 Weiss said.<\/p>\n
Whistleblowers have alleged that Weiss previously requested special counsel status and was denied. Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Weiss in August to serve as special counsel with jurisdiction over the Biden investigation and any other issues that have come up, or may come up, related to that probe.<\/p>\n
Weiss has been leading the Biden investigation since 2018.<\/p>\n
\u2018Throughout this investigation, the career prosecutors on my team and I have made decisions based on the facts and the law,\u2019 Weiss said. \u2018Political considerations played no part in our decision-making.\u2019<\/p>\n
Weiss said his team\u2019s \u2018analysis has been moored to the principles of federal prosecution, and going forward, my team and I will continue to abide by the same principles as we try to bring this matter to a just conclusion.\u2019<\/p>\n
Weiss\u2019 interview comes after a number of current and former Justice Department officials related to the Hunter Biden probe have testified voluntarily on the matter behind closed doors at the committee, which is led by Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.<\/p>\n
But on the matter of requesting special counsel status, Jordan said Weiss had requested it prior to being appointed in August.<\/p>\n
\u2018When he was specifically asked, \u2018Did you ever request special attorney authority under Section 515, Mr. Weiss?\u2019 His response was, \u2018Yes, in the spring of 2022,\u2019\u2019 Jordan said after Weiss\u2019 interview. \u2018So, that goes to the heart of the matter. He requested it, was not given that request \u2013 never had that authority throughout the time. And yet he pretends that somehow he did have that.\u2019<\/p>\n
Jordan said Weiss would not answer \u2018a lot of questions\u2019 but that the \u2018key takeaway\u2019 was about \u2018the changing story we got from DOJ regarding the authority\u2019 that Weiss had.<\/p>\n
Jordan said Weiss\u2019 testimony was \u2018entirely consistent\u2019 with what IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley said. Shapley alleged that in October 2022 Weiss said he requested special counsel authority but the \u2018DOJ denied his request and told him to follow the process.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018So, once again, Shapley and Ziegler\u2019s testimony continues to stand up to every single witness we brought in,\u2019 Jordan said.<\/p>\n
IRS whistleblowers Shapley and Joseph Ziegler alleged that politics affected prosecutorial decisions throughout the probe with regard to search warrants, decisions about lines of questioning during interviews of specific people, and more. Shapley also alleged that Weiss did not have \u2018ultimate authority\u2019 to pursue charges against the president\u2019s son and instead needed approval from the Justice Department \u2013 something that DOJ officials confirmed in their voluntary transcribed interviews before the committee.\u00a0<\/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 month. Fox News Digital reviewed a copy of the transcript of Goldberg\u2019s interview in which he said Weiss needed approval from his unit at the Justice Department before bringing charges in the Hunter Biden probe. Goldberg also said that a prosecutor could appeal his division\u2019s decision if they disagreed.<\/p>\n
Shapley further alleged that Weiss was considering bringing charges against Hunter Biden in California but the U.S. attorney there chose not to partner with him for prosecution. The charges were never filed.<\/p>\n
Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, told the House Judiciary Committee during his transcribed interview last month that he did, in fact, decline to partner with Weiss in bringing charges against Hunter Biden in his district. Estrada, though, did offer Weiss \u2018administrative support.\u2019<\/p>\n
In his first move as special counsel, Weiss charged Biden 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.<\/p>\n
The president\u2019s son pleaded not guilty to all charges last month.<\/p>\n
Weiss\u2019 interview comes amid House Republicans\u2019 impeachment inquiry against President Biden. The impeachment inquiry is being led by Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.<\/p>\n