Timeline of Hunter Biden Investigation

Research
September 18, 2023

Empower Oversight has released a detailed timeline of the Hunter Biden investigation as it relates to whistleblowers IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley and IRS Special Agent Joseph Zeigler.  

The timeline is based on public documents, including media reports and the special agents’ congressional interview transcripts, which were lawfully released by the House Committee on Ways and Means on June 22, 2023 pursuant to its authorities under statute and the rules of the House of Representatives.

The timeline is a living document and will be edited as additional information is learned or can be shared.

Updated Sept. 29, 2023

2018

  • Nov. 2018: SA Joe Ziegler, an investigator in the IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Financial Tax Crimes (IFTC) group, opens investigation into Hunter Biden as a spin-off from an investigation into a social media company which revealed Biden was paying prostitutes and living lavishly through a corporate account.1
  • Dec. 10, 2018: SA Ziegler officially opens investigation into Hunter Biden.2

2019

  • Jan. 2019: Delaware FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office open an investigation into Hunter Biden bank reports and potential money laundering charges.3
  • Feb. 2019: SA Ziegler first learns from SSA Matthew Kutz that Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) is investigating Hunter Biden.2
  • Mar. 28, 2019: Gal Luft interviewed at U.S. embassy in Brussels, Belgium.4
  • Apr. 12, 2019: IRS submits Hunter Biden case referral to DOJ Tax for investigation.5
  • Apr. 15, 2019: SA Ziegler circulates timeline of investigation to date.2
  • Apr. 2019: DOJ leadership makes decision to join IRS investigation with FBI investigation and run both out of Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO).6
  • Apr. 25, 2019: Former Vice President Joe Biden announces his candidacy for president.
  • Apr. 26, 2019: FBI records FD-302 of Gal Luft interview in Brussels, Belgium.7
  • Apr. 29, 2019: SSA Kutz informs SA Ziegler and others that he’d been informed by DOJ Tax attorney Jason Poole the Hunter Biden case would very likely go to Delaware for investigation.8
  • May 2019: 
    • DOJ Tax approves IRS investigation of tax violations.9
    • IRS and FBI cases are officially joined under direction of Delaware USAO.10
    • Prosecutors deny IRS’s requests to follow IRS policy of interviewing subject (Hunter Biden) within 30 days of elevating investigation to DOJ Tax, claiming case needs to remain covert in order to preserve potential evidence for the FBI.11
  • At signing of first electronic search warrant, magistrate judge makes inappropriate comment that causes her to recuse herself, forcing the IRS to spend four additional months drafting new warrants and re-completing investigative steps.12
  • Summer 2019: FBI’s Baltimore Field Office leadership begins becoming more involved in investigation.13
  • Aug. 15, 2019: Senator Chuck Grassley initiates investigation into Biden family conflicts of interest.14
  • Oct. 16, 2019: FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office receives first report that Hunter Biden laptop is in Delaware computer repair shop.15
  • Nov. 6, 2019: FBI SA Josh Wilson obtains device numbers confirming Hunter Biden’s ownership of laptop and external hard drive.16
  • Dec. 3, 2019: SA Ziegler begins drafting search warrant affidavit for Hunter Biden laptop.17
  • Dec. 8, 2019: In interview with Axios, presidential candidate Joe Biden says he doesn’t know what work Hunter Biden did on the Board of Burisma.18
  • Dec. 9, 2019: FBI’s Baltimore Field Office takes custody of Hunter Biden laptop and accompanying external hard drive.19
  • Dec. 13, 2019: SA Ziegler obtains from magistrate judge a Title 26 search warrant for Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive.20
  • Between Dec. 13 and 19, 2019: FBI’s Computer Analysis and Response Team images Hunter Biden external hard drive in Delaware.17
  • Dec. 19, 2019: FBI’s Computer Analysis and Response Team provides image of Hunter Biden external hard drive to FBI’s Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.17

2020

  • Jan. 2020: SSA Gary Shapley assigned as supervisor of the Hunter Biden investigation.21
  • Jan. 6, 2020: FBI’s Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory began analysis of Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive.17
  • Early 2020: AUSA Jamie McCall accepts offer to leave Delaware USAO for private law firm, leaving AUSA Lesley Wolf in charge of investigation.22
  • Feb. 3, 2020: Because of Iowa presidential caucuses this day, prosecutors tell investigators asking to interview Hunter Biden that they need to wait and see what happens in the caucuses.23
  • Feb. 10, 2020:
    • Filter review of materials on Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive completed.
    • IRS and FBI begins relevancy review of Hunter Biden drives for evidence.17
    • Attorney General Bill Barr publicly confirms the Pittsburgh USAO had been assigned to vet information Rudy Giuliani had provided related to the Bidens and Ukraine.24
  • Feb. 29, 2020: Former Vice President Joe Biden wins South Carolina presidential primary.25
  • Mar. 6, 2020:
    • FBI receives the image of the Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive.17
    • SSA Shapley sends Significant Case Report up chain of command reporting that by mid-March the IRS would be ready to seek physical search warrants in California, Arkansas, New York, and Washington, D.C.26
  • Mar. 10, 2020: 
    • FBI’s Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory conducts forensic exam of Hunter Biden laptop.17
    • Former Vice President Joe Biden wins Michigan and additional primaries.27
  • Mar. 31, 2020: Investigators email AUSA Wolf regarding the quality and completeness of recovered information from the Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive.17
  • Apr. 1, 2020: SA Ziegler drafts affidavit for physical search warrants of Hunter Biden residences.28 IRS also plans to conduct approximately 15 interviews.28
  • Apr. 7, 2020: FBI SA Josh Wilson personally accepts evidence from Hunter Biden laptop.17
  • Apr. 8, 2020: Senator Bernie Sanders withdraws from the Democratic presidential race, making former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party. DOJ begins delaying investigative steps.26
  • Apr. 20, 2020: FBI’s Computer Analysis and Response Team sends Cellebrite report of Hunter Biden laptop and external hard drive to Delaware USAO.17
  • May/Jun. 2020: Pittsburgh FBI reviewing records at the request of Pittsburgh USAO discover a 2017 FD-1023 that mentions Hunter Biden’s dealings with Burisma, resulting in a month-long fight to get the relevant agent to re-interview the confidential human source.29
  • Jun. 5, 2020: Former Vice President Joe Biden receives sufficient delegates to win Democrat Party’s presidential nomination.30
  • Jun. 16, 2020: SSA Shapley and SA Ziegler meet with supervisory chain up through IRS Director of Field Operations (DFO) James Robnett and tells him DOJ Tax has made a concerted effort to drag their feet concerning conducting search warrants and interviewing key witnesses.31
  • Jun. 26, 2020: FBI re-interviews confidential human source who alleges Burisma bribed both Hunter and Joe Biden in 2015.32
  • Jun. 29, 2020: Confidential human source provides FBI with supplemental information.32
  • Jun. 30, 2020: FBI interview of confidential human source is recorded in new FD-1023.32
  • Jul.-Aug. 2020: Pittsburgh FBI corroborates some of the claims in the Biden bribery FD-1023.33
  • Aug. 5, 2020: As part of its Foreign Agents Registration Act investigation, FBI SA Josh Wilson sends Delaware prosecutors a draft search warrant for Blue Star Strategies.34
  • Aug. 7, 2020: AUSA Wolf directs the redrafting of the search warrant for Blue Star Strategies, writing in email: “There should be nothing about Political Figure 1 in here.”35 Political Figure 1 is Joe Biden, who the draft warrant notes “is currently Democratic Party Presidential candidate for the United States.”36
  • Late Aug.-early Sep. 2020: IRS receives results from electronic search warrant of Hunter Biden’s iCloud backup, including WhatsApp messages.37 IRS requests to further investigate Hunter Biden writing “I am sitting here with my father,” but is denied.38
  • Sep. 3, 2020: Prosecution team has phone call.39
    • IRS then proposes getting location data on WhatsApp message to establish probable cause for interview, but is still denied.38
    • AUSA Wolf says investigators cannot do search of Biden Delaware residence because of optics, even though she acknowledges there is probable cause and a lot of evidence in the investigation would be found there.40
    • Prosecutors decide to remove Hunter Biden’s name from electronic search warrants, 2703(d) orders, and document requests. SA Ziegler says removing Biden’s name seemed unethical, but is ignored.41
    • AUSA Wolf says search warrants for Blue Star Strategies are being sat on by DOJ’s Office of Enforcement Operations, and likely would not get approved.42
  • Sep. 4, 2020: 
    • Deputy Attorney General Donoghue issues instruction that all politically-sensitive cases must refrain from overt activity until after general election.43
    • In prosecution team call, AUSA Wolf communicates the stand-down instructions.44 She also says DOJ is under fire, it is self-inflicted, and DOJ needs to repair its reputation.45
  • Sep. 21, 2020: 
    • In prosecution team call, FBI states only five interviews should be done in the case so FBI management can assess if it wants to continue assisting.46
    • IRS learns the FBI case agent, SA Josh Wilson, had only recently moved back to his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware and was concerned about consequences for him and his family if they conducted sensitive interviews and executed a search warrant on the Biden guest house.47
  • Sep. 23, 2020: Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Ron Johnson release report on its Biden conflicts of interest investigation.48
  • Oct 2, 2020:
    • AUSA Wolf emails SA Ziegler that U.S. Attorney Weiss approved an overt action day of November 17, 2020.49
    • Sharing this info with his leadership, SSA Shapley emails ASAC George Murphy: “There has been some discussion that the USAO is uncomfortable with conducting the subject interview of Sportsman while he is in Delaware (this is a possibility if conducted closer to Thanksgiving on 11/26).”49
  • Oct. 14, 2020: 
    • New York Post first reports on existence of Hunter Biden laptop.50
    • In call with Twitter executives, FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force is questioned about authenticity of Hunter Biden laptop; one FBI analyst begins to confirm its authenticity before being interrupted to say the FBI had no comment.51 Twitter subsequently censors the New York Post’s story.51
  • Oct. 19, 2020: SSA Shapley emails AUSA Wolf requesting information on the Hunter Biden laptop.52
  • Oct. 20, 2020: DOJ Tax denies IRS permission to do a walk-by of the Hunter Biden residence.53
  • Oct. 21, 2020: DOJ Tax attorney Jack Morgan emails AUSA Wolf a list of documents related to Hunter Biden solicitation and possible Mann Act violations.54
  • Oct. 22, 2020:
    • Special meeting regarding Hunter Biden laptop takes place between prosecution team and FBI’s computer analysis team.55 AUSA Wolf tells investigators data on the laptop had been corroborated and that there was no reason to believe it had been manipulated by any third party.47 However, she says prosecutors have, “for a variety of reasons,” decided to keep the full laptop from investigators.56
    • In prosecution team call, AUSA Wolf says U.S. Attorney Weiss agreed there is probable cause for a search warrant for Hunter Biden’s residence, and that evidence would be there; however, prosecutors had decided not to allow such a warrant.57
    • AUSA Wolf also says Principal Deputy Attorney General is ordering the Delaware prosecution team to receive a briefing the next day on materials from the Pittsburgh USAO review.58
  • Oct. 23, 2020:
    • Pittsburgh USAO and FBI agents brief AUSA Wolf and two Baltimore Field Office FBI agents on confidential human source allegations, documented in an FD-1023, that Burisma had bribed both Hunter and Joe Biden in 2015.59 IRS investigators’ request to participate in the briefing is denied,60 and the information from the briefing is not shared with IRS investigators.61
    • Anthony “Tony” Bobulinski walks into the FBI’s Washington, D.C. field office with his attorney and requests to be interviewed.62
  • Nov. 3, 2020: Election Day
  • Nov. 10, 2020:
    • U.S. Attorney Weiss joins prosecution team conference call. He informs prosecution team the “day of action” for overt activity must be delayed because of the contested election.63
  • Nov. 17, 2020:
    • Initial target to go overt, conducting interviews and issuing document requests.64
    • New York Post opinion editorial recommends appointing Weiss as a special counsel.65
  • Dec. 3, 2020: Prosecution team meeting discussing planned interview outlines. AUSA Wolf rejects investigators’ plans to ask questions about Joe Biden, stating there is no specific criminality to that line of questioning.66
  • Dec. 7, 2020: FBI headquarters notifies U.S. Secret Service headquarters and Biden transition team of plan to interview Hunter Biden the next day.67
  • Dec. 8, 2020: “Day of action,” where IRS and FBI investigators issue 15 document requests and had hoped to interview Hunter Biden and 11 of his associates.68
    • SSA Shapley and FBI SSA Joe Gordon wait outside Hunter Biden residence awaiting a phone call from Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden defense attorneys later call investigators to say Hunter Biden declines to be interviewed and all communication should go through them.69
    • FBI and IRS special agents in Arkansas successfully interview Rob Walker70, while nine other potential witnesses such as Kathleen Buhle, Hallie Biden, and James and Sara Biden decline interviews.71
    • SA Ziegler prepares a search warrant affidavit for a Northern Virginia storage unit where investigators learned Hunter Biden stored papers when his Washington, D.C. Owasco office closed.72
  • Dec. 9, 2020: 
    • Hunter Biden issues statement confirming he is under federal investigation.73
    • AUSA Wolf emails SA Ziegler that the storage unit search warrant has to go through multiple layers of approval, including offices at DOJ headquarters and other U.S. Attorney’s Offices.74
  • Dec. 10, 2020: Prosecution team meets to discuss next steps. AUSA Wolf objects to executing a search warrant on the Northern Virginia storage unit.75
  • Dec. 11, 2020:
    • AUSA Wolf forwards U.S. Attorney Weiss New York Times article, “Material from Giuliani Spurred a Separate Justice Depart. Pursuit of Hunter Biden.”76
    • AUSA Wolf and SA Ziegler disagree in phone call over whether to execute Northern Virginia storage unit search warrant. Wolf says she is worried about what this might to do to the relationship with the opposing counsel moving forward. Ziegler says he doesn’t believe prosecutors are supporting him, and Wolf says she has concern with the relationship moving forward and that if Ziegler has these concerns maybe they need to address that with upper management.77
  • Dec. 14, 2020:
    • IRS SAC Kelly Jackson emails ASAC George Murphy he has a call with the DFO and IRS-CI Deputy Chief to express frustration at the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office not allowing the IRS to go forward with the storage unit search warrant.78
    • IRS SAC Kelly Jackson and SSA Shapley have call with U.S. Attorney Weiss regarding the storage unit search warrant, which Weiss approves if the storage unit isn’t accessed for 30 days. Soon thereafter investigators learn AUSA Wolf and DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly had called Hunter Biden’s defense attorneys and told them about the storage unit.79

2021

  • Jan. 20, 2021: Joe Biden inaugurated as President.
  • Jan. 26, 2021: SA Ziegler seeks out filter search terms used on material gathered from Hunter Biden.80
  • Feb. 5, 2021: Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office and DOJ Tax brief Assistant Attorneys General from DOJ headquarters.81
  • Feb. 8, 2021: DOJ announces U.S. Attorney Weiss will remain in the District of Delaware to continue the Hunter Biden investigation.82
  • Feb. 17, 2021: Representative Ken Buck sends letter to attorney general nominee Merrick Garland requesting that he either keep on U.S. Attorney Weiss or appoint a special counsel in his place.83
  • Feb. 22-23, 2021: Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland as attorney general.
  • Mar. 2, 2021: In briefing for IRS SAC Darrell Waldon and Director of Field Operations (DFO) Mike Batdorf, investigators mention possibility of blowing whistle on DOJ’s handling of the Hunter Biden case.84
  • Mar. 10, 2021: Senate votes to confirm Merrick Garland as attorney general.
  • Mar. 11, 2021: Merrick Garland sworn in as attorney general.
  • Apr. 26, 2021: FBI Baltimore SAC Jennifer Boone retires.85
  • Apr. 27, 2021: Hunter Biden accountant Jeffrey Gelfound interviewed.86
  • May 3, 2021: SSA Shapley’s Sensitive Case Report up his chain of command reads: “This investigation has been hampered and slowed by claims of potential election meddling. Through interviews and review of evidence obtained, it appears there may be campaign finance criminal violations. AUSA Wolf stated on the last prosecution team meeting that she did not want any of the agents to look into the allegation. She cited a need to focus on the 2014 tax year, that we could not yet prove an allegation beyond a reasonable doubt, and that she does not want to include their Public Integrity Unit because they would take authority away from her. We do not agree with her obstruction on this matter.”87
  • Jun. 14, 2021: Escort interviewed.88
  • Jul. 2021: Baltimore FBI Field Office receives new SAC Thomas Sobocinski and ASAC Ryeshia Holley.
  • Aug. 18, 2021: IRS investigators share with AUSA Wolf various planned interviews in mid-September.89
  • Sep. 9, 2021: AUSA Wolf tells IRS investigators they would not be able to conduct interviews as planned.90
  • Sep. 10, 2021:
    • SA Ziegler points out to AUSA Wolf the IRS planned witness interviews weeks in advance, writing: “I don’t understand why DOJ-Tax Senior Management is needing to approve…witness interviews and maybe this is a conversation that needs to be had at a higher level.”91
    • SSA Shapley reaches out to DOJ Tax attorney Jason Poole to discuss the requirement for DOJ Tax interview approvals.92
  • Sep. 20, 2021: IRS requests approval from DOJ Tax to serve ten document requests related to prostitutes Hunter Biden had paid.93 When DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly submits the request, SA Ziegler responds to him: “You are the man!! Thank you. I’ll fill you in tomorrow on my issues. I’m almost at the end of my rope and I’m sick of fighting to do what’s right.”94 That night, after emailing between investigators,95 Ziegler also emails IRS DFO Batdorf: “I’m almost at the end of my rope and I think I’m at the point again where I need your help. I have a ton of interviews and travel planned and scheduled for the next 3 months, keeping on a timeline is extremely important and I don’t want this to continue to be a problem. I don’t mind the questions from management, but it feels like they are not listening to me.”96
  • Sep. 21, 2021: A CNN producer calls the Director of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Office of Communication and tells him CNN has an email from Hunter Biden saying Hunter expected all this “stuff” to go away when his dad becomes President.97
  • Sep. 22, 2021: SA Ziegler engages with AUSA Wolf about the info from CNN, and Wolf confirms Hunter Biden hasn’t been offered a plea.97
  • Sep. 24, 2021: AUSA Wolf tells IRS investigators document requests cannot be served until DOJ Tax approves them.98
  • Oct. 2021: Delaware USAO, DOJ Tax, and IRS meet to determine to charge Hunter Biden with felonies for 2014 and 2018 and misdemeanors for 2015-2019.99
  • Oct. 21, 2021: AUSA Wolf denies IRS investigators’ request to interview President Biden’s adult grandchildren as part of their investigation, saying it will get them into “hot water.”100
  • Nov. 2021: SSA Shapley expresses to DFO Batdorf how poorly prosecutors are handling the Hunter Biden case.89
  • Nov. 16, 2021: Hunter Biden accountant Jeffrey Gelfound re-interviewed.101
  • Nov. 23, 2021: Prosecutors and investigators re-interview Hunter Biden business associate Rob Walker in Washington, D.C.102
  • Late Nov. 2021: SA Ziegler drafts Special Agent Report with all evidence for the recommended 2014 and 2018 felony charges and 2015-2019 misdemeanor charges.103
  • Dec. 20, 2021: AUSA Wolf emails prosecution team to thank them for their work on the Hunter Biden investigation.104

2022

  • Jan. 12, 2022: In prosecution team call, FBI SSA Gordon reviews campaign finance case and evidence to date. AUSA Wolf says she is not “personally” interested in pursuing it. SSA Gordon says they could work with DOJ’s Public Integrity Unit, but AUSA Wolf responds that she doesn’t want them involved as would be “more levels of approval.”105
  • Jan. 27, 2022: Acting ASAC Shapley signs Special Agent Report and submits it for CT Counsel review.106
  • Feb. 2022: U.S. Attorney Weiss requests special attorney authority from DOJ headquarters.107
  • Feb. 9, 2022: After exceeding 60-day deadline,108 IRS CT Counsel attorney contacts the co-case agent to tell her the five-member review team agreed with the CT Counsel line attorney and concurred on all charges proposed in the Special Agent Report.109
  • Feb. 11, 2022: IRS CT Counsel issues advisory memorandum non-concurring on all counts with the Special Agent Report, falsely claiming that even the CT Counsel line attorney had non-concurred.110 Nevertheless, IRS management subsequently approves referring the case to DOJ Tax Division (DOJ Tax).111
  • Feb. 15, 2022: Acting ASAC Shapley transmits Special Agent Report to SAC Darrell Waldon.112
  • Feb. 25, 2022: 
    • Delaware USAO and DOJ Tax push the IRS for its Special Agent Report so they can go to Hunter Biden’s defense counsel before the statute of limitations for 2014-2015 expires in March 2022 and represent that the IRS had recommended charges.113
    • IRS transmits Special Agent Report to DOJ Tax recommending six felony charges (“False Return” and “Evasion of Assessment” for 2014, 2018 and 2019) and 5 misdemeanor charges (“Failure to Timely File and Pay”) for 2015-2019, with the support of AUSA Wolf on proposed charges.114
    • Investigators subsequently receive additional information from Hunter Biden’s accountants.115
  • Mar. 2022: 
    • DOJ Tax designates previously-uninvolved attorney, John Kane, to review Special Agent Report and make charging recommendation to Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) Stuart Goldberg.116
    • As preparation for trial discovery, the Delaware USAO requests investigators’ communications on the case.117
  • Mar. 14, 2022: Prosecutors hold taxpayer conference with attorneys for Hunter Biden.118 IRS investigators are not permitted to participate in this meeting or any other discussions with Biden’s defense counsel.119
    • Statute of limitations for 2014 and 2015 tax years is set to expire, but Hunter Biden’s attorneys agree to a tolling agreement extending the statute of limitations.120
  • Mar. 16, 2022: New York Times runs article with sympathetic headline, “Hunter Biden Paid Tax Bill, but Broad Federal Investigation Continues.”121
  • Late Mar. 2022
    • Delaware USAO presents 2014 felony charge and 2015 misdemeanor charges to U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.122 Delaware USAO denies IRS investigators’ request to attend the presentation.123
    • DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly calls SA Ziegler to say the D.C. USAO First Assistant is optimistic about the case and will assign an AUSA to assist. ((Shapley Transcript at 24; Ziegler Transcript at 36-37, 153.))
  • Mar. 31, 2022: White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield is asked at a White House press briefing: “During the last presidential debate, then-Vice President Biden was asked if there was anything inappropriate or unethical about his son’s relationships, business dealings in China and/or Ukraine. The President said, ‘Nothing was unethical.’ He went on to say, ‘My son has not made money in terms of this thing about, what you’re talking about, China.’ Does the White House stand by that comment that the then-Vice President made?” Bedingfield replied: “We absolutely stand by the President’s comment. And I would point you to the reporting on this, which reference statements that we made at the time that we gave to the Washington Post, who worked on this story.”124
  • End of Mar. 2022: U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves declines to bring the charges in the District of Columbia.125
  • Apr. 3, 2022: White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain says on ABC’s “This Week” the President is confident Hunter Biden didn’t break the law.126
  • Apr. 26, 2022: 
    • In second taxpayer conference, focused on 2014 and 2015 tax charges, Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark presents 100-slide PowerPoint to Delaware USAO and DOJ Tax prosecutors to dissuade them from charging.127 IRS investigators are not permitted to participate in this meeting or any other discussions with Biden’s defense counsel.128
    • Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies.
    • Senator Bill Hagerty asked: “The matter of the Hunter Biden investigation [has] received a great deal of press, but I want to ask you how the communications have worked within your Department and with the White House on this. First, have you been briefed on the Hunter Biden investigation matter yourself?” Attorney General Garland replied: “The Hunter Biden investigation, as I said even in my own confirmation hearing, is being supervised by and run by the United States Attorney for the District of Delaware.” Hagerty said: “I’m aware of that, but he reports to you.” Garland responded: “He is supervising the investigation, and I’m not at liberty to talk about internal Justice Department deliberations, but he is in charge of that investigation. There will not be interference of any political or improper kind.” Hagerty asked: “Are any senior officials in your Department being briefed?” Garland reiterated: “He is the supervisor of this investigation, and the normal processes of the Department occur, but he is the supervisor of this investigation.”
    • Hagerty continued: “Earlier this month, White House Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, stated on national television that quote, ‘the President is confident that his son didn’t break the law,’ and the White House Communications Director said that President Biden maintains his position that his son did nothing that was unethical. This is on national television. The President’s already told his subordinates, clearly—these are people that he can fire at will—that he and his family did nothing wrong. How can the American people be confident that his Administration is conducting a serious investigation?” Garland answered: “Because we put the investigation in the hands of a Trump appointee.” Hagerty closed: “Well, I think the observation here is terribly critical, because there’s an obvious conflict of interest here because, if those who are investigating the Biden family and their enterprise can be fired by the head of the family who’s being investigated—that is, Joe Biden can fire the Attorney General in Delaware [U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware]—he can have an impact on all of your staffing.”129
  • May 9, 2022: Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Ron Johnson write to U.S. Attorney Weiss asking whether any employees in his office have been recused from the Hunter Biden case and whether he has discussed the need for special counsel authority.130
  • Early May 2022: FBI SSA Joe Gordon calls Acting IRS ASAC Shapley to say Baltimore FBI leadership believed they should push for a special counsel in the Hunter Biden case, but wondered why IRS leadership wasn’t asking for the same thing.131
  • May 13, 2022: Acting ASAC Shapley emails SAC Waldon and DFO Batdorf that the third taxpayer conference scheduled for that week has been delayed, with a tentative new date of May 31, and suggests the IRS request to present to U.S. Attorney Weiss and DOJ Tax Northern Chief Jason Poole in advance of that taxpayer conference. He writes: “This tactic…to move things down the road backing us up against a statute…appears to be purposeful at this point.”132
  • May/Jun. 2022: Because of objections from Hunter Biden’s defense counsel, prosecutors grow skittish about 2014 and 2015 tax years, and investigators re-investigate the evidence surrounding those years.133 IRS investigators discover emails from Hunter Biden showing how he planned to evade paying taxes on Burisma money in 2014.134 DOJ Tax still disagrees, leading to conflicts.133
  • Jun. 14, 2022: IRS agents brief DFO Batdorf.135
  • Jun. 15, 2022: In “tax summit” meeting at DOJ headquarters between DOJ Tax (including Acting DAAG Goldberg), Delaware USAO (including U.S. Attorney Weiss), IRS (up through DFO Batdorf), and FBI (at least up through SAC Sobocinski), DOJ Tax attorneys Mark Daly and Jack Morgan present their concerns about the 2014 and 2015 charges, and IRS investigators in response reiterate their evidence.136
    • SAC Sobociski tells Acting ASAC Shapley during breaks in the meeting that DOJ Tax’s objections are nonsense, if the charges were FBI charges the evidence would be ample to charge immediately, the delays are unacceptable, and the violations should be charges as soon as possible.137
  • Jun. 21, 2022: U.S. Attorney Weiss emails IRS investigators to request that a revenue agent calculate the precise tax loss associated with the case (each potential year and overall).138
  • Jun. 23, 2022: SA Ziegler emails U.S. Attorney Weiss that the 2014 and almost all of the 2015 calculations are complete.138
  • Jul. 7, 2022: Senator Grassley and Senator Johnson send letter to Attorney General Garland, FBI Director Chris Wray, and U.S. Attorney Weiss to reiterate questions regarding whether Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office employees have been recused and whether DOJ has discussed the need for special counsel authority.130
  • Jul. 29, 2022: In prosecution team call, AUSA Wolf says venue will depend on what gets authorized by DOJ Tax.139 She also says U.S. Attorney Weiss had indicated his goal was to charge the 2014 and 2015 tax years no later than the end of September because they did not want to get any closer to the mid-term election, but says, “The X factor on timing will include any delay defense counsel has requested.”140 SA Ziegler requests a meeting to discuss this issue with U.S. Attorney Weiss, which is subsequently scheduled for August 16.141
  • Early Aug. 2022: 
    • DOJ Tax provides discretion for Delaware USAO to move forward with charges for 2017-2019, where proper venue is Central District of California.142 However, prosecutors convey to IRS they are leaning towards not charging the 2014 and 2015 tax years.143
    • IRS DFO Batdorf asks IRS CI Deputy Chief to call Acting DAAG Goldberg to tell him IRS CI supports charging 2014 and 2015.144
  • Aug. 11, 2022: DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly contacts prosecution team to schedule status update call the next day.145
  • Aug. 12, 2022: In prosecution team call, prosecutors share that Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark had told them that if they charged his client, they would be committing “career suicide.”146
  • Aug. 16, 2022:
    • Investigators meet with U.S. Attorney Weiss.147 IRS investigators learn for the first time that Delaware USAO believes venue for 2016-2019 years is the Central District of California.148 Weiss says he agrees with charging the 2014 and 2015 tax years and would like to do it before the end of September, but is aware DOJ Tax has concerns that the death of Beau Biden and Hunter Biden’s subsequent drug use will undermine the case before a jury, and he is still weighing that.149
    • Acting ASAC Shapley explains if 2014 is not charged it would severely diminish the picture of the overall conduct and would essentially sanitize some major issues, including the unreported Burisma income, which would remain untaxed.148
    • After the meeting with U.S. Attorney Weiss, IRS investigators meet with the FBI, which had recently identified similar communication issues with Delaware prosecutors.148
  • Aug. 17, 2022: Acting ASAC Shapley emails his supervisors: “Venue…would be the [C]entral [D]istrict of California. This is new to us and shows their lack of transparency. My theory is that they never discussed that venue because it would have revealed what they were leaning towards, in terms of charging, months ago.”148
  • Aug. 18, 2022:
    • IRS DFO Batdorf emails SAC Waldon and SSA Shapley that he would talk with IRS-CI Chief Lee and Deputy Chief to hopefully discuss with DOJ Tax head Stewart Goldberg and show support for charging the 2014 and 2015 tax years.148
    • DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly emails prosecution team regarding a tentative schedule moving forward, including approval for three interviews in mid-September and that the case will be previewed in the Central District of California the week of September 19.150
  • Aug. 24, 2022: Acting FBI SSA Garrett Kerley calls Acting ASAC Shapley to say AUSA Wolf had provided Kerley with inaccurate information concerning a case update.151
  • Aug. 25, 2022: Acting SSA Kerley emails AUSA Wolf about lack of information-sharing between monthly prosecution meetings; Wolf responds asking Curley to stand down.152
  • Sep. 13, 2022: President Biden nominee Martin Estrada is confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
  • Sep. 18, 2022: CBS’s 60 Minutes airs an interview with President Biden in which he is asked “whether any of [Hunter Biden’s] troubles have caused conflicts for you or for the United States?” President Biden responds, “No, there’s not a single thing that I’ve observed at all from th—that would affect me or the United States relative to my son Hunter.”153
  • Sep. 19, 2022:
    • President Biden nominee Martin Estrada is sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.154
    • Thirty-three Republican U.S. Senators write Attorney General Merrick Garland, writing: “Given that the investigation involves the President’s son, we believe it is important to provide U.S. Attorney Weiss with special counsel authorities and protections to allow him to investigate an appropriate scope of potentially criminal conduct, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and provide additional assurances to the American people that the Hunter Biden investigation is free from political influence.”155
  • Week of Sep. 19, 2022: Delaware USAO presents charges against Hunter Biden for 2015-2019 are presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (felonies for 2018 and 2019, misdemeanors for 2015-2019).156 Once again, prosecutors deny IRS investigators’ request to attend the presentation.157
  • Sep. 20, 2022: Acting ASAC Shapley emails U.S. Attorney Weiss to request update on current charging strategies and timelines.158
  • Sep. 21, 2022:
    • U.S. Attorney Weiss emails Acting ASAC Shapley to say he will set up a call in the near term to provide updates to the IRS and FBI.158
    • Delaware USAO Criminal Division Chief Shawn Weede emails IRS and FBI to schedule a call regarding charging timeline and status.159
  • Sep. 22, 2022:
    • In a prosecution team call, AUSA Wolf says it will take U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada time to review the memo and learn to become a U.S. attorney. DOJ Tax still has not finished its review of charges. AUSA Wolf announces the case won’t be charged until after the mid-term elections, saying: “Why would we shoot ourselves in the foot by charging before the election?” 160
    • Acting ASAC Shapley messages DFO Batdorf: “Big news on Sportsman…Bad news. Continued inappropriate decisions affecting timing.  I.e. Election.  We can talk later if you are busy…I believe their actions are simply wrong and this is a huge risk to us right now.”161
    • Acting ASAC Shapley emails DFO Batdorf, SAC Waldon, and ASAC Watson: “During today’s SM team call there was some information provided to the team concerning decisions made by the USAO and DOJ that need to be discussed.  For example, the AUSA stated that they made a decision not to charge until after the election.  In itself, the statement is inappropriate let alone the actual action of delaying as a result of the election.  There are other items that should also be discussed that are equally inappropriate.”162
  • Sep. 23, 2022:
    • Acting ASAC Shapley and ASAC Ryeshia Holley meet to discuss concerns with investigation.151
    • ASAC Holley emails AUSA Shawn Weede: “Let’s wait to have this meeting when Gary is back. Also, can we meet in person and include USA Weiss. SAC Sobocinski will also be present.”163
  • Sep. 28, 2022: IRS SAC Darrell Waldon informs SSA Shapley and SA Ziegler he had requested meetings with both U.S. Attorney Weiss and DOJ Tax attorney Jason Poole.164
  • Sep. 29, 2022:
    • SAC Waldon asks SA Ziegler to call him and relays in the call that DOJ Tax had indicated it didn’t expect the Hunter Biden case to be indicted until 2023 due to various levels of approval within DOJ Tax.165
    • Prosecutors and IRS investigators interview James Biden.166
    • AUSA Weede proposes the senior leadership meeting with U.S. Attorney Weiss take place on October 7.167
  • Oct. 4, 2022: Acting IRS ASAC Shapley emails FBI ASAC Holley to ask for the FBI’s top three agenda items and share his: 1) Special counsel; 2) election deferral comment and continued delays; and 3) venue issue.167
  • Oct. 6, 2022:
    • FBI ASAC Holley emails Acting IRS ASAC Shapley the FBI’s top items to address in the in-person meeting with U.S. Attorney Weiss are: 1) Delays; 2) venue; and 3) communications.167
    • AUSA Carly Hudson emails SA Ziegler because U.S. Attorney Weiss had asked her to remind him “regarding the call you received from management after the James Biden meeting.”168 Ziegler reiterated to Hudson that he’d been told DOJ Tax didn’t expect the Hunter Biden case to be indicted until 2023.168
    • Washington Post story includes leaks regarding investigation.169
  • Oct. 7, 2022: U.S. Attorney Weiss, First Assistant Shannon Hanson, and Criminal Chief Shawn Weede meet in person at their office with Baltimore FBI SAC Tom Sobocinski and ASAC Ryeshia Holley and IRS Washington, D.C. SAC Darrell Waldon and Acting ASAC Gary Shapley.170 SSA Shapley takes notes during the meeting.171
    • Weiss tells investigators he is not the deciding official on whether charges are filed.172 He tells attendees he had requested special charging authority after the D.C. U.S. Attorney did not support charging.173
    • Weiss announces the Delaware USAO will not charge the 2014 and 2015 tax years, but will instead allow the statute of limitations tolling agreement to lapse.174
    • SSA Shapley expresses that he has several concerns with how the case had been handled from the beginning, and the meeting turns very contentious and ends awkwardly.175
    • When DFO Batdorf receives the email summary of the meeting, he is surprised and frustrated about Delaware decided not to charge the 2014/2015 years.176
  • Oct. 11, 2022:
    • IRS SAC Waldon emails SSA Shapley: “You covered it all.”177
    • IRS DFO Batdorf responds: “Thank you both for the update and continued communications.”177
  • Oct. 12, 2022: IRS investigators conduct final investigative interview.178
  • Oct. 17, 2022: In prosecution team meeting, prosecutors tell investigators there is no longer a grand jury to issue subpoenas out of.179 When asked when the Central District of California USAO might make a decision on the case, DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly responds, “I’m not the boss of them.”179
  • Late Oct.: U.S. Attorney Weiss tells IRS SAC Waldon he will not be talking to SSA Shapley any longer.180
  • Oct. 24, 2022: AUSA Wolf and DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly call SA Ziegler to ask for all of SSA Shapley’s emails and reports dating back to May.181
  • Oct. 31, 2022: Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark writes lengthy letter to U.S. Attorney Weiss.182
  • Nov. 7, 2022: FBI SA Mike Dzielak speaks with IRS SA Ziegler and SSA Shapley, expressing that he was shocked at the request for management and senior management-level documents.  SSA Shapley says the discovery process seems to be a ruse for reviewing documents critical of their unethical handling of the investigation, and SA Dzielak agrees.183
  • Nov. 8, 2022:
    • Delaware USAO allows the statute of limitations for the 2014 and 2015 charges to expire despite Hunter Biden’s attorneys being willing to sign another statute of limitations extension.184
    • Prosecution team meeting for November 9 is cancelled.185
    • SSA Shapley emails U.S. Attorney Weiss to indicate the next prosecution team meeting is very important for ensuring an open line of communication and offers dates in December.186
  • Nov. 9, 2022: SSA Shapley emails ASAC Holley: “Since our discussion on October 7 where we, again, discussed the lack of communication/transparency from their office it appears they have double downed and we have received almost nothing since then. With the canceling of today’s pros team meeting and recent unusual requests for discovery it is important to ensure we have an open line of communication with them.”187
  • Nov. 10, 2022:
    • Acting ASAC Shapley emails U.S. Attorney Weiss with dates both IRS and FBI are available to meet again.186
    • U.S. Attorney Weiss contacts IRS SAC Darrell Waldon to express concerns about the delay in producing materials.
  • Nov. 2022: U.S. Attorney Weiss has discussion with CI Deputy Chief Jim Ficco about Acting ASAC Shapley’s discovery.188
  • Dec. 7, 2022: IRS SAC Darrell Waldon emails SA Ziegler to inform him a December 8 prosecution team calls need cancelled and SAC Waldon will field updates from now on.189 SA Ziegler emails DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly seeking confirmation.190
  • Dec. 8, 2020:
    • DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly confirms that he, U.S. Attorney Weiss, and SAC Waldon have decided SAC Waldon would be the point of contact for the IRS moving forward.190
  • Dec. 13, 2022: Delaware USAO and DOJ Tax have all-day meeting in Delaware.191
  • Dec. 22, 2022: U.S. Attorney Weiss, IRS DFO Batdorf and SAC Waldon have phone call in which a frustrated Weiss tells Batdorf and Waldon California declined the case.192

2023

  • Jan. 2023: 
    • U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada reportedly declines to partner with U.S. Attorney Weiss on the 2016-2019 charges (including both 2018 and 2019 felonies as well as misdemeanors for the other years).193
    • Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark meets with U.S. Attorney Weiss, telling Weiss his legacy would be defined by how he handled the decision on whether to charge Hunter Biden.194
  • Jan. 19, 2023: Prosecutors meet with FBI, and discuss some of the spin-off investigations.195
  • Feb. 8, 2023: Hunter Biden Attorney Chris Clark writes DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz regarding its investigation into the leak of grand jury materials in the October 6, 2022 Washington Post story.196
  • Feb. 21, 2023: Chris Clark reaches out to multiple officials at DOJ headquarters asking who he could appeal to if U.S. Attorney Weiss decided to charge Hunter Biden.197 He ultimately emails Associate Deputy Attorney General (ADAG) Brad Weinsheimer.182
  • Mar. 1, 2023: Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee and tells Senator Chuck Grassley: “The United States Attorney has been advised he has full authority to make those referrals you’re talking about or to bring cases in other districts if he needs to do that. He has been advised that he should get anything he needs…I have not heard anything from that office that suggests they are not able to do anything that the U.S. Attorney wants them to do.”198
  • Mar. 16, 2023: DOJ Tax attorney Mark Daly is overheard saying to fellow attorney Jack Morgan that DOJ Tax would give U.S. Attorney Weiss the tax approvals if he wanted them, but he had no idea where they planned to charge Hunter Biden.199
  • Apr. 13, 2023: SA Ziegler hears Hunter Biden’s defense counsel are meeting with DOJ Tax at the end of the month, and emails IRS ASAC Lola Watson: “I have heard that Sportsman’s counsel is meeting with Main DOJ at the end of this month…I had heard that Sportsman’s counsel met with David Weiss in February – I have not heard any update from the result of that meeting. I have heard that David Weiss is currently asking for the Pros Memo from DOJ-Tax approving the tax charges – I would consider this a significant update indicating that David is seeking authority to charge. This was right after Merrick Garland’s testimony.”200
  • Apr. 19, 2023: Mark Lytle sends a letter to various congressional committees indicating he represents a confidential IRS employee (SSA Shapley) who seeks to make protected whistleblower disclosures to Congress.
  • Apr. 21, 2023: Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark writes DOJ Tax and Delaware USAO alleging that the client referenced in Mark Lytle’s letter broke grand jury and tax privacy laws.201 The letter also notes the whistleblower came forward only weeks after Senator Grassley questioned Attorney General Garland about “attempts to seek authority to bring suit against our client in jurisdictions outside of the District of Delaware.”202
  • Apr. 24, 2023: ADAG Weinsheimer contacts Mark Lytle to schedule a call for the next day.
  • Apr. 25, 2023: ADAG Weinsheimer tells Mark Lytle in phone call that DOJ headquarters would love to talk to SSA Shapley.
  • Apr. 26, 2023: ADAG Weinsheimer hosts a meeting for Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark and U.S. Attorney Weiss.203
  • Apr. 27, 2023: IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee: “I can say without hesitation there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline.”
  • May 3, 2023: 
    • Senate Committee on the Budget Ranking Member Chuck Grassley and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer send letter to Attorney General Garland and FBI Director Chris Wray inquiring what was done to investigate allegations contained in an unclassified FBI FD-1023 form documenting confidential human source allegations of a bribery scheme between a foreign national and then-Vice President Biden.204
    • Chairman Comer issues subpoena to the FBI for the FBI FD-1023 form.205
  • May 5, 2023: SSA Shapley attorneys Tristan Leavitt and Mark Lytle have proffer session with House Ways and Means Committee staff followed by Senate Finance Committee staff.
  • May 11, 2023: ADAG Weinsheimer emails Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark to thank him for the April 26 meeting and tells him U.S. Attorney Weiss will handle next steps.182
  • May 15, 2023:
    • AUSA Wolf contacts Biden team to offer deferred prosecution agreement on tax charges.194 Clark accepts and offers to draft the language.194
    • SAC Kareem Carter, with ASAC Lola Watson on the phone, informs SSA Shapley he and his team are being removed from the Hunter Biden case at the request of DOJ.206
    • SSA Shapley legal team sends letter to Commissioner Werfel and to Congress.
  • May 16, 2023: SSA Shapley legal team (Mark Lytle, Tristan Leavitt, and Jason Foster) have call with ADAG Weinsheimer in which Weinsheimer refers back to U.S. Attorney Weiss all questions about the removal of the IRS whistleblowers on the Hunter Biden case.
  • May 18, 2023: 
    • SA Ziegler emails his management chain up to Commissioner Werfel regarding his concerns with the handling of the case and his removal.207
    • Another lawyer for Biden sends Delaware USAO the first draft of a proposed deal, structured so it wouldn’t need a judge’s sign-off and wouldn’t require a guilty plea from Hunter Biden. 
    • U.S. Attorney Weiss responds with a list of must-haves: DOJ doesn’t mention guilty plea, but would insist on filing a court document charging Biden with two tax misdemeanors and one felony offense for possessing a gun as a drug user.182
  • May 19, 2023: AUSA Wolf points Clark to the 2011 Delaware USAO agreement with Aegis Electronic Group.208
  • May 23, 2023: 
    • AUSA Wolf informs Chris Clark that U.S. Attorney Weiss intervened and requires a guilty plea for two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay taxes.209 Clark angrily accuses Wolf of misleading him and rejects the proposal.209
    • Clark subsequently consults with Hunter Biden, who wants to take the deal anyway.209
  • May 24, 2023: SSA Shapley’s identity is publicly revealed in an interview with CBS Evening News.210
  • May 26, 2023: House Ways and Means Committee conducts transcribed interview with SSA Shapley.211
  • Jun. 1, 2023: House Ways and Means Committee conducts transcribed interview with SA Ziegler.212
  • Jun. 2, 2023: Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark emails AUSA Wolf to tell her protection from prosecution was vital to the deal.182
  • Jun. 7, 2023: 
    • Former Attorney General Bill Barr discloses that Burisma bribery allegations had been sent by the Pittsburgh USAO to the Delaware USAO in the fall of 2020 for further investigation.213
    • U.S. Attorney Weiss writes House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan reiterating Attorney General Garland’s statements, writing: “I have been granted ultimate authority over this matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when, and whether to file charges.”
  • Jun. 12, 2023: SSA Shapley submits supplemental affidavit to House Ways and Means Committee disclosing that prosecutors never shared with the IRS allegations from a confidential FBI human source that Ukrainian energy company Burisma had bribed Hunter and Joe Biden.214
  • Jun. 20, 2023: DOJ announces Hunter Biden plea deal and files two information documents in District of Delaware.215
  • Jun. 22, 2023: House Ways and Means Committee votes to publicly release SSA Shapley and SA Ziegler transcripts.216
  • Jun. 30, 2023: U.S. Attorney Weiss writes House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan clarifying: “As the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, my charging authority is geographically limited to my home district. If venue for a case lies elsewhere, common Departmental practice is to contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the district in question and determine whether it wants to partner on the case. If not, I may request Special Attorney status from the Attorney General pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 515. Here, I have been assured that, if necessary after the above process, I would be granted § 515 Authority in the District of Columbia, the Central District of California, or any other district where charges could be brought in this matter.”
  • Jul. 9, 2023: Senator Chuck Grassley writes U.S. Attorney Weiss, revealing whistleblower disclosures that Pittsburgh USAO and FBI agents briefed AUSA Wolf and two Baltimore Field Office FBI agents on October 23, 2020 regarding confidential human source allegations that Ukrainian energy company Burisma bribed Hunter and Joe Biden in 2015.217
  • Jul. 10, 2023: U.S. Attorney Weiss writes Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham further clarifying: “I had discussions with Departmental officials regarding potential appointment under 28 U.S.C. § 515, which would have allowed me to file charges in a district outside my own without the partnership of the local U.S. Attorney. I was assured that I would be granted this authority if it proved necessary. And this assurance came months before the October 7, 2022, meeting referenced throughout the whistleblowers’ allegations. In this case, I’ve followed the process outlined in my June 30 letter and have never been denied the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction.”
  • Jul. 17, 2023: House Oversight Committee staff conducts transcribed interview with the FBI SSA assigned to the Hunter Biden case.218
  • Jul. 19, 2023: SSA Shapley and SA Ziegler testify in open hearing before House Oversight and Accountability Committee.219
  • Jul. 20, 2023: Senator Grassley releases the FBI interview document (FD-1023) detailing confidential human source allegations that Ukrainian energy company Burisma bribed Hunter and Joe Biden in 2015.220
  • Jul. 26, 2023: Judge Maryellen Noreika presides over plea deal hearing in Wilmington, Delaware and rejects proposed plea deal.
  • Aug. 8, 2023: U.S. Attorney Weiss formally requests Special Counsel authority from Attorney General Garland.221
  • Aug. 11, 2023: Attorney General Garland grants U.S. Attorney Weiss Special Counsel authority.221
  • Aug. 14, 2023: The House Oversight Committee releases transcript of its July 17, 2023 interview with the FBI SSA assigned to the Hunter Biden case.222
  • Aug. 17, 2023: Judge Noreika denies request from Hunter Biden attorneys to seal Chairman Smith amicus brief, with whistleblower transcripts attached.
  • Sep. 6, 2023: Delaware prosecutors file motion indicating they plan to seek a gun indictment against Hunter Biden from a grand jury by the end of September.
  • Sep. 7, 2023: House Judiciary Committee interviews FBI Baltimore SAC Tom Sobocinski.
  • Sep. 8, 2023: House Ways and Means Committee interviews former IRS SAC Darrell Waldon.
  • Sep. 11, 2023: House Judiciary Committee interviews FBI Baltimore ASAC Ryeshia Holley.
  • Sep. 12, 2023:
    • House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy announces impeachment inquiry against President Biden.223
    • House Ways and Means Committee interviews IRS DFO Mike Batdorf.224
  • Sep. 18, 2023: Hunter Biden attorneys file lawsuit against the IRS claiming the IRS whistleblowers improperly released Hunter Biden’s information.
  • Sep. 20, 2023: Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.225
  • Sep. 27, 2023: House Ways and Means Committee votes to release additional documents from IRS SSA Gary Shapley and SA Joe Ziegler.226
  • Sep. 28, 2023: House Oversight and Accountability Committee holds first impeachment hearing.227

Footnotes

 

  1. Shapley Transcript at 40, 82; Ziegler Transcript at 12, 17-19, 74. [↩]
  2. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T98-Shapley-3_Attachment-17.pdf [↩] [↩] [↩]
  3. Ziegler Transcript at 19, 131; https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/hunter-biden-justice-department-pittsburgh.html. [↩]
  4. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T18-Exhibit-400-HWM-Gal-Luft-Interview-Requested-Redactions_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  5. Ziegler Transcript at 19. [↩]
  6. Ziegler Transcript at 19-20, 76, 131-32. [↩]
  7. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T18-Exhibit-400-HWM-Gal-Luft-Interview-Requested-Redactions_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  8. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T28-Exhibit-207-HWM-Email-SSA-Referral-04.29.2019_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  9. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T98-Shapley-3_Attachment-17.pdf [↩]
  10. Ziegler Transcript at 76, 131-32. [↩]
  11. Ziegler Transcript at 21-22. [↩]
  12. Ziegler Transcript at 20. [↩]
  13. Ziegler Transcript at 138. [↩]
  14. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/grassley-raises-concerns-over-obama-admin-approval-of-us-tech-company-joint-sale-to-chinese-government-and-investment-firm-linked-to-biden-kerry-families [↩]
  15. Shapley Transcript, Exhibit 6. [↩]
  16. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 6, 105. [↩]
  17. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 6. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXvmLeIXoBA [↩]
  19. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 6, 104; see also https://www.foxnews.com/politics/laptop-hunter-biden-linked-fbi-money-laundering-probe. [↩]
  20. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 6; Ziegler Transcript at 123. [↩]
  21. Shapley Transcript at 12. [↩]
  22. Ziegler Transcript at 25. [↩]
  23. Ziegler Transcript at 23. [↩]
  24. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/barr-acknowledges-justice-dept-has-created-intake-process-to-vet-giulianis-information-on-bidens/2020/02/10/0fba553a-4c1e-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html. [↩]
  25. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/29/810477647/biden-wins-south-carolina-primary-ap-projects. [↩]
  26. Shapley Transcript at 13 [↩] [↩]
  27. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/10/democratic-primaries-joe-biden-bernie-sanders [↩]
  28. Shapley Transcript at 13. [↩] [↩]
  29. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12322067/Trusted-informants-claim-Joe-Hunter-Biden-bribed-10million-corrupt-Ukrainian-oligarch-CORROBORATED-FBI.html. [↩]
  30. https://www.npr.org/2020/06/05/869553801/biden-formally-secures-democratic-nomination-while-gaining-steam-against-trump. [↩]
  31. Shapley Transcript at 17, 86-87, 143. [↩]
  32. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fd_1023_obtained_by_senator_grassley_-_biden.pdf [↩] [↩] [↩]
  33. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12322067/Trusted-informants-claim-Joe-Hunter-Biden-bribed-10million-corrupt-Ukrainian-oligarch-CORROBORATED-FBI.html [↩]
  34. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T23-Exhibit-202-HWM-Email-BS-Warrant-08.07.2020_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  35. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T23-Exhibit-202-HWM-Email-BS-Warrant-08.07.2020_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  36. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T24-Exhibit-203-HWM-Draft-of-BS-Warrant_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  37. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 11, 159, 163. [↩]
  38. Shapley Transcript at 163. [↩] [↩]
  39. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T83-Shapley-3_Attachment-2_WMRedacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 7, 111. [↩]
  40. Shapley Transcript at 15, Exhibit 7, 111-113. [↩]
  41. Shapley Transcript at 15, Exhibit 7, 112-114; Ziegler Transcript at 25-26. [↩]
  42. Shapley Transcript at 15, Exhibit 7. [↩]
  43. Shapley Transcript at 15, Exhibit 7; Ziegler Transcript at 24. [↩]
  44. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 7; Ziegler Transcript at 24. [↩]
  45. Shapley Transcript at Exhibit 7. [↩]
  46. Shapley Transcript at 15-16. [↩]
  47. Shapley Transcript at 16. [↩] [↩]
  48. https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/reps/johnson-grassley-release-report-on-conflicts-of-interest-investigation/ [↩]
  49. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T85-Shapley-3_Attachment-4_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  50. https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/email-reveals-how-hunter-biden-introduced-ukrainian-biz-man-to-dad [↩]
  51. https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2023-07-20-jdj-to-wray-re-dehmlow-testimony.pdf [↩] [↩]
  52. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T86-Shapley-3_Attachment-5_WMRedacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 16. [↩]
  53. Ziegler Transcript at 24-25, 127-129. [↩]
  54. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T31-Exhibit-210-HWM-Email-Mann-Act-10.21.2020_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  55. Shapley Transcript at 16, Exhibit 6, 104. [↩]
  56. Shapley Transcript at 16, Exhibit 6, 105-06. [↩]
  57. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T87-Shapley-3_Attachment-6_WMRedacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 16. [↩]
  58. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T87-Shapley-3_Attachment-6_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  59. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/grassley_to_weiss_1023.pdf. [↩]
  60. Shapley Supplemental Affidavit 1 at 2. [↩]
  61. Shapley Supplemental Affidavit 1 at 2; Zerbe Jun. 19, 2023 letter to House Ways and Means at 2. [↩]
  62. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T58-Exhibit-400A-Anthony-Bobulinski-302-Interview-Memo_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  63. Shapley Transcript at 17. [↩]
  64. Shapley Transcript at 17; Ziegler Transcript at 118. [↩]
  65. https://nypost.com/2020/11/17/appoint-a-special-counsel-to-look-into-hunter-biden-deals-goodwin [↩]
  66. Shapley Transcript at 18, 117, 119-20. [↩]
  67. Shapley Transcript at 19, 117-18; Ziegler Transcript at 119; FBI SSA Transcript at 31-33. [↩]
  68. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T91-Shapley-3_Attachment-10_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  69. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T93-Shapley-3_Attachment-12_WMRedacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 19; Ziegler Transcript at 82, 119-19; FBI SSA Transcript at 34-35. [↩]
  70. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T60-Exhibit-401-John-Robinson-Walker-Interview-Transcript-12.08.2021_Redacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 19-20, Exhibit 8, 121-23 ,137-141. [↩]
  71. Ziegler Transcript at 117-18, 143-45. [↩]
  72. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T25-Exhibit-204-HWM-Email-Storage-Unit-12.09.2020_Redacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 21, 116; Ziegler Transcript at 26-27. [↩]
  73. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/hunter-biden-under-federal-investigation/2020/12/09/3b7361be-3a64-11eb-9276-ae0ca72729be_story.html. [↩]
  74. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T25-Exhibit-204-HWM-Email-Storage-Unit-12.09.2020_Redacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 27. [↩]
  75. Shapley Transcript at 21, 116; Ziegler Transcript at 27-28, 135. [↩]
  76. https://thefederalist.com/2023/09/05/exclusive-fbi-lies-about-highly-credible-source-claims-were-leaked-to-nyt-and-spoonfed-to-weiss; see also https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/hunter-biden-justice-department-pittsburgh.html. [↩]
  77. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T26-Exhibit-205-HWM-JAZ-Storage-Unit-Notes-Dated-12.20.2020_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  78. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T92-Shapley-3_Attachment-11_WMRedacted.pdf; see also https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  79. Shapley Transcript at 21, 114-16; Ziegler Transcript at 28, 120. [↩]
  80. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T54-Exhibit-315A-Filter-Review-Keywords-Email-01.26.2021_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  81. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T94-Shapley-3_Attachment-13_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  82. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-us-attorneys-trump-hunter-biden/2021/02/08/7f6dccd2-6a80-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html. [↩]
  83. https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-urges-ag-nominee-keep-federal-prosecutor-hunter-biden-probe [↩]
  84. Shapley Transcript at 21. [↩]
  85. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-boone-fbi-retirement-20210426-aj4jvw5zmzdbfgfybpagnuglpm-story.html [↩]
  86. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T5-Exhibit-1E-Representation-Letter-Jeff-Gelfound-Interview.pdf; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T6-Exhibit-1F-Gulnora-Deduction-Jeff-Gelfound-Interview.pdf [↩]
  87. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T95-Shapley-3_Attachment-14_WMRedacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 22. [↩]
  88. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T7-Exhibit-1G-HWM-Pages-from-HSI-Proffer-of-Gulnora_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  89. Shapley Transcript at 22. [↩] [↩]
  90. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T29-Exhibit-208-HWM-Email-w-Lesley-Wolf-09.10.2021_Redacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 22, 107; Ziegler Transcript at 29-30, 78. [↩]
  91. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T29-Exhibit-208-HWM-Email-w-Lesley-Wolf-09.10.2021_Redacted.pdf. [↩]
  92. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T96-Shapley-3_Attachment-15_WMRedacted.pdf. [↩]
  93. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T30-Exhibit-209-HWM-Case-agent-frustration-09.20.2021_Redacted.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 30-31. [↩]
  94. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T30-Exhibit-209-HWM-Case-agent-frustration-09.20.2021_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  95. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T72-Shapley-1_Attachment-2_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  96. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T68-Exhibit-507-Batdorf-Email-Regarding-Coming-to-him_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  97. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T67-Exhibit-506-Plea-offer-Email-with-IRS-09.22.2021_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  98. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T96-Shapley-3_Attachment-15_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  99. Ziegler Transcript at 32-33. [↩]
  100. Shapley Transcript at 22; Ziegler Transcript at 32, 52-53, 129-30, 138-39. [↩]
  101. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T8-Exhibit-1H-Loan-Claim-Jeff-Gelfound-Interview_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  102. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T61-Exhibit-402-John-Robinson-Walker-302-11.23.2021_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  103. Shapley Transcript at 22; Ziegler Transcript at 33. [↩]
  104. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T21-Exhibit-200-HWM-Email-LW-Praise-12.20.2021_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  105. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T97-Shapley-3_Attachment-16.pdf [↩]
  106. Shapley Transcript at 43. [↩]
  107. Shapley Transcript at 101-02; Ziegler Transcript at 114-115; Weiss July 10, 2023 letter to Senator Graham at 1. [↩]
  108. Ziegler Transcript at 33. [↩]
  109. Shapley Transcript at 23; Ziegler Transcript at 87-88. [↩]
  110. Shapley Transcript at 23; Ziegler Transcript at 32-33, 87-90. [↩]
  111. Ziegler Transcript at 34, 91-92. [↩]
  112. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T98-Shapley-3_Attachment-17.pdf [↩]
  113. Shapley Transcript at 54; Ziegler Transcript at 161-62. [↩]
  114. Shapley Transcript at 23, 44, 64, 81, 128, 141; Ziegler Transcript at 34; Waldon Transcript at 49-50; Batdorf Transcript at 24. [↩]
  115. Shapley Transcript at 131. [↩]
  116. Ziegler Transcript at 92. [↩]
  117. Shapley Transcript at 26, 81. [↩]
  118. Ziegler Transcript at 34-35. [↩]
  119. Shapley Transcript at 64; Ziegler Transcript at 82-83. [↩]
  120. Shapley Transcript at 54-55. [↩]
  121. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/16/us/politics/hunter-biden-tax-bill-investigation.html [↩]
  122. Shapley Transcript at 24, 65, 153; Ziegler Transcript at 36. [↩]
  123. Shapley Transcript at 24, 66; Ziegler Transcript at 36, 153. [↩]
  124. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/press-briefing-by-director-of-communications-kate-bedingfield-and-nec-director-brian-deese [↩]
  125. Shapley Transcript at 24, 55, 66, 100-02, 153; Ziegler Transcript at 36-37, 111, 153, 158. [↩]
  126. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-22-white-house-chief-staff-ron/story?id=83832024. [↩]
  127. Ziegler Transcript at 35; Batdorf Transcript at 22; https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974. [↩]
  128. Shapley Transcript at 64; Ziegler Transcript at 82-83, 123. [↩]
  129. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd1HE1h1Paw [↩]
  130. https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/services/files/FAB82BFC-B90B-4AB3-B952-F372EE0663D2; see also https://nypost.com/2022/05/09/sens-press-prosecutor-on-recusal-in-hunter-biden-tax-case [↩] [↩]
  131. Shapley Transcript at 26; Ziegler Transcript at 115, 162. [↩]
  132. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T99-Shapley-3_Attachment-18_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  133. Ziegler Transcript at 37-38. [↩] [↩]
  134. Ziegler Transcript at 37; Shapley Transcript at 58-59. [↩]
  135. Batdorf Transcript at 47-48. [↩]
  136. Shapley Transcript at 87, 141-42; Ziegler Transcript at 38, 160-61, 163-64; Waldon Transcript at 19-25; Batdorf Transcript at 19-21, 24-29; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T53-Exhibit-314-RHB-Investigation-Presentation-Pages-USA-06.15.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  137. Ziegler Transcript at 162-63; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  138. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T22-Exhibit-201-HWM-Email-from-Weiss-regarding-Investigation-06.28.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  139. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T100-Shapley-3_Attachment-19.pdf [↩]
  140. Shapley Transcript at 27. [↩]
  141. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T64-Exhibit-503-Meeting-with-David-Weiss-08.16.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  142. Ziegler Transcript at 38. [↩]
  143. Shapley Transcript at 89-90; Ziegler Transcript at 38. [↩]
  144. Shapley Transcript at 89-90, 155. [↩]
  145. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T62-Exhibit-501-Charging-Decisions-Email-08.11.2022_Redacted.pdf; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T63-Exhibit-502-Charging-Decisions-Calandar-Invite-08.12.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  146. Shapley Transcript at 27; Ziegler Transcript at 122, 149-50, 160. [↩]
  147. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T64-Exhibit-503-Meeting-with-David-Weiss-08.16.2022_Redacted.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 77-78. [↩]
  148. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T74-Shapley-1_Attachment-4_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  149. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T74-Shapley-1_Attachment-4_WMRedacted.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 39, 90-91. [↩]
  150. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T32-Exhibit-211-HWM-Email-fom-MFD-Moving-case-forward-08.18.2022_Redacted.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 38. [↩]
  151. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩] [↩]
  152. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T102-Shapley-3_Attachment-21_WMRedacted.pdf; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 93-94. [↩]
  153. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-joe-biden-60-minutes-interview-transcript-2022-09-18; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  154. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/martin-estrada-sworn-united-states-attorney-becoming-chief-federal-law-enforcement [↩]
  155. https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Hunter-Biden-Special-Counsel-Letter-FINAL-2.pdf; see also https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  156. Shapley Transcript at 27, 101, 153; Ziegler Transcript at 152. [↩]
  157. Shapley Transcript at 27; Ziegler Transcript at 61, 153. [↩]
  158. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T110-Shapley-3_Attachment-29_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  159. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T106-Shapley-3_Attachment-25_WMRedacted.pdf; Batdorf Transcript at 32-33. [↩]
  160. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T103-Shapley-3_Attachment-22.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 27; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  161. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T104-Shapley-3_Attachment-23.pdf; see also https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  162. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T105-Shapley-3_Attachment-24.pdf; see also https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T82-Shapley-3_Attachment-1.pdf [↩]
  163. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T106-Shapley-3_Attachment-25_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  164. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T65-Exhibit-504-SAC-Requesting-Weiss-Meeting-09.28.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  165. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T65-Exhibit-504-SAC-Requesting-Weiss-Meeting-09.28.2022_Redacted.pdf; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/A5-Affidavit-5-for-HWM-Committee-v09.20.2023.pdf [↩]
  166. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T19-Exhibit-401-Memo-FINAL-Memo-of-Interview-w-James-B-SPORTSMAN-09.29.2022_KPM-Unredacted_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  167. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T106-Shapley-3_Attachment-25_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩] [↩]
  168. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T66-Exhibit-505-Weiss-Request-10.06.2022_Redacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  169. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/06/hunter-biden-tax-gun-charges; see also Shapley Transcript at 150; Ziegler Transcript at 39-40, 58, 120-21; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T107-Shapley-3_Attachment-26_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  170. Shapley Transcript at 28; Waldon Transcript at 36-38. [↩]
  171. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T80-Shapley-2_2023-09-13-Letter-to-WM-Finance-10-7-22-notes.pdf [↩]
  172. Shapley Transcript at 28, Exhibit 10, 150-51. [↩]
  173. Shapley Transcript at 28, Exhibit 10, 152. [↩]
  174. Shapley Transcript at 28, Exhibit 10. [↩]
  175. Shapley Transcript at 29, Exhibit 10. [↩]
  176. Batdorf Transcript at 45. [↩]
  177. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T76-Shapley-1_Attachment-6_Redacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  178. Ziegler Transcript at 40, 78. [↩]
  179. Shapley Transcript at 29. [↩] [↩]
  180. Waldon Transcript at 94-95. [↩]
  181. Shapley Transcript at 145. [↩]
  182. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974 [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  183. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T108-Shapley-3_Attachment-27.pdf [↩]
  184. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T100-Shapley-3_Attachment-19.pdf; Shapley Transcript at 25-26, 55, 76-77, 91-92, 100; Ziegler Transcript at 65-66, 68. [↩]
  185. Shapley Transcript at 146; https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T109-Shapley-3_Attachment-28_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  186. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T110-Shapley-3_Attachment-29_WMRedacted.pdf [↩] [↩]
  187. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T109-Shapley-3_Attachment-28_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  188. Waldon Transcript at 100. [↩]
  189. Shapley Transcript at 146; Ziegler Transcript at 41. [↩]
  190. Ziegler Transcript at 41. [↩] [↩]
  191. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T111-Shapley-3_Attachment-30_WMRedacted.pdf [↩]
  192. Batdorf Transcript at 38-41. [↩]
  193. Shapley Transcript at 31, 69-70, 153; Ziegler Transcript at 61, 112, 158-59. [↩]
  194. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/19/us/politics/inside-hunter-biden-plea-deal.html [↩] [↩] [↩]
  195. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T78-Shapley-1_Attachment-8_Redacted.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 59. [↩]
  196. [Politico?] [↩]
  197. Ziegler Transcript at 160; https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974 [↩]
  198. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-questions-attorney-general-at-doj-oversight-hearing [↩]
  199. Shapley Transcript at 31. [↩]
  200. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T33-Exhibit-212-HWM-Email-to-ASAC-Re-SM-Investigation-04.13.2023_Redacted.pdf; Ziegler Transcript at 56-57. [↩]
  201. [Politico] [↩]
  202. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974 [↩]
  203. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974; see also https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/politics/hunter-biden-lawyers-meet-with-justice-department/index.html [↩]
  204. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Grassley-Comer-letter.pdf [↩]
  205. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Comer-Subpoena-cover-letter-and-Wray-Subpoena-050322.pdf [↩]
  206. Shapley Transcript at 32, 169-70; Ziegler Transcript at 96-97. [↩]
  207. https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/T34-Exhibit-213-HWM-Ziegler-Email-to-IRS-Leadership-05.18.2023_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  208. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/19/hunter-biden-plea-deal-collapse-00111974 [↩]
  209. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/19/us/politics/inside-hunter-biden-plea-deal.html [↩] [↩] [↩]
  210. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irs-whistleblower-tax-probe-hunter-biden [↩]
  211. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Whistleblower-1-Transcript_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  212. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Whistleblower-2-Transcript_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  213. https://thefederalist.com/2023/06/07/exclusive-bill-barr-confirms-rep-jamie-raskin-lied-about-biden-family-corruption-investigation [↩]
  214. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/WB-1-Affadavit_Redacted.pdf [↩]
  215. https://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/tax-and-firearm-charges-filed-against-robert-hunter-biden [↩]
  216. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/event/meeting-on-documents-protected-under-internal-revenue-code-section-6103 [↩]
  217. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/grassley_to_weiss_1023.pdf [↩]
  218. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FBI-SSA-Transcribed-Interview-Transcript.pdf [↩]
  219. https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/hearing-with-irs-whistleblowers-about-the-biden-criminal-investigation [↩]
  220. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-obtains-and-releases-fbi-record-alleging-vp-biden-foreign-bribery-scheme [↩]
  221. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appointment-special-counsel-2 [↩] [↩]
  222. https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-releases-former-fbi-supervisory-special-agents-transcribed-interview-transcript [↩]
  223. https://www.speaker.gov/speaker-mccarthy-opens-an-impeachment-inquiry [↩]
  224. https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018a-b379-d816-a5ba-bb7f7d940000 [↩]
  225. https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-us-department-justice-0 [↩]
  226. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/event/meeting-on-documents-protected-under-internal-revenue-code-section-6103-2 [↩]
  227. https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/the-basis-for-an-impeachment-inquiry-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr/ [↩]
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