Weiss could testify to Congress on Hunter Biden probe despite DOJ obstacles.
Will U.S. Attorney David Weiss Testify to Congress?
With just three weeks until the scheduled date for U.S. Attorney David Weiss, now a special counsel, to potentially testify before Congress, the question of whether he will appear at all remains open. The Justice Department has already prevented other witnesses from complying with congressional subpoenas in House Republican investigations into the Biden family’s business dealings, indicating potential roadblocks for the House inquiry.
Negotiations and Uncertainty
Negotiations between the House Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department regarding Weiss’s appearance before Congress are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the talks. The Justice Department has not yet canceled Weiss’s planned appearance this fall. However, it is unclear whether Weiss would testify at a public hearing or participate in a closed-door transcribed interview. Congressional investigators typically prefer closed-door settings, as they tend to yield more useful information.
Special Counsel Status and Congressional Oversight
Weiss’s status as a special counsel may provide the Justice Department with additional tools to resist congressional oversight. The department has not commented on whether Weiss still intends to testify.
The Justice Department’s Previous Willingness
In July, the Justice Department appeared willing to allow Weiss, then the U.S. attorney in Delaware, to testify before Congress despite the ongoing criminal investigation into Hunter Biden. However, Hunter Biden’s court hearing and subsequent events led to Weiss’s appointment as special counsel and raised doubts about further cooperation between congressional investigators and the Justice Department.
Obstruction and Seeking Corroboration
The Justice Department recently refused to allow two FBI agents involved in the Hunter Biden investigation to comply with subpoenas for their testimony. House Republicans are seeking corroboration of a meeting in which Weiss allegedly admitted that the DOJ had denied his request for special counsel status and that two U.S. attorneys appointed by President Joe Biden had blocked his ability to charge Hunter Biden in the proper jurisdictions. Negotiations are ongoing, and the two FBI agents may eventually appear for transcribed interviews.
Challenging Obstruction and Frustration
While the Justice Department has refused to make more than 11 requested witnesses available for interviews, lawmakers are considering their options for challenging this obstruction. House Republicans are frustrated with the lack of answers and allegations of misconduct in Weiss’s office. The frustration has pushed them closer to considering an impeachment inquiry.
Despite critics arguing that current evidence does not sufficiently implicate Joe Biden, lawmakers believe an impeachment inquiry would provide them with more tools to overcome the Biden administration’s stonewalling.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
