{"id":542924,"date":"2021-05-27T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T17:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=542924"},"modified":"2021-05-27T13:36:03","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T17:36:03","slug":"atf-will-not-release-information-about-hunter-bidens-guns-because-of-substantial-privacy-interests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/atf-will-not-release-information-about-hunter-bidens-guns-because-of-substantial-privacy-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"ATF Will Not Release Information About Hunter Biden\u2019s Guns Because Of \u2018Substantial Privacy Interests\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fatf-will-not-release-information-about-hunter-bidens-guns-because-of-substantial-privacy-interests%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=542924&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-520783510.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will no longer search for or release records stemming from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests surrounding Hunter Biden and his firearms. According to the Bureau, there are \u201csubstantial privacy interests\u201d surrounding the requests.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblaze.com\/news\/source-hunter-bidens-gun-was-taken-by-hallie-biden-in-2018-thrown-into-a-supermarket-garbage-can-went-missing-and-no-arrests-were-made\">Reports<\/a> broke in October about \u201c\u2026 the widow of Beau Biden, Hallie Biden, allegedly took Hunter Biden\u2019s firearm and threw it in a dumpster behind a Delaware grocery store. Police investigated out of concern the gun could be used in a crime, particularly because the grocery store was in close proximity to a school,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/gun-control-loving-democrats-should-be-calling-for-hunter-bidens-prosecution\">The Daily Wire<\/a> previously reported. \u201cWhen Hallie returned to retrieve the firearm, it was gone, and it is alleged that the Secret Service in Delaware helped cover up the incident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2021\/03\/25\/sources-secret-service-inserted-itself-into-case-of-hunter-bidens-gun-477879\">Politico<\/a>, Secret Service agents interviewed the gun store owner who sold the firearm to Hunter and attempted \u201cto take the paperwork involving the sale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe gun store owner refused to supply the paperwork, suspecting that the Secret Service officers wanted to hide Hunter\u2019s ownership of the missing gun in case it were to be involved in a crime, the two people said,\u201d Politico reported. \u201cThe owner, Ron Palmieri, later turned over the papers to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which oversees federal gun laws.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In November, Ammoland journalist David Codrea \u2013 the reporter responsible for unveiling the botched Fast and Furious gunrunning operation that resulted in Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry\u2019s death under President Obama \u2013 filed a request for documents pertaining to Hunter\u2019s gun being discarded in a Delaware dumpster.<\/p>\n<p>Codrea and his attorney, Stephen Stamboulieh, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/2020\/11\/foia-request-asks-atf-and-secret-service-about-hunter-biden-gun-investigation\/#axzz6w4pYwI5Y\">requested<\/a> the ATF and the Secret Service provide the following documents:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"15\">\n<p><em>\u201c[C]opies of law enforcement and administrative reports, communications,&nbsp; correspondence,&nbsp; and work papers,&nbsp; including with internal State of&nbsp; Delaware DOJ, the&nbsp; Delaware&nbsp; State&nbsp; Police, any local law enforcement and any relevant federal agencies including ATF and the United States Secret Service. This includes any case handling instructions from overseeing administrative authorities and\/or agencies that would explain why over two years later, there has still been no public report or explanation as to the way the case has been resolved and why.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Secret Service <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/2021\/03\/secret-service-says-no-record-found-in-hunter-biden-gun-investigation\/#axzz6w4pYwI5Y\">responded<\/a> in January indicating a \u201creasonable search for all potentially responsive documents\u201d was conducted and \u201cno records were located.\u201d As a result, Stamboulieh filed a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court of Appeals over the Secret Service\u2019s failure to comply.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs of the date of this Complaint, USSS has failed to: (i) to fully comply with Plaintiff\u2019s FOIA request; (ii) to respond to Plaintiff\u2019s appeal and (iii) produce all the requested records or otherwise demonstrate that the requested records are exempt from production,\u201d the court appeal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/2021\/04\/complaint-seeks-secret-service-compliance-with-hunter-biden-gun-foia-request\/#axzz6w4pYwI5Y\">states<\/a>. \u201cIf no records exist, the USSS should be compelled to explain why no records exist if it was involved with the issue of Hunter Biden\u2019s missing firearm, including but not limited to discovery on the issue if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The ATF responded in February <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ATF-2021-0263-FOIA-Acknowledgement-Letter.pdf\">stating<\/a> Codrea is not considered a member of the press, meaning the agency would charge him after he received his first 100 pages for free. Stamboulieh <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/2020\/11\/foia-request-asks-atf-and-secret-service-about-hunter-biden-gun-investigation\/#axzz6w4pYwI5Y\">submitted<\/a> a letter on Codrea\u2019s behalf stating they would cover additional charges up to $100.<\/p>\n<p>In March, the ATF <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/2021\/04\/complaint-seeks-secret-service-compliance-with-hunter-biden-gun-foia-request\/#axzz6w4pYwI5Y\">issued<\/a> a response saying \u201ca search has been conducted in our N-Force and TECS databases,\u201d which \u201ccontains all investigative files compiled by ATF for law enforcement purposes.\u201d After a search was conducted they \u201cwere not able to locate any responsive records subject to the Freedom of Information Act.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The ATF ended up providing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammoland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ATF-2021-0263-FOIA-Hunter-Biden-Information-Final-Response-Privacy-Act-Excuse.pdf\">final response<\/a> to the FOIA request earlier this month. According to Adam Siple, the Chief of Information and Privacy Governance Division, the initial FOIA request should have been denied because of \u201csubstantial privacy interests\u201d:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"11\">\n<p><em>As you know, my office did initially conduct a search for records responsive to Mr. Codrea\u2019s FOIA request, but I have since determined that this was an error because the subject of this particular records request is a third party and a private citizen. Under these circumstances, the request should have denied categorically without a search due to the substantial privacy interests retained by the subject of Mr. Codrea\u2019s request. Indeed such an approach is standard practice under both the FOIA and Privacy Act. I regret the oversight in this matter and the delay it caused in researching a final response to your client\u2019s FOIA request.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to Siple, Hunter Biden would have to sign off on releasing any documents related to the request.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of concerns surrounding Hunter Biden\u2019s firearms. The first is the matter Codrea is attempting to obtain information on. What happened in that investigation and why were ATF agents interested in confiscating the gun dealer\u2019s records? Why aren\u2019t records being released to the public when Hunter has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/new-emails-show-hunter-biden-allegedly-leveraged-ties-with-his-father-to-increase-pay-at-burisma-report\">repeatedly<\/a> abused his father\u2019s political positions for personal gain? How do we know this isn\u2019t the case?<\/p>\n<p>A bigger question: why was Hunter Biden allowed to purchase a firearm to begin with? He was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2014\/10\/17\/hunter-biden-drug-test\/17427857\/\">discharged<\/a> from the Navy in 2014 for failing to pass a drug test. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/clips\/2021\/04\/04\/hunter-biden-admits-he-smoked-parmesan-cheese-after-mistaking-it-for-crack\/\">admitted<\/a> to CBS News\u2019 Tracy Smith in April that he did drugs and drank alcohol at the peak of his addiction. It was so bad that he \u201cspent more time on\u201d his \u201chands and knees picking through rugs smoking anything that resembled crack cocaine,\u201d including \u201cparmesan cheese.\u201d Hunter also recently revealed in his new book that he was addicted to drugs around the same time as the gun purchase.<\/p>\n<p>The only way he would have been able to skirt federal firearm laws would be to lie on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atf.gov\/firearms\/docs\/4473-part-1-firearms-transaction-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009\/download\">4473 form<\/a>, the ATF document used to perform a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). On the form, Section 21.e. asks about drug use, something that would automatically disqualify Hunter from legally obtaining a firearm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c21.e. Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?\u201d the form asks. \u201cWarning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lying on a 4473 form can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndok\/pr\/us-attorney-and-atf-target-those-who-lie-and-try-purchase-firearms\">result<\/a> in fines up to $250,000 and\/or 10 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not the ATF will investigate and\/or prosecute Hunter is in the air, although President Biden\u2019s nominee for ATF Director, David Chipman, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/biden-atf-nominee-promises-to-give-hunter-biden-gun-background-check-form-to-senate-probe-any-crimes\">promised<\/a> on Wednesday to \u201cenforce all federal laws without political favor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>The views expressed in this piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a&nbsp;<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will no longer search for or release records stemming from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests surrounding Hunter Biden and his &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2313273,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-520783510.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"ATF Will Not Release Information About Hunter Biden\u2019s Guns Because Of \u2018Substantial Privacy Interests\u2019","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-542924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-520783510.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"ATF Will Not Release Information About Hunter Biden\u2019s Guns Because Of \u2018Substantial Privacy Interests\u2019","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=542924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2313273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=542924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=542924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=542924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}