The whistleblower, who has supervised the Hunter Biden investigation since 2020, had sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress about “preferential treatment” in the case and alleged that Attorney General Merrick Garland gave false testimony to Congress. The whistleblower’s attorneys have called the I.R.S.’s decision to remove the investigative team “clearly retaliatory” and have asked Congress to give the matter “prompt attention.”
The attorneys’ letter to Congress stated that the whistleblower had been informed that he and his entire investigative team were being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject at the request of the D.O.J. The attorneys also noted that the whistleblower is protected by 5 U.S.C. § 2302 from retaliatory personnel actions, including receiving a “significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions” because of his disclosures to Congress.
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They further stated that any attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restrictions and that 18 U.S.C. § 1505 makes it a crime to obstruct an investigation of Congress.
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The whistleblower’s attorneys have accused the I.R.S. of retaliating against their client and obstructing a congressional inquiry. They have also criticized the I.R.S.’s decision to remove the experienced investigators who have worked on the case for years and are now the subject-matter experts. The attorneys have asked Congress to give the matter “prompt attention” and to investigate the I.R.S.’s decision to remove the investigative team.
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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is under investigation for tax violations relating to his foreign business affairs, among other things. Last month, one week after the whistleblower stepped forward, Hunter Biden’s attorneys met with D.O.J. leaders, signaling an upcoming charging decision in his case. The removal of the investigative team working on the case raises questions about the D.O.J.’s handling of the investigation and the potential for political interference.
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