{"id":3463,"date":"2023-05-18T12:46:54","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T17:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/?p=3463"},"modified":"2023-05-18T12:46:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T17:46:54","slug":"house-to-investigate-irs-retaliation-removal-of-team-probing-hunter-biden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/?p=3463","title":{"rendered":"House to investigate IRS retaliation, removal of team probing Hunter Biden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Comer says Congress must hold accountable those &#8216;who are covering up crimes&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load wp-image-3464\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"335\" src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82.png 600w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82-293x164.png 293w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-82-390x218.png 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>House Republicans will expose any cover-up by the Internal Revenue Service after a whistleblower\u2019s lawyers announced that their client is being retaliated against because of the investigation into presidential son Hunter Biden\u2019s finances, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe repeated weaponization of the federal government to attack one political party and protect the other is un-American,\u201d McCarthy, R-Calif., wrote Tuesday on Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The House speaker added: \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WaysandMeansGOP\" target=\"_blank\">@WaysAndMeansGOP<\/a>\u00a0will expose any possible cover-up at the IRS, and Republicans will protect the whistleblowers who shine a light on government misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The repeated weaponization of the federal government to attack one political party and protect the other is un-American.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WaysandMeansGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WaysAndMeansGOP<\/a> will expose any possible cover-up at the IRS, and Republicans will protect the whistleblowers who shine a light on government misconduct. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/n4JmLJmHAT\">https:\/\/t.co\/n4JmLJmHAT<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpeakerMcCarthy\/status\/1658522790289342479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The IRS has removed its \u201centire investigative team\u201d in the agency\u2019s probe of Hunter Biden for tax fraud, according to the whistleblower\u2019s legal counsel, the New York Post&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/05\/15\/irs-cans-investigative-team-from-hunter-biden-probe-in-move-whistleblower-claims-is-clearly-retaliatory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A representative of the whistleblower is scheduled to testify Thursday before to the House Select Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In late April, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysignal.com\/2023\/04\/21\/how-next-conservative-president-should-tame-politicized-justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whistleblower<\/a>&nbsp;from within the IRS notified several congressional committees and the Treasury Department\u2019s inspector general about political interference in the IRS investigation of the business dealings of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, in China, Ukraine, Romania, and elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/waysandmeans.house.gov\/chairman-smith-is-commissioner-werfel-upholding-whistleblower-protections-he-promised-or-violating-the-law-and-their-rights-instead\/\" target=\"_blank\">testified<\/a>\u00a0April 27 to the House Ways and Means Committee. \u201cI can say without any hesitation [that] there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or [calling] into a whistleblower hotline,\u201d Werfel told lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said Tuesday that it appears that Werfel\u2019s pledge of no retaliation may not be holding up. In a public statement, Smith said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">This most recent communication concerning allegations of retaliatory actions against a whistleblower, appears to contradict the sworn testimony by Commissioner Werfel, who pledged that whistleblower protections would be upheld. Congress\u2019s duty to hold government agencies accountable relies on the availability and willingness of individuals to speak out about wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Not only does retaliation like this discourage whistleblowers, it can also rise to the level of an illegal violation of statutory protections for whistleblowers. I call on Commissioner Werfel to abide by his pledge, quickly provide information to Congress in response to these allegations, and ensure that no action is taken to discourage those who attempt to shine a light on government misconduct.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawyers Tristan Leavitt, president of Empower Oversight, and Mark Lytle, a partner in Nixon Peabody LLP, who represent the whistleblower, disclosed the IRS\u2019 removal of its investigative team in a letter Monday to Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToday the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress,\u201d their letter says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leavitt is scheduled to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov\/committee-activity\/hearings\/hearing-weaponization-federal-government-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">testify<\/a>&nbsp;Thursday before the House\u2019s government weaponization subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAny attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is also a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restrictions,\u201d the Leavitt-Lytle letter says. \u201cFurthermore, 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1505 makes it a crime to obstruct an investigation of Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President Joe Biden consistently has said that his son did nothing wrong. The White House has said that House Republicans haven\u2019t provided evidence of wrongdoing by any member of the Biden family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer noted that Americans just found out about the FBI\u2019s abuses in its investigation of Donald Trump, officially exposed Monday by special counsel&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysignal.com\/2023\/05\/15\/7-key-takeaways-from-release-of-durham-report-on-origin-of-trump-probe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Durham<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCongress must thoroughly investigate this alleged retaliation [against the IRS whistleblower] and hold accountable those in the Biden administration who are covering up any crimes committed by the president\u2019s son,\u201d Comer, R-Ky., said<a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/release\/comer-statement-on-irs-retaliating-against-whistleblower%EF%BF%BC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;in a written statement<\/a>. He added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">It\u2019s clear from the House Oversight Committee\u2019s investigation that Hunter and other members of the Biden family engaged in deceptive, shady business schemes to avoid scrutiny as they made millions from countries like China and Romania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">The Oversight Committee will continue to pursue our investigation into the Biden family\u2019s business schemes to determine if President Biden and our national security are compromised. Americans demand answers, transparency, and accountability.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Original Article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnd.com\/2023\/05\/house-investigate-irs-retaliation-removal-team-probing-hunter-biden\/\">https:\/\/www.wnd.com\/2023\/05\/house-investigate-irs-retaliation-removal-team-probing-hunter-biden\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comer says Congress must hold accountable those &#8216;who are covering up crimes&#8217; House Republicans will expose any cover-up by the Internal Revenue Service after a whistleblower\u2019s lawyers announced that their client is being retaliated against because of the investigation into presidential son Hunter Biden\u2019s finances, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said. \u201cThe repeated weaponization of the federal government to attack one political party and protect the other is un-American,\u201d McCarthy, R-Calif., wrote Tuesday on Twitter. The House speaker added: \u201c@WaysAndMeansGOP\u00a0will expose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hunter-biden"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3463"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3465,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463\/revisions\/3465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}