The FBI has again refused to turn over an internal document that Republicans say shows President Joe Biden was involved in a “criminal” scheme with a foreign national.
The House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the first family’s “influence peddling,” met with office officials on Monday who declined to hand over the case.
Internal form FD-1023 apparently details an “arrangement” for an exchange of money for political decisions, the Republicans said.
The office’s latest blockage came as a second IRS whistleblower came forward, saying he was left out of the Hunter Biden investigation when he claimed the president’s son was receiving treatment preferential.
The FBI missed the noon deadline on Wednesday May 10 to deliver the document, angering Republicans who said FBI Director Chris Wray could face “consequences”.
As a result, a committee aide told DailyMail.com that Comer is expected to announce next steps “soon”.
Monday’s meeting comes after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the FBI was set to hand over the potentially damning document after speaking with FBI Director Chris Wray.
The Republican charges mark an important update in the Republican investigation into ‘influence peddling’ on the Biden family and Hunter Biden’s overseas business deals
“I wanted to be clear with the director of the FBI,” McCarthy told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday.
He confirmed he had a phone call with Wray, adding that “Congress has the right, and we have the jurisdiction, to oversee the FBI.”
“I explained to the director that we will do everything in our power, and [that] we have jurisdiction over the FBI – that we have the right to see this document,” McCarthy continued.
“I believe that after this call, we will get this document.”
Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote to Wray in a Friday night letter marking nine days since the deadline expired, calling it “unacceptable.”
“The FBI’s credibility is at stake, and their continued refusal to cooperate will have lasting consequences,” Grassley said.
Grassley, R-Iowa, and Comer, R-Ky., recently revealed that a whistleblower had come forward with startling claims about the document, which they said described the scheme involving Biden, when he was vice president, and an anonymous foreign national.
Republicans issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray demanding the document be turned over with a May 10 noon deadline – which did not happen.
Grassley said that although the FBI did not provide the document, it offered an “accommodation process” indicating that the “document is real”.
He said last week’s response letter to leading Republicans only raises additional questions, including “whether the FBI has an open investigation based on these allegations.”
Lawmakers say it “remains unclear what steps, if any, have been taken to investigate the matter,” which is concerning because of the “substantial public interest” in the FBI’s response.
The FBI confirmed to DailyMail.com that it provided a response to Republicans last week, but disputed Grassley’s claim that this proves the existence of the specific document alleged by the whistleblower.
“An FD-1023 form is used by FBI agents to record reports that have not been verified by a confidential human source. Documenting the information does not validate it, establish its credibility or compare it to other information verified by the FBI,’ a spokesperson said.
“Revealing unverified or possibly incomplete information could harm investigations, harm prosecutions or legal proceedings, unfairly violate privacy or reputation, create false impressions in the public, or potentially identify individuals who provide information to law enforcement agencies. order, putting their physical safety at risk.
“Information from confidential human sources and members of the public is critical to the work of the FBI and we are also committed to protecting the privacy of anyone who comes forward.”
The subpoena for the document marked a significant update in the Republican ‘influence peddling’ investigation into the Biden family and came just hours after a report said prosecutors were on about to decide whether to criminally indict Hunter Biden in his tax and gun investigations.
Iam Sams, White House spokesman for oversight and investigations, called the GOP subpoena for the document “unsubstantiated” and “politically motivated.”
The House Oversight Committee released a new memo specifically outlining the Biden family’s ties to Romanian ‘influence peddling’ and a network of LLCs created while Biden was vice president
The House Oversight Committee has accused 10 Biden family members – including Hunter and Hallie – of being involved in ‘shady’ business deals where they took advantage of the family name
“Information provided by a whistleblower raises concerns that then-Vice President Biden may have engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national,” Comer said.
‘For 5 years now, Republicans in Congress have been launching baseless politically motivated attacks on [President Biden] without providing proof of their assertions. Or evidence of decisions influenced by something other than American interests,” he claimed.
Sams added that Biden had been “unprecedented” with his level of transparency, releasing a total of 25 years of tax returns to the American public.
The House Oversight Committee has accused 10 Biden family members – including Hunter and Hallie – of being involved in “shady” business deals where they took advantage of the family name.
Earlier in May, the committee released a new memo specifically outlining the Biden family’s ties to Romanian “influence peddling” and a network of limited liability companies created while Biden was vice president.
He also accuses President Biden of a “lack of transparency” regarding his family’s receipt of funds from China, which he says is “not true.”
It details the family’s efforts to hide, conceal and confuse sources of money – including more Chinese money, according to a committee aide.
“The White House refuses to correct the president’s statement. The president is now using the federal government to interfere with his family and his own role in these schemes,’ Comer said at a news conference announcing the memo on Wednesday.
