Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Matters at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tax Division, Stuart Goldberg, testified about the Hunter Biden tax investigation, in a startling revelation before the House Judiciary Committee. Goldberg disclosed that the case involving Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, received exceptional attention within the DOJ due to its political significance, leading to heightened supervision and his direct approval on crucial decisions.
Goldberg, during his testimony, confirmed that high-profile cases involving public figures like Hunter Biden warranted special treatment, given the potential for extensive media coverage and congressional interest. He clarified that such cases, including the one concerning Hunter Biden, necessitated approval at his level, underscoring the sensitivity and gravity associated with investigations involving individuals of political prominence.
The DOJ’s Tax Division collaborated closely with Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the lead prosecutor for the Hunter Biden case. Goldberg elaborated on an unusual meeting held at the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s office, attended by Weiss, Delaware Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf, two DOJ Tax officials, and Hunter Biden’s defense lawyers, including Christopher J. Clark. Although specific details of the meeting were not disclosed, Goldberg acknowledged a presentation made by Clark during the session.
Goldberg, emphasizing the exceptional nature of his involvement, stated that his presence at such meetings was rare and occurred primarily due to the case’s significance and the high-profile nature of the individual under investigation. He disclosed that he had several in-person meetings with Weiss in Washington, D.C., leading up to a pivotal January 2023 meeting. These meetings, numbering around seven or eight, involved Weiss, Wolf, FBI agents, IRS officials, and DOJ Tax officials, indicating the complexity and depth of the investigation.
During the hearings, Goldberg revealed that IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, had testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in May and June. They discussed a presentation by DOJ Tax attorneys at one of the meetings, wherein arguments were made against charging Hunter Biden for alleged tax offenses. While specific details were not provided, this disclosure shed light on the internal deliberations within the DOJ regarding the case.
Goldberg’s testimony underscored the extraordinary measures taken in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, emphasizing the case’s political significance and the meticulous scrutiny it underwent within the DOJ. The presence of Hunter Biden’s defense team, coupled with the unprecedented nature of the meetings, highlighted the exceptional attention this investigation garnered within the purview of the Department of Justice.