Reports: IRS agent claims Hunter Biden probe being mishandled

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — A whistleblower at the Internal Revenue Service says he has information that shows a tax investigation into the president’s son, Hunter Biden, is being mishandled, according to a letter sent by his attorney to Congress.

Now, Republicans are calling this deeply concerning, saying Congress needs to hear from this supposed whistleblower immediately.

The unnamed agent’s lawyer sent the letter to Congress on Wednesday claiming he has evidence that there has been a “failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate disposition of the case,” as first reported by the Wall Street Journal and CBS News.

The agent also said he has information that contradicts testimony given by a “senior political appointee.” He has requested whistleblower protections from Congress.

Hunter Biden is under investigation by federal prosecutors over alleged tax crimes. The matter is currently in the hands of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.

Attorney Mark Lytle, who is representing the agent, told CBS News his client is “ready to be questioned” about what he knows. Lytle spoke to CBS News in an exclusive interview that aired Wednesday on “CBS Evening News.”

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) of the House Committee on Ways and Means responded, stating he looks forward to sitting down promptly with this person to better understand the scope and detail of the concerns raised. He added that the committee takes this seriously.

A spokesperson for the White House said in a statement to NewsNation that since Biden took office, and consistent with his campaign promise, the president said he would “restore the independence of the Justice Department when it comes to decision-making in criminal investigations.

Biden has made clear that this matter would be handled independently by the Justice Department, under the leadership of a U.S. attorney appointed by former President Trump, free from any political interference by the White House.”

“We’re letting the Department of Justice to handle this. We leave that to them,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

The 2018 federal tax investigation into Biden intensified last year as prosecutors began to dig into his financial dealings abroad and expanded their focus to include potential violations of foreign lobbying and money-laundering rules. His business dealings in Ukraine were at the center of the controversy that led to former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.

From 2014 to 2019, Biden served on the board of Ukraine-based Burisma and was paid about $50,000 a month. This prompted Trump to urge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to open an investigation into Biden’s father, who was Trump’s electoral opponent at that time. Biden’s involvement with Burisma also sparked concerns about a potential conflict of interest, given that his father was deeply involved in U.S. foreign policy with Ukraine when he was vice president in President Barrack Obama’s administration.

The criminal investigation into Hunter Biden is being headed by U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by Trump. Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to Congress earlier this year that Weiss had broad independence in his investigation.

“He has been advised he is not to be denied anything he needs,” Garland said at Senate hearing in March. “I have not heard anything from that office to suggest that they are not able to do everything the U.S. Attorney wants to do.”

Garland has also vowed not to get involved in that investigation during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month.

“I have pledged not to interfere with that investigation, and I have carried through on my pledge,” Garland said.

Congressional Republicans are also investigating Hunter and the broader Biden family’s business dealings.

NewsNation reporter Katie Smith contributed to this report.