Subtitle: Recent testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee raises questions about financial transactions and loan repayments between Joe Biden and family members.
IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler testified on December 5 regarding alleged loans sent by Joe Biden to his family members after concluding his vice presidency. However, according to a newly released transcript of the testimony, both agents were unable to “verify” the existence of such loans.
During the hearing, Republican Texas Rep. Beth Van Duyne questioned the whistleblowers about their inability to confirm whether checks from Joe Biden’s account were indeed given to family members. Shapley responded, “I don’t believe we ever obtained records that would have shown us any light on those transactions.”
Van Duyne followed up, asking if they believed such records existed. Shapley affirmed, “Oh, yeah, absolutely.”
The White House has consistently defended these financial transactions as repayments for loans. Notably, Joe Biden received a $40,000 check in September 2017 from his sister-in-law, Sara Biden, categorized as a loan repayment, according to bank records.
The controversy deepens as House Oversight Chairman James Comer stated in October that the bank records in his possession did not indicate loans sent by Joe Biden to family members. The Biden administration rejected Comer’s request to release financial documents supporting the existence of these loans.
Further complicating matters, a $200,000 check James Biden wrote to his brother in March 2018 is also classified as a loan repayment. When questioned by Republican Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, IRS investigator Joseph Ziegler stated, “In all the different scenarios – Burisma, CEFC, all those different scenarios – there was nothing to verify that they were loans in the evidence.”
The ongoing Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes and firearms possession, led by Shapley and Ziegler, has added a layer of complexity to the situation. The IRS agents previously accused the DOJ of giving Hunter Biden special treatment, an assertion confirmed by witnesses in the case.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan announced their intention to initiate contempt proceedings against Hunter Biden for not complying with a subpoena. Instead of appearing for deposition, Hunter Biden held a press conference defending his father and addressing allegations related to his business dealings.
The impeachment inquiry into President Biden, launched in September, centers around Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings and the IRS whistleblower testimony. The recent California indictment against Hunter Biden includes charges related to tax evasion, totaling over $1 million.
As the controversy unfolds, questions surrounding the nature of financial transactions between Joe Biden and his family persist, with implications for the ongoing investigation and political landscape.
