The release of the full transcript of the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) tax official Douglas Leff’s testimony has revealed that former Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Weiss needed approval from the division that handles Hunter Biden-related cases before bringing charges against him.
Leff’s testimony was brought to light after it was filed in a federal court in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. In the transcript, he was asked by an attorney whether he received any communication from Weiss regarding the Hunter Biden investigation. Leff responded by saying, “I believe that he [Weiss] wanted to establish a policy within the division…in order for any charges to be brought or an investigation to be pursued within the Hunter Biden matter.”
The transcript also reveals that Leff was unsure whether Weiss had obtained the approval he needed to proceed with the investigation. Leff said, “He [Weiss] may have done that, but I can’t confirm that he actually got that approval.”
This revelation adds to the growing controversy surrounding the Hunter Biden case. Weiss was appointed as acting head of the Tax Division in the summer of 2019 and was involved in the investigation into Hunter Biden from the start. He was abruptly removed from the post in October of that same year, after news of the investigation broke.
The news that Weiss needed to obtain approval from his division before bringing charges against Hunter has raised questions about the independence of the investigation. Critics have accused Weiss of using his position to manipulate the Hunter Biden case.
Weiss has denied allegations of political interference and has said that he was never involved in the decision-making process. It is unclear what Leff’s testimony means for Weiss, or whether the request for approval was approved.
The DoJ has declined to comment on the transcript, stating that it does not discuss ongoing investigations. However, the release of the document has shed light on the scope and status of the investigation. It remains to be seen how the new information will impact the outcome of the Hunter Biden case.