Americans in Nashville weigh in on Hunter Biden’s business dealings and whether the first family did anything illegal FIRST ON FOX: The Justice Department “limited” a former U.S. attorney’s 2020 investigation into Biden family business dealings in Ukraine, according to testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott Brady appeared for a transcribed interview behind closed doors at the House Judiciary Committee this week, Digital has learned.
The investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine was initiated in 2020 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr and assigned to Scott Brady. However, Brady revealed that the investigation was limited in scope and lacked subpoena power. The investigation was only able to accept information from the public and vet it through open-source databases, publicly available resources, and pre-existing FBI records. Brady clarified that the purpose of the investigation was to assess credibility, not to determine whether there was enough evidence for criminal investigations.
Brady’s investigative work was further constrained by the lack of authorization for a grand jury, which meant that he could not compel testimony or the production of documents. Witnesses, bank records, and emails were beyond the investigative team’s reach. Brady stated that their role was to assess credibility and pass on credible information to other U.S. Attorneys Offices that had ongoing investigations.
During the assessment of Ukraine information, a 2017 FD-1023 was discovered, referencing Hunter Biden’s role on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas firm. Brady requested a re-interview of a confidential human source, which was completed in June 2020. The FD-1023 alleges a criminal bribery scheme involving Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and the founder and CEO of Burisma, Mykola Zlochevsky.
Brady emphasized the credibility of the source and stated that Giuliani was not the source for the details included in the FD-1023. The FD-1023 is currently in the hands of U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018. Brady’s office corroborated the information in the FD-1023 before sharing it with Weiss.
Brady also highlighted the bureaucratic challenges they faced during the investigation. Simple requests, such as extending the assessment, required a renewal every 30 days and had to be approved by 17 different people. Brady stated that the delays caused significant gaps in the investigation’s progress.
In September 2020, Brady sent a report to the Justice Department recommending further investigative steps. He then briefed U.S. attorneys at the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, and Delaware in October 2020. Brady’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee is part of an investigation into the alleged politicization of the Justice Department and FBI.
The limited scope and lack of subpoena power in the investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine have raised questions about the objectivity and thoroughness of the probe. Critics argue that the limitations prevented a comprehensive examination of the allegations. Supporters of the investigation argue that the constraints were necessary to maintain fairness and credibility.
The House Judiciary Committee’s investigation aims to determine whether politics influenced the federal investigation and the extent to which the Justice Department was compromised. As the investigation continues, the findings may have significant implications for the Biden administration and its efforts to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Brooke Singman is a Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at [email protected] or @BrookeSingman on Twitter. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more politics content.
