The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that special counsel David Weiss will soon be allowed to testify to Congress about his investigation of Hunter Biden, the son of the president.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte sent a letter on Friday telling the House Judiciary Committee that the DOJ “reaffirms its commitment” to make Weiss available to appear in “near term” and offered to make the U.S. attorneys in California and Washington, D.C., available for testimony.
Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) had requested the DOJ make Weiss, a U.S. attorney from Delaware, free for a transcribed interview on October 11. It was one of several demands in Jordan’s letter, which sought information on the authority Weiss had to bring charges. The DOJ previously said in July that it was prepared to let Weiss testify, but then a plea deal in the case fell apart.
“The volume and requested pace of the Committee’s proposed schedule far exceeds the Department’s resources, especially in light of the Committee’s other pending requests and subpoenas to the Department on other topics,” Uriarte said in his new letter.
“We remain committed to providing information voluntarily, without unnecessary escalation,” Uriarte wrote, adding, “However, any additional testimony and documents shared at this early juncture must continue to be appropriately limited to protect the ongoing matter and important confidentiality interests.”
Uriarte did not make clear when exactly Weiss is free to testify, according to CNBC, although Jordan told Fox News over the weekend that Weiss had agreed to appear before his committee on October 18. “We look forward to that,” he added.
The Daily Wire reached out to the special counsel’s office seeking comment.
After the plea deal collapsed under scrutiny from a judge, Attorney General Merrick Garland granted Weiss special counsel status in August, giving the U.S. attorney broader authority to bring charges outside of his own district.
Hunter Biden was charged on federal gun charges earlier this month, after which his lawyer said his client planned to plead not guilty. The first son may also soon face an indictment on tax evasion charges.
During testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week, Garland insisted that Weiss always had latitude to bring any charges he saw fit, but the attorney general acknowledged other U.S. attorneys could refuse to partner with Weiss — as has been alleged in whistleblower testimony with regards to D.C. and California.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is facing an impeachment inquiry on allegations of corruption. The House Oversight Committee scheduled its first impeachment hearing to take place on Thursday.