By Casey Harper (The Center Square)
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., on Wednesday advanced the investigation of President Joe Biden and his son Hunter by calling on a federal agency that may be withholding information.
Comer spotlighted the National Archives and Records Administration, the federal records agency that notified the Justice Department when former President Donald Trump allegedly kept secret documents. Comer says NARA has withheld some information, claiming it is “personal.”
“During discussions between NARA and Commission staff regarding the Commission’s earlier request for special access to Vice Presidential documents, NARA informed the Commission that certain documents held by NARA would not be presented to the Commission — and that Indeed, NARA would not inform the Commission of their existence — if NARA considers these documents to be ‘personal documents’ as defined by the PRA,” Comer said in a letter to United States archivist Colleen Shogan.
Comer reversed that sentiment.
However, “personal documents” are defined as those documents “that do not relate to or have no effect on the performance of the constitutional, statutory or other official or ceremonial duties of” the vice president,” the letter said. “The committee has made it clear that its investigation may involve then-Vice President Biden’s misuse of his official duties; it cannot be the NARA that determines whether certain documents ‘do not relate to or have no influence on’ those tasks.”
Related: Fed prosecutors say they plan to indict Hunter Biden, skeptics doubt he will face any punishment
Comer’s letter is part of an ongoing effort to find out the extent to which President Biden was now aware of and involved in his son Hunter’s business dealings. IRS whistleblowers testified that the Biden family and associates received approximately $20 million from foreign entities, including Ukraine and China, through about 20 shell companies.
Devon Archer, a longtime associate of Hunter Biden, has said publicly that Hunter used calls from his father to win deals.
“Joe Biden never built an ‘absolute wall’ between his family’s business activities and his official government work — his office doors were wide open to Hunter Biden’s associates,” Comer said in a letter to United States archivist Colleen. Shogan. “There is evidence of collusion in efforts to spread media stories about the corruption in Burisma as Vice President Biden publicly pushed an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine.”
As The Center Square previously reported, Hunter Biden faces a series of legal challenges related to allegations of gun, tax and foreign influence crimes. Special counsel David Weiss said in court Wednesday that Hunter could be charged again before September 19.
Support conservative voices!
Sign up to receive the latest news political news, insights and commentary delivered straight to your inbox.
“Suspiciously, Hunter Biden’s aide had a media statement on Burisma endorsed by Vice President Biden himself on the same day Hunter Biden ‘called DC’ for help with the government pressure Burisma is facing,” the letter said. “Americans are demanding responsibility for this misuse of government functions for the benefit of the Biden family.”
Related: GOP alleges former vice president ‘colluded’ with Hunter Biden Associates
Comer has also asked NARA for information about Air Force Two, which Hunter Biden reportedly used for travel in some of his transactions.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.