Shapley previously told the committee that the Biden transition team and Secret Service were "tipped off" about the planned interview, and the FBI agent, who testified under oath on July 17, confirmed key details of the IRS whistle-blower's testimony.
“The former FBI SSA [supervisory special agent] … corroborated IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley’s testimony that FBI headquarters tipped off Secret Service headquarters and the Biden transition team about the planned Hunter Biden interview during US Attorney for Delaware David Weiss’ investigation,” the committee said in a statement.
The committee's Chairman James Comer noted that the FBI agent and Shapley wanted to interview Hunter Biden in 2020, but just the night before, they learned that the Biden team had been made aware of their plans. The two were then told not to approach Hunter Biden and to instead wait for his call, but received a message from Hunter's lawyer, the statement added.
”Tipping off the transition team and not being able to interview Hunter Biden as planned are just a couple of examples that reveal the Justice Department's misconduct in the Biden criminal investigation that occurred under US Attorney Weiss’ watch,” Comer said.
He added that the Oversight Committee has no confidence in Weiss, who has now been appointed as a Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, because of his inability to prevent the Biden transition team from being warned of key developments.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Friday the appointment of Weiss as a special counsel in Hunter Biden’s case. He said Weiss would provide a public report at the end of his investigation explaining his decision to file charges or not.
Comer, on the same day, stated that by designating Weiss, the Justice Department was attempting a cover-up for President Joe Biden's family.