This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65344338
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hunter Biden tax probe improperly handled - whistleblower | Hunter Biden tax probe improperly handled - whistleblower |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Hunter Biden (right) at a White House event in early April | Hunter Biden (right) at a White House event in early April |
| A US tax special agent has information about how a criminal investigation into the son of US President Joe Biden has been hampered by "political considerations", says his lawyer. | A US tax special agent has information about how a criminal investigation into the son of US President Joe Biden has been hampered by "political considerations", says his lawyer. |
| The attorney for the unnamed agent says his client is seeking whistleblower protections from Congress to speak out. | The attorney for the unnamed agent says his client is seeking whistleblower protections from Congress to speak out. |
| He says the agent alleges "preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions" in the inquiry. | He says the agent alleges "preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions" in the inquiry. |
| A White House official denied Mr Biden had meddled in the probe into his son. | A White House official denied Mr Biden had meddled in the probe into his son. |
| Congressional Republicans are investigating whether Hunter Biden improperly used family ties in his business dealings. | Congressional Republicans are investigating whether Hunter Biden improperly used family ties in his business dealings. |
| What was Hunter Biden doing in China and Ukraine? | What was Hunter Biden doing in China and Ukraine? |
| Mark Lytle, a lawyer representing the employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax agency, wrote to a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday. | Mark Lytle, a lawyer representing the employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax agency, wrote to a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday. |
| He said he represents a "career IRS Criminal Supervisory Special Agent who has been overseeing the ongoing and sensitive investigation of a high profile, controversial subject since early 2020". | He said he represents a "career IRS Criminal Supervisory Special Agent who has been overseeing the ongoing and sensitive investigation of a high profile, controversial subject since early 2020". |
| The employee is prepared to "contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee", and reveal "clear conflicts of interest", the letter states. | The employee is prepared to "contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee", and reveal "clear conflicts of interest", the letter states. |
| "My client wants to come forward to Congress," Mr Lytle told CBS News. | "My client wants to come forward to Congress," Mr Lytle told CBS News. |
| "He's ready to be questioned about what he knows and what he experienced under the proper legal protections." | "He's ready to be questioned about what he knows and what he experienced under the proper legal protections." |
| The lawyer added that his client was limited from speaking publicly about any individual's tax filings, and would require protections from Congress in order to reveal any insights. | The lawyer added that his client was limited from speaking publicly about any individual's tax filings, and would require protections from Congress in order to reveal any insights. |
| A lawyer for Mr Biden told NBC News that the IRS agent appeared to have "committed a crime". | A lawyer for Mr Biden told NBC News that the IRS agent appeared to have "committed a crime". |
| "It is a felony for an IRS agent to improperly disclose information about an ongoing tax investigation," said the attorney, Chris Clark. | "It is a felony for an IRS agent to improperly disclose information about an ongoing tax investigation," said the attorney, Chris Clark. |
| In October, a US source told reporters that the FBI had collected enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes dating back to at least 2019. | In October, a US source told reporters that the FBI had collected enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes dating back to at least 2019. |
| A federal grand jury in Delaware led by a Trump-picked U.S. attorney has been examining the younger Biden's taxes and foreign business work since 2018. | |
| Last month, US Attorney General Merrick Garland told a Senate hearing he would not interfere with the investigation. | Last month, US Attorney General Merrick Garland told a Senate hearing he would not interfere with the investigation. |
| President Biden has said that he has never spoken to his son about his business dealings. | President Biden has said that he has never spoken to his son about his business dealings. |
| On Thursday, White House spokesman Ian Sams said Mr Biden had vowed to allow the investigation into his son to be conducted "free from any political interference by the White House". | On Thursday, White House spokesman Ian Sams said Mr Biden had vowed to allow the investigation into his son to be conducted "free from any political interference by the White House". |
| "He has upheld that commitment," added Mr Sams. | "He has upheld that commitment," added Mr Sams. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| United States | United States |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |