by Ben Whedon
"Some reports have noted that the Hunter Biden criminal probe is ongoing, therefore how can the allegations of Thibault shutting down investigative activity relating to Hunter Biden be credible?"
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley on Wednesday questioned whether the prosecutors making the case against Hunter Biden have all the evidence they need following the departure of an embattled FBI agent who reportedly worked to suppress evidence against the president's son.
The Iowa senator previously highlighted allegations against former FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Thibault pertaining to his handling of investigations relating to former President Donald Trump and Hunter Biden. Thibault reportedly worked to falsely discredit evidence against Hunter Biden and also allegedly concealed the partisan nature of evidence when seeking approval from his superiors to open an investigation into Trump. That investigation was separate from the ongoing one that led the FBI to raid Trump's estate in August seeking classified documents.
In late August, the FBI confirmed that Thibault had retired, though he was previously reassigned from his post after the string of whistleblower claims became public.
In prepared floor marks on Wednesday, Grassley pointed to queries surrounding the allegations pertaining to the Hunter Biden probe with which Thibault was reportedly involved.
"Some reports have noted that the Hunter Biden criminal probe is ongoing, therefore how can the allegations of Thibault shutting down investigative activity relating to Hunter Biden be credible?" he asked.
"The whistleblower disclosures to me relate to investigative activity and avenues of information that originated separate from the ongoing Hunter Biden criminal probe," was Grassley's answer. "That's why the allegations I've brought forward are so important – we're dealing with a separate category of potentially criminal information relating to Hunter Biden that the FBI has within its possession."
"And, the information received by the FBI was either verified or verifiable," he continued. "Even so, based on allegations, the investigative activity was shut down by Thibault and others based on the false assertion that it was disinformation."
"To be precise, FBI officials wanted to take action with respect to this separate investigative information the FBI had in its possession relating to Hunter Biden," the Iowa Republican went on. "However, Thibault blocked them from doing what would normally be done."
"Accordingly, the investigative activity and information couldn't be advanced as it should've been," he said. "Which means the FBI could've gathered more evidence with respect to Hunter Biden but cut bait instead. And the FBI and Thibault cut bait right before the 2020 presidential election."
Thibault has denied any wrongdoing.
"Since the information and activity was shut down, it wouldn't have initially been shared with any ongoing criminal probe. That calls into question what U.S. Attorney Weiss is actually investigating," Grassley said. "It also calls into question what the FBI's Baltimore Field Office is reviewing and whether it's the full scope of evidence."
"I've asked Director Wray about that," he followed up. "I asked him, 'How can verified and verifiable information relating to Hunter Biden's potential criminality be shared with U.S. Attorney Weiss if it is shut down?'"
"No answer from Director Wray," he concluded.
Ben Whedon
Source: https://justthenews.com/accountability/whistleblowers/grassley-responds-whistleblower-critics-outlines-claims-surrounding
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