WASHINGTON — House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Monday that FBI officials have told him an informant file accusing President Biden of a $5 million bribery scheme during his vice presidency deals with “shell companies” — and is part of an active investigation.
Comer (R-Ky.) reviewed the document in person at the Capitol and told reporters afterward that he will move to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt for not handing over a physical copy to the panel.
“The claims made in the document are consistent with what we found and disclosed to you all in Romania. It suggests a pattern of bribery where payments would be made through shell accounts and multiple banks,” Comer said.
“There’s a term for that, it’s called money laundering … So we feel that this accusation is consistent with a pattern that we’re seeing, frankly, in other countries.”
Comer added that “FBI officials confirmed that the unclassified FBI-generated record has not been disproven and is currently being used in an ongoing investigation.”
Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) reviewed the document alongside Comer on Monday and told reporters afterward that it was his understanding the document is not under active investigation — though reporters pressed him repeatedly on the point and he ultimately gave an imprecise reply, saying: “I must have missed that because I’ve not heard that this is part of any ongoing investigation.”
Raskin also contended that the claim was “second-hand hearsay” and that the source lacked direct knowledge.
But Comer said the source was so trusted by the FBI that he has been paid substantial amounts.
“The confidential human source who provided information about then Vice President Biden being involved in a criminal bribery scheme is a trusted, highly credible informant who has been used by the FBI for over 10 years and has been paid over six figures,” the Kentucky Republican said.
“These are facts and no amount of spin and frankly lies from the White House or congressional Democrats can change this information. At the briefing, the FBI again refused to hand over the unclassified record to the custody of the House Oversight Committee. And we will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday.”
Comer said he assumes the active investigation is in Delaware, where US Attorney David Weiss is leading a long-running investigation of first son Hunter Biden over alleged tax fraud, illegal foreign lobbying and other crimes.
Hunter partnered in many of his business ventures with first brother James Biden, with whom the president golfed on Sunday.
“Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further,” Comer said. “Americans have lost trust in the FBI his ability to enforce the law impartially, and demand answers, transparency and accountability. The investigation is not dead. This is only the beginning.”
During and immediately after his vice presidency, Joe Biden interacted with Hunter and James Biden’s associates from China, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, according to files from Hunter’s abandoned laptop, photographs, and witness recollections.
This is a developing story.
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