Former prosecutor accused of limiting questions about Joe Biden denies politics played a role in Hunter investigation

FIRST ON FOX: The former assistant federal prosecutor who reportedly worked to “limit” questions about Joe Biden denied that politics played a role in the Hunter Biden investigation during her House Judiciary Committee interview, according to a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital .

However, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf testified that she “would not be allowed to answer most of the questions you have for me” due to the ongoing nature of the federal criminal investigation into the first child.

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Wolf, who recently left the Justice Department, a decision that “well predated” the allegations against her, was subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee to appear for a deposition.

Wolf appeared before the House Judiciary Committee last week for a voluntarily transcribed interview after the Justice Department negotiated terms with the panel.

Fox News Digital reviewed a transcript of his interview Thursday night.

After his interview, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Wolf “refused to answer most of our questions.”

“She refused to respond based on instructions given to her by the Department of Justice,” Jordan said.

IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley, who led the IRS portion of the Hunter Biden investigation, and Joseph Ziegler, a special agent within the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, alleged political influence over prosecutorial decisions. throughout the Hunter Biden investigation, which began in 2018.

Shapley alleged that Wolf attempted to prevent investigators from asking questions related to President Biden during the years-long federal investigation into his son, Hunter Biden.

But during his interview, Wolf testified that “at no time did politics play a role or in any way affect my work as a federal prosecutor.”

Wolf also said the prosecution’s decisions were “never made in a vacuum and were always guided by principles of justice and fairness.”

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“My voluntary appearance here today is not without an overwhelming feeling of frustration and disappointment because, no matter how much I take the opportunity to explain the decisions made and accurately describe the actions taken, I will not be allowed to answer most of the questions that have. for me,” Wolf said. “It should come as no surprise to the committee that, as a former employee of the Department of Justice, I am significantly limited and must strictly comply with the authorization provided by the Department of Justice, as well as the obligations independently imposed by the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure. , including Rule 6e, and relevant laws governing the disclosure of tax information.”

Wolf explained that, “in light of the nature of the ongoing investigation,” she was “legally obligated at this time to remain largely silent about those allegations, other than to tell the truth, which is, at all times.” “While serving as AUSA, I acted consistently with the Justice Manual, the policy directives of the Department of Justice, and my statutory legal and ethical obligations.”

“I followed the facts where they led and made decisions in the best interest of the investigation,” Wolf said. “This includes, but is not limited to, policies and rules governing politically sensitive investigations, election year sensitivities, attorney search warrants, search warrant filtering requirements, and rules of professional conduct prohibiting contact with the parties represented”.

But when faced with specific questions from investigators, Wolf repeatedly said he could not answer or speak to “particulars or details about anything” related to the ongoing Hunter Biden investigation, led by now-special counsel David Weiss, and repeatedly said that he was “not authorized” to discuss the matter.

IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley (left) and IRS Criminal Investigator Joseph Ziegler are sworn in while testifying during a House Oversight Committee hearing related to the Justice Department’s investigation into Hunter Biden. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Shapley alleged earlier this year that Wolf worked to “limit” questioning related to President Biden and apparent references to Biden as “Dad” or “the big guy.”

But according to a Fox News Digital review of the transcript, investigators did not ask him about that specific allegation.

Shapley and Ziegler also alleged that in October 2020, Wolf reviewed an affidavit for a search warrant for Hunter Biden’s residence and “agreed that probable cause had been achieved.” However, Shapley said Wolf ultimately would not allow a physical search warrant against the president’s son.

Shapley said Wolf determined there was “sufficient probable cause for the physical search warrant there, but the question was whether the juice was worth the squeeze.”

Wolf allegedly said that “optics were a determining factor in the decision to execute a search warrant,” Shapley said, adding that Wolf agreed that “a lot of evidence in our investigation would be found in the former vice president’s guest house.” Biden.” , but he said there’s no way we’re going to approve it.”

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Wolf also allegedly tipped off Hunter Biden’s legal team ahead of a planned search of his storage unit.

During his interview, Wolf acknowledged that “Political Figure 1,” a term used in several communications between Hunter Biden investigators, was, in fact, a reference to then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Wolf was asked about an email exchange with FBI Special Agent Joshua Wilson, in which he stated, “There should be nothing here about Political Figure 1.”

Wolf said “Political Figure 1” is “described as former Vice President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., now President Biden,” but did not elaborate on why he gave that directive.

Wolf was asked: “To the extent that you did not do so, you asked agents to remove Political Figure 1, was there no political motivation in requesting that?”

“I refer you again to my initial statement, where I said that at no point did politics play a role in those decisions.”

Wolf’s testimony came as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which was formalized last week.

President Joe Biden returns to the White House on December 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., are leading the investigation as the House gathers evidence and considers drafting articles of impeachment against President Biden.

The committees are investigating the alleged politicization of the federal investigation into Hunter Biden. They are also investigating the Biden family’s foreign business dealings and whether the president was involved in or directly benefited from those businesses.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., left, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, right. (Getty Images)

President Biden has repeatedly denied having any involvement in his son’s business dealings.

Hunter Biden was also subpoenaed as part of the investigation, but defied his subpoena to appear before the House Oversight Committee last week. Instead, he made a public statement on Capitol Hill, criticizing the Republican impeachment inquiry and saying that his father was “not financially involved” in his business.

Comer and Jordan have threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress.

Hunter Biden’s public statement on Wednesday came just days after he was accused of walking away from special counsel David Weiss’ investigation.

Weiss alleged that Hunter Biden was involved in a “four-year scheme” when the president’s son failed to pay his federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020 and at the same time filed false tax reports. Weiss filed the charges in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Weiss also charged Hunter Biden with federal weapons charges in Delaware. The president’s son has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers are working to dismiss the charges entirely.