House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has issued subpoenas to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and several DHS and Secret Service officials. These subpoenas are related to documents and testimony concerning the alleged notification of the Biden transition team about a planned interview of Hunter Biden in a tax probe in 2020. Comer has accused the agencies of obstructing a congressional investigation into this matter.
Comer’s subpoenas include one directed to Secretary Mayorkas for documents and five for depositions—two to Secret Service officials and three to DHS officials. He has criticized the Department of Justice for initiating a cover-up of the Biden family’s actions and alleged that DHS, under Mayorkas’s leadership, is complicit in it.
The Oversight Committee, in collaboration with the Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees, is seeking interviews with key witnesses, including Secret Service employees, to gain insights into the alleged interference that prevented Hunter Biden’s interview during a criminal investigation.
Comer argues that the Department of Homeland Security is obstructing the investigation by preventing the Secret Service from providing a response to Congress. He emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in this matter.
The individuals subpoenaed include K. Shiek Pal, the director of oversight for DHS’ Office of Legislative Affairs, Zephranie Buetow, assistant secretary to OLA, Stephen Jonas, DHS senior advisor to the general counsel, Vincent Tutoni, the assistant director of the Secret Service’s Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs office, and David McKeown, the acting special agent in charge of the congressional affairs program for the Secret Service.
Comer stated that House Republicans are committed to holding the Biden Administration accountable for what they see as interference in addressing the Biden family’s actions.
The subpoenas come after whistleblowers testified before Congress, alleging political influence in prosecutorial decisions during the Hunter Biden investigation.
Multiple whistleblowers claimed that the Secret Service was notified about the planned interview of Hunter Biden by FBI and IRS agents in December 2020, leading to the Biden transition team being informed, and the interview not taking place.
Comer has outlined the delays and lack of cooperation from the Secret Service in responding to the Oversight Committee’s request for interviews. He accuses the DHS Office of Legislative Affairs of instructing the Secret Service to withhold its response, which he believes constitutes obstruction of a Congressional investigation.
Comer has detailed the ongoing exchanges between the committee and the Secret Service, highlighting the delays and lack of transparency in providing responsive documents and testimony.
He seeks additional information about the actions of DHS OLA in blocking the Secret Service’s response to congressional requests for information.
