On Sunday, CBS’s Face the Nation was the only one of the four liberal Sunday talk shows to mention the bombshell revelation from an IRS whistleblower that the Biden administration is allegedly giving Hunter Biden preferential treatment and has tried to stonewall the investigation into his alleged tax and business related crimes. Continuing on their trend from earlier in the week of being late to this story, maybe ABC & NBC will get to this next Sunday.
Interviewing Delaware Democrat Senator Chris Coons, Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan brought up the big news from this week: “CBS interviewed earlier this week an attorney for an IRS agent who is seeking whistleblower status from congress to share information he says would contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee regarding the investigation into Hunter Biden.”
“Do you think it's worth looking into the possibility of undue influence here?” Brennan asked Coons.
Coons replied that “anyone who comes forward and seeks whistleblower protection status should be given that status.” Shortly after that, he sought to sow doubt in the whistleblower’s claims by pointing out that “nothing’s been presented yet” and “this person hasn't come forward in any detail.”
Brennan jumped back in to ask about Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland and whether Coons is “confident in the conduct” of Garland’s handling of the Hunter Biden investigation.
“I am confident that Merrick Garland has conducted himself appropriately here,” Coons replied.
Brennan then noted that “CBS reported back in October that the FBI gathered evidence sufficient enough to charge Hunter Biden with tax and gun related crimes, and sent it to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware.”
“We know that in the coming days, Mr. Biden's attorneys are set to meet with the U.S. Attorney in Delaware,” Brennan observed, before asking if Coons has “any sense if this is going to conclude soon?”
“If there are any charges ever brought we’ll discuss them at that time. At this point I think this is a long going federal investigation, which I hope will reach a conclusion at some point soon,” Coons responded.
While Brennan’s questioning wasn’t that hard hitting, she at least asked Coons about the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden. ABC’s This Week, NBC’s Meet the Press & CNN’s State of the Union never mentioned this week’s revelations about the Hunter Biden tax fraud investigation.
This bias by omission from ABC, NBC & CNN was made possible by Verizon on ABC, Fidelity on NBC, and Allstate on CNN. Their information is linked.
To read the transcript click “expand”:
CBS’s Face the Nation
4/23/2023
10:39:34 a.m. EasternMARGARET BRENNAN: CBS interviewed earlier this week an attorney for an IRS agent who is seeking whistleblower status from congress to share information he says would contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee regarding the investigation into Hunter Biden. Do you think it's worth looking into the possibility of undue influence here?
SEN CHRIS COONS: Look, anyone who comes forward and seeks whistleblower protection status should be given that status. That's part of what we’ve put in place over many years, a system that allows career folks who work in different federal agencies the chance to blow the whistle and testify if they see something wrong. I will remind you nothing’s been presented yet. This person hasn't come forward in any detail. If and when they do, if there's any substance to it, I expect that the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and the ranking member will ensure that they're fairly and appropriately treated.
BRENNAN: Are you confident in the conduct of Attorney General Merrick Garland when it comes to this case?
COONS: I am. Look President Biden from the days he was campaigning to his first days as President made it clear that he thought restoring the Independence of the Department of Justice, removing any political influence for potential investigations was a core value that he brought to this service as President, and I'm confident that's in no small part why he chose a seasoned circuit court judge, someone with also deep experience at DOJ. I am confident that Merrick Garland has conducted himself appropriately here.
BRENNAN: CBS reported back in October that the FBI gathered evidence sufficient enough to charge Hunter Biden with tax and gun related crimes, and sent it to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware. And we know that in the coming days, Mr. Biden's attorneys are set to meet with the U.S. Attorney in Delaware. Do you have any sense if this is going to conclude soon? It's been ongoing since 2018?
COONS: No, I don't Margaret, nor should I. It is an ongoing investigation that, as you say, has been conducted for years. The U.S. Attorney here in Delaware is the U.S. Attorney who was appointed by the previous administration.
BRENNAN: Right.
COONS: And, look if there are any charges ever brought we’ll discuss them at that time. At this point I think this is a long going federal investigation, which I hope will reach a conclusion at some point soon.
