Half of Americans have little or no confidence in DOJ’s handling of Hunter Biden probe: Poll

Half of Americans are not confident that President Biden’s Justice Department is handling the Hunter Biden case in a fair and nonpartisan manner, according to a new poll. 

A total of 28% of voters were “not very confident” and 22% were “not at all confident” that the DOJ probe into the first son’s alleged tax and gun crimes was being handled in a fair and unbiased manner, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released on Thursday.

Only 19% said they were “extremely” or “very confident” with the government’s handling of the investigation. 

The probe has been clouded with political intrigue for months. In May, IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, an investigator who was involved in the Hunter Biden probe, provided testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee alleging a cover-up in the case. 

Shapley claims the FBI tipped off people close to Hunter Biden and his father about investigatory steps being taken in the case and that the DOJ restricted which witnesses he could interview and what questions he could ask of them during the probe. 

He further alleged that Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, who was tasked with overseeing the investigation, informed investigators that he did not have full authority to charge Hunter Biden where he saw fit and that he was denied his request to be made special counsel in the case. 

Aspects of Shapley’s claims have been partially corroborated by fellow IRS investigator and whistleblower Joseph Ziegler and by recently retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Joe Gordon.

The survey also found that 1 in 3 Americans – 33% – said they were “extremely” or “very” concerned about whether President Biden may have committed wrongdoing related to his 53-year-old son’s business dealings. 

However, more Americans, 41%, responded that they were “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned” that the 80-year-old president engaged in misconduct related to Hunter Biden’s businesses. 

The survey was conducted between Sept. 7-11, before House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced on Tuesday that a formal impeachment inquiry would be opened against the president related to his alleged involvement in an alleged Biden family overseas influence peddling operation.  

Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday by Weiss, who was elevated to special counsel in the case by Attorney General Merrick Garland after a plea agreement in the case fell apart in a Delaware court in July. 

The first son was charged with three counts related to lying about being addicted to crack cocaine when he bought a gun nearly five years ago.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and Hunter could face additional criminal cases in DC and Los Angeles for tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying, among other potential counts.