WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday blasted the head of the FBI for allegedly “protecting the Bidens” for refusing to comment on a damning message allegedly sent by U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter to a Chinese energy executive.
Gaetz made the remarks in a July 12 House Judiciary Committee in which lawmakers grilled Trump-appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray on a range of issues related to the alleged weaponization of the federal government under the Biden administration.
Rep. Gaetz, who previously argued that the Biden FBI has been politically “capture[d]” and turned against conservatives, Catholics, pro-lifers, and whistleblowers, pushed Wray on Wednesday to comment on a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by Biden’s scandal-ridden son to an executive at a Chinese energy company.
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In the message to CEFC executive Henry Zhao, which has been blasted as a “shakedown” attempt by Republicans, Hunter Biden allegedly wrote that he was “sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,” apparently indicating that Joe Biden was involved in his son’s business arrangements.
“Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight,” he allegedly wrote. “I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.”
Hunter then repeated the declaration that he was “sitting here waiting for the call with my father.”
In his questioning of Wray on Wednesday, Gaetz said the message “sounds like a shakedown, doesn’t it, director?”
“I’m not going to get into commenting on that,” Wray responded.
“You seem deeply uncurious about it, don’t you?” the Florida Republican pressed. “Almost suspiciously uncurious. Are you protecting the Bidens?”
“Absolutely not,” Wray responded, arguing that “the FBI does not — has no interest in protecting anyone politically.”
“Well, hold on, you won’t answer the question about whether or not that’s a shakedown, and everyone knows why you won’t answer it,” Rep. Gaetz said, talking over Wray. “Because to the millions of people who will see this, they know that it is. And your inability to acknowledge that is deeply revealing about you.”
Joe Biden has vehemently denied involvement in his son’s suspicious business dealings when asked by reporters. Hunter Biden’s attorney has attempted to claim that a mock-up of the message, the alleged contents of which were revealed through testimony from IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley while under oath.
As LifeSiteNews has reported, House Republicans are investigating allegations of bribery, influence peddling, and corruption reportedly committed by members of the Biden family, including Joe Biden, his son Hunter, and Joe’s brother Jim in their overseas business dealings in countries, including China and Ukraine.
Late last month, Hunter Biden reportedly agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and a diversion deal to avoid prosecution for a felony gun charge and is expected to avoid jail time. His indictment on those matters in absence of more serious charges pertaining to alleged influence-peddling and corruption have sparked outrage among conservatives, who argue the decisions by prosecutors are evidence of a two-tiered system of justice.
Meanwhile, issues concerning Hunter Biden and allegations of Biden family criminal activity weren’t the only ones addressed by Republicans in the Wednesday hearing.
Wray was also questioned about whether or not he supports the SWAT team home invasion of Mark Houck, a father of seven who was arrested for alleged “FACE Act” violations after he shoved a man who he said had been harassing his son with vulgar language.
Pressed by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, Wray doubled down on his defense of the heavily armed FBI SWAT raid on Houck’s home.
The statements come after Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene brought articles of impeachment against Wray in March for his alleged role in targeting pro-life advocates and Latin Mass Catholics.
“Under Wray’s watch, the FBI has intimidated, harassed, and entrapped American citizens that have been deemed enemies of the Biden regime,” Greene argued. “As such, Director Wray has turned the FBI into Joe Biden and [U.S. Attorney General] Merrick Garland’s personal police force.”