A government watchdog group, the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, has filed a lawsuit in Delaware federal court seeking to compel the Justice Department to release records that may determine whether Hunter Biden should be further investigated under a law from 1910 relating to “prostitution or debauchery.” The case is being petitioned in the same court where Biden was recently found guilty on gun charges, alleging that there is evidence suggesting he may have been under investigation under the Mann Act. The Mann Act makes it a felony to transport women or girls across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery.
The legal brief includes a transcript from a 2023 interview with IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler before the House Ways & Means Committee, where Ziegler discussed efforts by the Justice Department to assess potential Mann Act violations. He mentioned a “West Coast assistant” of Biden’s who was believed to be involved in the prostitution world and who had expenses related to her deducted. Ziegler also mentioned Biden paying for the travel of an individual to locations such as California or Boston for short periods. The Justice Department was said to be compiling potential violation allegations, but the ultimate outcome was unknown. Oversight Project attorney Kyle Brosnan believes the Justice Department possesses the information and should make it publicly available.
The Oversight Project is seeking records related to Ziegler’s testimony, communications with the probation office regarding the Mann Act, and inquiries related to potential victims. Brosnan stated that there is already a significant amount of information indicating that these records exist, particularly on Hunter Biden’s laptop which was entered into evidence in his criminal case in Delaware. However, the Justice Department issued a “Glomar response” to requests for information on the matter, which allows parties to neither confirm nor deny the existence of information sought through legal requests. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and James Comer wrote a letter to the Justice Department in September after IRS whistleblowers’ testimony indicated the agency had compiled a list of potential victims in relation to a Mann Act probe into Hunter Biden.
The allegations in the legal brief, combined with the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop and Congress’ findings, raise questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the case. Brosnan argues that the Glomar response was inappropriate and could suggest that the department was not fully pursuing the matter during Biden’s prosecution. Mike Howell, the executive director of the Oversight Project, pointed out that while transporting prostitutes within state lines is illegal, it is a federal offense to transport them across state lines, which Hunter Biden has not been charged with. The group is pushing for the Justice Department to acknowledge that they are tracking the matter and refusing to prosecute it, shedding light on potential discrepancies in their handling of the case.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations and the evidence provided, the Justice Department, the White House, and Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, have not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project seeks to hold the Justice Department accountable for potentially failing to fully investigate and prosecute Hunter Biden under the Mann Act. The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government agencies, particularly when it comes to high-profile individuals and allegations of criminal activity. It remains to be seen how the court will respond to the lawsuit and what impact it may have on the ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden’s actions.
