Congressional Republicans seek special counsel investigation into Hunter Biden whistleblower allegations
CBSN
A group of senior Congressional Republicans are demanding an investigation into what they call "unlawful whistleblower retaliation against veteran IRS employees" involved in an investigation into the president's son, Hunter Biden.
In a letter sent Wednesday to special counsel Henry Kerner, whose office is responsible for investigating claims of retaliation against federal whistleblowers, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson and Reps. Jason Smith, James Comer and Jim Jordan said IRS officials violated "anti-gag" rules that protect federal employees. The letter is the latest effort by Republicans to seize on whistleblowers' allegations that investigators were impeded by supervisors during their yearslong probe. They are also requesting a briefing on steps taken by Kerner's office by July 19.
In the letter they cited two internal emails by IRS administrators. In one, GOP lawmakers allege a special agent in charge reminded personnel on May 19 that case information could not be shared without "seeking approval" from a supervisor. In another, sent on May 25, GOP lawmakers allege an IRS deputy commissioner wrote in an email that the agency is "deeply committed" to whistleblower protections, but the Republicans said the email "fails to inform IRS employees of their Constitutional and statutory right to make protected disclosures to Congress."
After four days of voting, with more than 400 million people eligible across 27 countries, European voters have pulled the bloc's 720-seat parliament farther to the right than it has ever been. The European Parliament, for the next five years, will now have a record number of far-right legislators. Far-right parties made gains in Europe's top three economies — Germany, France and Italy — with gains by politicians who campaigned against immigration, against support for Ukraine and against climate policy.
Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference is typically a springboard for the company to announce new tech features for its software programs, and not as flashy as its yearly September event to trumpet its latest iPhone rollout. But this year, the WWDC could be a make-or-break moment for the tech giant.