Senator Pete Ricketts, a prominent U.S. Senator, is calling for an investigation into Hunter Biden’s legal team following an incident where a lawyer from their firm impersonated a staffer from the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawyer’s attempt was to obtain a court document related to Hunter Biden’s ongoing tax case, which has raised concerns about potential favoritism and misconduct in the justice system.
Sen. Ricketts expressed his worries about the justice system being weaponized against President Biden’s political opponents while Hunter Biden seems to receive preferential treatment. He believes that accountability is crucial for any misconduct or favoritism, even within Hunter Biden’s own legal team.
The mishandling of recent cases by the Biden administration has damaged public faith in the justice system, making it essential to restore its integrity. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika, overseeing the case, issued a warning of potential sanctions against the Latham & Watkins lawyer, Jessica Bengels, accusing her of misrepresentation during a call with the Clerk of Courts office.
The judge expressed her support for the hardworking and dedicated court employees, vowing not to tolerate any ill-use, disrespect, or dishonesty towards them. During a hearing on Wednesday, House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith filed an amicus brief seeking to have Biden’s plea agreement thrown out on other grounds, citing testimony from IRS whistleblowers who claimed that the Hunter Biden investigation had been tampered with by the Justice Department.
The Biden legal team accused Smith of including confidential information in the document, leading an employee from Latham & Watkins to call the clerk’s office to have it removed. Later, the employee admitted to the action under penalty of perjury, claiming to be misunderstood.
Senator Ricketts believes that an ethical line was potentially crossed in this incident, demanding an investigation into the matter. He calls on both the New York Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department and the District of Columbia’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate the conduct of both Christopher Clark, Biden’s lead lawyer, and Jessica Bengels. Ricketts emphasizes that it is the responsibility of courts, legislatures, and state bars to ensure that members of the legal profession adhere to the Rules of Professional Conduct.
