Special Counsel David Weiss recently indicted FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, purported author of the 1023 document cited in House Republicans' impeachment inquiry of President Biden. While some are calling this a setback, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) remained firm in a recent appearance on NewsNation's "Cuomo," reminding viewers the 1023 was only part of the puzzle and the inquiry began over suspicious financial activity reports from Hunter Biden.
Host Chris Cuomo began by asking Rep. Donalds if he believed House Republicans were being "sucked into the game of your party just chasing after the Democrats the same way they chased after you and your guys," possibly referring to the two failed impeachments against former President Donald Trump.
Rep. Donalds replied that while he wished Congress would "be working for the interests of the American people regardless of whoever has the majorities," he reminded Cuomo that "what has happened here with this Biden probe as it started was not because of some document from the FBI. Where it started was the fact that there are 200 suspicious activity reports at the Department of Treasury with Hunter Biden's name on it."
More to the point, Donalds said this high number (187, to be more precise) is deserving of scrutiny when the average person will often be flagged once in their lifetime.
"Most people in their lifetime might - and I stress - might have one suspicious activity report. Hunter Biden has 200. I've read those reports, I've been at the Treasury Building because, by the way, the President did not want to send those over to Congress," said the Florida congressman.
Donalds continued, "He made us go to the Treasury Building to read them. So, I've read those reports. And in those reports, these are reports from financial institutions, not the FBI, not CIA, not some Democratic operative or Republican operative. These are reports from banking institutions, that by law, they have to transmit if there are concerns about the financial transactions associated with one of their customers."
Furthermore, Cuomo questioned Republicans in Congress', specifically the House Oversight Committee, for its focus on the Biden family despite having the Department of Justice at its disposal.
Donalds responded, "Two things: In the Oversight Committee, our responsibilities have oversight of the entire Executive Branch, including the White House and all activities therein. So, if there are financial business dealings with the family that could encumber the decision making of the President of the United States, the Oversight Committee has a responsibility to investigate that.
"Number two, the FBI ... they had years to actually dig into the issues with Hunter Biden. They were not doing that."
Congressman Donalds represents Florida's 19th District.
