U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- A complaint was filed Thursday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by attorney Stephen D. Stamboulieh, representing this correspondent as plaintiff, against the United States Secrets Service. The agency is charged with improperly withholding records it is required by Freedom of Information Act laws to produce regarding its role in the case of a gun belonging to Hunter Biden.
The story that Biden’s gun was taken by his brother’s widow, with whom he was having an affair, and thrown into a supermarket trash can, was first reported by The Blaze on October 29 of last year. The report also cited a “source with knowledge” claiming ATF and the Secret Service “visited the shop where Hunter Biden purchased the gun prior to any report being filed” and noted, “It was not immediately clear why the Secret Service would have properly been involved in the investigation since Hunter Biden’s last day of Secret Service protection was July 8, 2014.”
Two days later, I published a report on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News calling attention to a relevant point on a potential major “gun law” violation that had escaped public attention: Hunter Biden’s illegal use of controlled substances has been well documented since his discharge from the United States Navy in 2014, with subsequent reports of drug abuse in ensuing years. Yet if he purchased a gun through a dealer, he would have been required to fill out a Firearms Transfer Record (ATF Form 4473) and pass a background check, and one of the questions the form asks is:
“Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
Lying on the 4473 is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years. Being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years. And authorities have pressed charges on Americans who are not the president’s son.
Biden was not president at the time of my initial report—but attempts to elicit a pre-election response from him and from the purveyors of “commonsense gun safety” resulted in crickets – from them and “the media.” It was not in their political interests to allow concerns for violations of laws they demand to be made “universal” to receive attention outside of the limited gun rights advocacy echo chamber and noting that, I said I would investigate the feasibility of a targeted FOIA request to find out more.
@bradybuzz @GiffordsCourage @Everytown @MomsDemand What is your position on being candid about drug use on a Form 4473 Firearms Transaction Record? Care to make a statement before the election? https://t.co/Y5EVDlr6Uv
— dcodrea (@dcodrea) October 30, 2020
Attorney Stamboulieh filed the FOIA request on my behalf on November 24, 2020. I discussed it that same day with host Mark Walters on Armed American Radio’s “Daily Defense.” I posted the Secret Service’s January 27, 2021 response in March (we had given them delays far beyond the 20 business days response requirement and were still waiting on a response to a separate ATF FOIA request over the same incident):
“In response to your FOIA request, the Secret Service FOIA Office has conducted a reasonable search for all potentially responsive documents. The Secret Service FOIA Office searched all Program Offices that were likely to contain potentially responsive records, and no records were located.”
That position is not supported by a Politico report on March 25, 2021, referenced as a document attachment in my complaint:
“Sources: Secret Service inserted itself into case of Hunter Biden’s gun … Secret Service agents approached the owner of the store where Hunter bought the gun and asked to take the paperwork involving the sale, according to two people, one of whom has firsthand knowledge of the episode and the other was briefed by a Secret Service agent after the fact. The gun store owner refused to supply the paperwork, suspecting that the Secret Service officers wanted to hide Hunter’s ownership of the missing gun in case it were to be involved in a crime, the two people said.”
The claim of no knowledge is further disputed by Hunter Biden’s own account, documented in a New York Post report from March 26, 2021, citing data recovered from the hard drive of his damaged laptop that was left at a computer repair shop (this was also referenced as a document attachment in the complaint):
“Hunter Biden sent a text message that said the Secret Service responded after his handgun disappeared in 2018 — contradicting the agency’s assertion that it wasn’t involved, The Post has learned.”
Adding to the speculation that something we are not being told about is going on is an occurrence that is unprecedented for my experience with FOIAs: ATF finally responded to the request and replied with the same basic response:
“Please be advised that a search has been conducted in our N-Force and TECS databases. N-Force and TECS are the systems of records that contains all investigative files compiled by ATF for law enforcement purposes. Based on the information you provided to us, we were not able to locate any responsive records subject to the Freedom of Information Act.”
So they weren’t involved, either? Or are they saying they don’t have any documents subject to FOIA, not that there aren’t any? In any case, here’s the unprecedented part: Two days later, ATF informed us via email they were withdrawing the “no records” response. A final response has not yet been received at this writing.
As things stand now, the story is gaining new legs with Rep. Bob Good and 23 other House Republicans asking ATF Director nominee David Chipman to commit to investigating Biden’s gun purchase for potential felony charges. That makes for good press but it’s pretty weak tea, as he has made abundantly clear where his loyalties lie and all he has to say is “Sure” and then continue the Bureau’s tradition of stonewalling after he’s confirmed.
That his response has not been immediately forthcoming, and that “progressive” media outlets are trying to redirect the focus are both revealing. Hopefully, the following complaint will result in some answers many who have them don’t appear inclined to provide unless a court orders them to.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
As a member of the Political Caste, Hunter Biden is above the law. You will see…
if you ever thought there wasn’t a two-tiered justice system in America this is definitive proof for you. i am not talking about the media’s white vs. bipoc, i mean the us vs. the government. they, government, are not concerned about following the law, which they violate virtually every day with anti-2A laws, allowing the censoring of free speech, mask mandates and pushing the Wuhan vaccine. i will wager and almost guarantee that hunter does not get prosecuted for this federal violation of law. government exists only to accumulate power and wield it over its citizens. it doesn’t actually do… Read more »
John Solomon is saying the DOJ is covering for Hunter by going after him and Rudy Giuliani
DOJ now operates like an Organized Crime Cartel.
DOJ Targets Journalist Investigating Biden Family Ukraine Scandals
Why hasn’t anyone printed and distributed copies of Biden’s federal document (form 4473) signed by him from the gun store.
AmmoLand News would love to do that! Someone, please track us down a copy where we can verify the chain of custody to the source?
Look forward to it!
The Federalist says it has it and links to a pdf.
Nice. Posted:
Hunter Biden 4473 Form 1 Re… by AmmoLand Shooting Sports News
This is evidence of commission of a federal felony!
If handwriting analysis confirms it is Hunter Biden’s signature on it then he should be prosecuted!
I’ll go ten to one that when the document is made public, he committed the felony and should be put away for ten years! OFC he won’t be, because his daddy will pardon him, if he doesn’t just order that he will not be prosecuted.
But the embarrassment of being caught red-handed and sticky fingered will be why they are now running intense interference for H.B. while he wanders around in circles, with no idea of where the end zone is! 🙂
The form asks if you “are” (present tense) a user, so if you “were” a user, but stopped then a “no” should be the correct response!! Words have meanings, and we should use them properly.
I applaud David’s efforts to bring these issues to light, no one else is going to do it. However, other than the satisfaction of further embarrassment for the druggie, and his daddy, no fruit shall be gleaned from the pursuit of the information, except of course satisfaction of a job well done and admiration from those of us who yearn for the rule of law to still be extant. Unfortunately for our dying Republic the rule of law is dead at the federal level: no Democrats are going to be charged, much less prosecuted and never sent to prison. Case… Read more »
the ss should be disbanded like atf and fbi new non partison group set up with civilian oversight and yes when i call them ss, sounds like old natz… shoe fits
Atta Boy David!
This should be the blockbuster above the fold every day until we see this creep cuffed and using his jacket to hide his face. Our “president” is a coprolitic imbecile who hasn’t the mental acuity to conceal such an embarrassment so powerful underwriters must be orchestrating this coverup. I’d guess an international billionaire cabal chose our “president” precisely because he’s vulnerable to them. He can be prosecuted at any moment for participating in the biggest crime in history, the 2020 U.S. election fraud. If it explodes, the cabal may simply choose to let him take the heat. I’d also guess if… Read more »
The ATF has now tied thier own hands in any future cases that involve falsifying information while purchasing a firearm. A good lawyer can now have any case thrown out due to the BATF turning a blind eye to Hunters alleged criminal activity and drug use . They don’t charge Hunter then they can never have a leg to stand on in future cases. The BATF has now made themselves irrelevant thank to Joe Biden and Hunter !
Silly you. Don’t you know their are two sets (at least) of laws and that the ones written in the books only apply to us ‘commoners’.
Absolutely so.
remember, there are no rules, and we make them.
One set for we, and one set for thee.
thought this nation was founded on the principle that we all are equal before the law. No royalty, no special classes, justice is blind.
Once more, makes me remember a line in an old song by Mr. D….
“blind Mother Justice on a pile of manure”
Were the judiciary still honest, rather than activist, your 14th amendment argument would be accurate. However, the judiciary has not been honest for many decades: the 9th circuit Court of appeals is the prime example. They get 75% of their decisions overturned by scotus. Outside of professional politicians do you know anyone on a job, in a profession, who gets their job wrong 75% of the time and still has that job? Look at all the federal judges who stopped Trump’s immigration policies in orders. All of them were politically motivated rather then being constitutional decisions. The rule of law… Read more »
What’s the point? This administration, congress & the senate clearly indicate they will do what they want regardless of any laws. Anyone that is not committed to CNN know the laws doesn’t apply to the liberal left!
How true! EVIL FLURISHES only IF HONORABLE men do NOTHING but stay quiet!
Some animals are more equal than others.
As Hitler stated when asked about his SIGNATURE on a PEACE ACCORD — A signature is only INK on a piece of PAPER, it means NOTHING (paraphrased).
This IS EXACTLY how these DemoKKKrat Communist think about OUR American Constitution.
BOY — ARE THEY WRONG!!!!!
Go after it! Good job!! Equal justice for all!!