House Republicans expand probe into alleged retaliation against impeachment witness

The House Judiciary Committee has expanded its investigation into a report from a key impeachment witness that he was targeted for “retribution” by the Biden Justice Department to prevent his testimony in the impeachment inquiry into the president. 

Jason Galanis, who testified in the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden earlier this year, told the committee that he faced retaliation by components of the Biden DOJ after it became likely he would be called to tell congressional investigators about his business relationship with first son Hunter Biden.

Three new letters, obtained Thursday by Just the News were sent to the current and former wardens of the Pensacola, Flordia, prison facility where Galanis was residing and to U.S Assistant Attorney Negar Tekeei, the DOJ official who led the prosecution against Galanis and reportedly advocated against his request for home confinement.

The committee has asked each to appear for a transcribed interview.

"As part of our constitutional oversight and impeachment inquiry16 responsibilities, we require testimony from both current and former Department employees about these matters," wrote Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Rep. Andy Biggs, Republicans. 

In his testimony, Galanis told investigators he believes was a victim of retaliation by the Biden Justice Department for his cooperation with the impeachment probe.

The DOJ apparatus ultimately denied Galanis’ request for home confinement under CARES Act rules after the Oversight Committee subpoenaed his former business partner, Devon Archer, to testify on June 12, 2023, according to the letters.

"We appreciate the Committee’s commitment to getting answers from the BOP regarding Mr. Galanis being sexually assaulted and harassed by a BOP employee at Pensacola FPC, and regarding the retaliation against Mr. Galanis after he had been approved for home confinement under the CARES Act but that decision was reversed after the Committee had subpoenaed Devon Archer.  It is disturbing how Mr. Galanis has been treated in both of these matters, and I hope the Committee obtains from the BOP all the information and answers it has requested. No one in BOP custody should be treated this way," said Mark Paoletta, lawyer for Jason Galanis, told Just the News on Thursday. 

You can read the letters below:

After his requests were initially approved by the former Pensacola facility warden and the Residential Reentry Management office in California by June 9, Tekeei reportedly communicated her “strongest objection” to the decision, which led to the reversal.

Galanis’ attempt to appeal the ruling were rejected by the new Pensacola facility Warden Sheri Saulsberry. Another appeal further up the chain resulted in another denial from the federal Bureau of Prisons Central Office. Galanis was notified of the decision the day after the impeachment committees informed the bureau of its intent to interview him, the committee says.

The interview requests follow letters sent by the committee in early March requesting information and interviews with Tekeei and Bureau of Prisons Director Collette Peters. In its new letter to Tekeei on Thursday, the committee said she “failed to respond” to the previous letters or to appear for an interview.

In Galanis' testimony before the impeachment inquiry, he told investigators his involvement in Biden family plans to secure its financial future after then-Vice President Biden left office, including building “a diversified private equity platform, which would be anchored by a globally known Wall Street brand together with a globally known political name,” as he said in his opening statement.

The partners planned to include a Chinese firm called Harvest Fund Management, headed by Henry Zhao and backed by Chinese state enterprises.

"Mr. Zhao was interested in this partnership because of the game-changing value add of the Biden family, including Joe Biden, who was to be a member of the Burnham-Harvest team post-vice presidency, providing political access in the United States and around the world,” Galanis told Congress.

The plans would not come to fruition because both Galanis and Archer were charged in a fraudulent tribal bonds scheme, for which Galanis is currently serving his sentence. Galanis told Congress the fraudulent scheme was designed to to build the financial platform for the planned business with the Bidens.

Hunter Biden managed to avoid any scrutiny in the cases of both Galanis and Archer despite his close involvement with the company that perpetrated the scheme.