Judicial Watch sues for records on possible FBI obstruction in Hunter Biden investigation

Judicial Watch announced Friday that the watchdog group is suing the Justice Department for records of possible FBI obstruction of the Hunter Biden investigation.

The group say it filed suit after the department failed to reply a Freedom of Information Act request in August.

"All unclassified records including emails, email chains, email attachments, notes (digital and / or hand-written), briefings, data, documents, letters, evidence, assessments, in the possession of FBI" and "Supervisory Intelligence Analyst Brian Auten concerning an August 6, 2020, briefing provided to members of the U.S. Senate, specifically, Senator’s Johnson and Grassley," reads the FOIA.

The lawsuit also argues the department is in violation of the FOIA request and that Judicial Watch has a right to those documents. 

The lawsuit stated: 

"As of the date of this Complaint, the FBI has failed to (i) produce the requested records or demonstrate that the requested records are lawfully exempt from production; (ii) notify Plaintiff of the scope of any responsive records FBI intends to produce or withhold and the reasons for any withholdings; or (iii) inform Plaintiff that it may appeal any adequately specific, adverse determination."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland in July, requesting the same information. 

"First, it’s been alleged that the FBI developed information in 2020 about Hunter Biden’s criminal financial and related activity. It is further alleged that in August 2020, FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst Brian Auten opened an assessment which was used by a FBI Headquarters (‘FBI HQ’) team to improperly discredit negative Hunter Biden information as disinformation and caused investigative activity to cease. Based on allegations, verified and verifiable derogatory information on Hunter Biden was falsely labeled as disinformation," the letter stated.

The department has yet to respond to the suit.