A group of Senate Republicans called on President Biden Tuesday to withdraw his pick to helm the US Office of Special Counsel due to the nominee’s connection to the commander-in-chief’s disgraced son Hunter.
The lawmakers, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), are seeking the elimination of Hampton Dellinger’s nomination to lead the agency, which is tasked with handling whistleblowers.
“It is critical for the American people to know that the Special Counsel is fair and impartial,” the senators wrote in a letter to Biden. “Mr. Dellinger’s connection to the Hunter Biden Burisma matter gives us serious pause.”
Dellinger was nominated by President Biden last month.
To secure his position as head of the OSC, Dellinger will need to get confirmed by the Senate.
Dellinger worked on the Crisis Management and Government Response team at Boies Schiller Flexner in 2014 — the same year Hunter Biden tapped that firm to assist Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, where the now-first son was serving on the board at the time.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn led the GOP group demanding the president withdraw his pick to helm the OSC. Getty Images
Hampton Dellinger was nominated for the post last month. United States Department of JusticeThe pair dined together in March of that year, emails from Hunter’s abandoned laptop show.
It is unclear if Dellinger did any legal work on Burisma’s behalf.
Blackburn was joined by Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas — all members of the Judiciary Committee — in her disapproval.
One of their major concerns was that Dellinger could oversee the agency tasked with protecting whistleblowers — such as the IRS investigators who alleged political interference in the investigation of Hunter Biden earlier this year.
Sen. Tom Cotton was one of the signatories on the letter to President Biden calling on him to withdraw his OSC pick. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Earlier this year, Sen. Chuck Grassley released an FBI memo alleging wrongdoing by the first son in Ukraine. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images“It is important to note that Mr. Dellinger, as Special Counsel, would be charged with ensuring retaliation against whistleblowers — including the IRS whistleblowers in the Hunter Biden matter — is investigated and corrective or disciplinary action against retaliators is sought,” they wrote.
“The Burisma matter creates significant doubt that he can carry out his duty to safeguard the IRS whistleblowers, who are critical in shedding light on the two-tiered system of justice perpetrated under your watch.”
Back in July, Grassley, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and others implored current special counsel Henry Kerner to evaluate allegations of retaliation against IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and agent Joseph Ziegler.
Hunter Biden has lashed out at Republicans for investigating his past. Saquan Stimpson – CNP
Hampton Dellinger previously scored a Senate confirmation to be the DOJ’s assistant attorney general to oversee the Office of Legal Policy. YouTube/@SenatorJohnKennedyShapley and Ziegler have accused the Justice Department of dragging its feet and showing favoritism in the five-year probe of Hunter Biden, 53.
Kerner began serving in the post in late October 2017. Leaders of the OSC are confirmed to serve five-year terms.
In 2021, Dellinger was confirmed by the Senate to serve as the assistant attorney general to oversee the Office of Legal Policy in the Justice Department.
He served in that role until June 2023, per the White House.
“[Dellinger’s] work has led to taxpayer savings by overturning unnecessarily costly bid awards. His writings on a range of topics include criticism of government actions and proposals for public sector improvements,” the White House said in a statement announcing his nomination last month.
The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Republicans in the House opened an impeachment inquiry on Sept. 12 to evaluate whether President Biden benefitted from influence-peddling by his family members.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to his obtaining a weapon while addicted to crack cocaine. Special counsel David Weiss has reportedly convened a grand jury in Southern California to examine the prospect of bringing tax charges against the first son.






