'Rotten to the core': Outrage as Republicans demand probe into Jacqueline Romero over alleged retaliation in Hunter Biden case

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressional Republicans are calling for an investigation into Philadelphia US Attorney Jacqueline Romero by Justice Department watchdog Michael Horowitz following allegations of retaliatory actions against an attorney in her office.

The attorney in question, Derek Hines, had accepted a temporary detail to investigate and prosecute Hunter Biden.

Allegations of retaliation against Jacqueline Romero

Romero, who was nominated by President Biden, allegedly discouraged Assistant US Attorney Derek Hines from accepting the assignment in the Delaware office of US Attorney David Weiss.

According to three sources cited by the New York Post, Romero revoked Hines’ badge access to the Philadelphia office when he accepted the position last year. Such actions are rare and possibly unprecedented, former federal prosecutors stated.

In their letter to Horowitz, Rep Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa) and Sen Tom Cotton (R-Ark) wrote, “We write requesting you investigate whether Jacqueline Romero, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, engaged in misconduct and politically motivated retaliation.”

They added, “According to alarming reports, Ms Romero retaliated against [Hines] for that attorney’s work on the Hunter Biden investigation.”

The Republicans highlighted that it is common practice for detailed AUSAs to maintain access to their local offices and continue working on their local cases.

“After [Hines] was temporarily detailed to the Hunter Biden investigation, and even though [he] remained an employee of the Philadelphia US Attorney’s Office, Ms Romero revoked [his] office access. Past precedent shows that other detailed AUSAs did not lose office access,” Smucker and Cotton wrote.

Furthermore, the letter noted, “Ms Romero also denied the AUSA’s request to maintain a portion of their local docket. Historically, it is common practice for prosecutors detailed from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to continue work on their local cases. It has been publicly reported that Ms Romero told [Hines] that she objected to their assignment because of her relationship with the Biden family, and because of Beau Biden’s past employment in the Philadelphia US Attorney’s Office."

The letter also brought attention to Romero’s history of donating to President Biden’s campaigns and other Democratic candidates since 2007, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.

“Ms Romero has a long history of donating to President Biden’s campaigns, as well as numerous other Democrat candidates since 2007. Federal law and regulations prohibit politically motivated retaliation. For example, the Hatch Act expressly prohibits covered federal employees, such as Ms Romero, from engaging in political activities in their official capacity. Such laws and regulations are intended to maintain a politically neutral workplace. This is especially important for a US Attorney, whom the public relies upon to be a nonpartisan law enforcement official," they added.

Potential investigation and allegations of preferential treatment by Michael Horowitz

Horowitz, known for his rigorous internal investigations and respected by both political parties, may already be looking into these allegations.

While Republican leaders of the impeachment inquiry have not publicly pursued the alleged retaliation, Hines continues to play a prominent role in active prosecutions of Hunter Biden. This includes the recent conviction of Hunter Biden on three gun-related felonies in Delaware, where Hines was one of the top prosecutors.

President Biden’s son faces another trial beginning on Sept 5 in Los Angeles for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes on income from foreign business ventures. Hines will again play a significant role in the prosecution.

The case involving Hines and the broader investigation into the Biden family have been surrounded by accusations of preferential treatment and a coverup by the Justice Department.

IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler alleged that the Justice Department offered preferential treatment to the Bidens, including tipping them off to a planned search, blocking the gathering of geolocation data, and allowing statutes of limitation on some tax fraud years to expire.

Shapley and Ziegler also accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of misleading Congress about Weiss’ independence to bring charges and said that Justice Department officials blocked the pursuit of evidence pointing to Joe Biden’s involvement in foreign ventures.

Romero, whose office overlooks Independence Hall in downtown Philadelphia, has been a controversial figure. Data show that prosecutions in the Philadelphia US Attorney’s Office dropped significantly in fiscal 2022, when Romero took charge, but increased in fiscal 2023, the Post reported.

Democrats face backlash on social media

The allegations against Romero have sparked outrage on social media.

"Pennsylvania democrats are just as bad as California. Rotten to the core," one posted on X.

"Typical DEMS, always the RAT in the WALL. They only come out at night," another wrote.

"They woke the silent beast that will hold them accountable for their bad actions," someone else commented.

"Everything was better under President Trump. AMERICA FIRST TRUMP2024," another chimed in.

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