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2024-02-06 Government Corruption
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Philly US attorney with ties to Bidens accused of retaliating against Hunter prosecutor: ‘Power trip'
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 [NY Post] Philadelphia US Attorney Jacqueline Romero allegedly retaliated against a federal prosecutor working in her office after he accepted a temporary detail to investigate and prosecute Hunter Biden, three sources exclusively told The Post in bombshell new allegations of Justice Department misconduct.
Romero allegedly told Assistant US Attorney Derek Hines last year that she was cool to the idea of him joining what was then a pre-indictment criminal investigation of the first son, 54, related to millions of dollars in foreign income.
Romero, who was nominated to her post by President Biden in the spring of 2022, mentioned she had a connection to the Biden family; noted Hunter’s late brother Beau, who died in 2015 of brain cancer, once worked in the office; and left little doubt that she believed Hunter shouldn’t face charges, according to the three sources, who were briefed by people with direct knowledge of the matter.
After Hines accepted the Hunter Biden detail, a move Romero ultimately did not block, the Philadelphia US Attorney’s office terminated Hines’ access to his downtown office building, typically gained through a badge known as a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, the three sources said.
A spokeswoman for Romero broadly denied the allegations — prompting The Post’s sources to suggest congressional hearings with all parties under oath.
Hines, 37, joined the team of Delaware US Attorney David Weiss alongside another outside prosecutor, Leo Wise, shortly before Weiss announced on June 20 a doomed plea deal in which Hunter Biden admitted to tax and gun crimes.
Federal prosecutors on detail typically retain their offices and building access because they are expected to return after their assignment and maintain a connection to casework and colleagues in the meantime, four former federal prosecutors told The Post.
Although Hines is technically still an employee of the Philadelphia US attorney’s office while on detail to Weiss, "he has to go up and sign in like any other visitor" if he were to come to the headquarters located next to historic Independence Hall, according to one current employee.
A different source said the situation was "absolutely symbolic of [Romero] being on a power trip and thinking she can get away with anything."
Romero and her lieutenant, first Assistant US Attorney Nelson Thayer, co-lead the Philadelphia office and are considered partners on management decisions, sources said.
One source said that colleagues were told by Thayer that Hines was "banned" from the office. Another source said they had no knowledge of the purported utterance, but added that it wouldn’t surprise them.
A spokeswoman for Romero told The Post Monday night: “AUSA Thayer did not communicate to colleagues that AUSA Hines was ‘banned’ from the office.”
The alleged actions against Hines could portend long-term consequences for the prosecutor, whom sources described as apolitical and well-liked around the Philadelphia office — where he worked as deputy chief of the narcotics unit after transferring in 2020 from Baltimore.
A spokeswoman for Romero, who is considered a potential Biden judicial nominee, insisted Monday that Hines has not faced retaliation and would not experience it in the future.
“The representations about AUSA Hines’ detail are inaccurate. US Attorney Romero never discouraged Derek Hines from accepting the detail. In fact, she did support, authorize, and sign off on his detail,” the rep said in a statement, which notably did not address Hines’ building access.
“Members of this office had relationships with Beau Biden, as colleagues, friends, and supervisors, when he was an Assistant US Attorney here,” the statement added. “USA Romero does not have a relationship with the Biden family and didn’t express any view on the merits of the Hunter Biden investigation.” 
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Posted by Frank G 2024-02-06 08:23||
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File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
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Posted by Super Hose 2024-02-06 10:57||
2024-02-06 10:57||
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Posted by Besoeker 2024-02-06 11:34||
2024-02-06 11:34||
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10:41 M. Murcek
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