DOJ rebuffs IRS whistleblower claims on meddling in Hunter Biden probe

• "He was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own," Garland said.

The big picture: IRS whistleblower testimony released Thursday by the House Ways and Means Committee alleged that the Justice Department worked to impede the investigation.

• Garland on Friday also dismissed allegations that Weiss requested to be named a special counsel but was rejected by Garland.
• "Mr. Weiss never made that request to me," Garland said.

Zoom out: Hunter Biden earlier this week agreed to plead guilty to not paying taxes in 2017 and 2018.

• He will also enter into a probation agreement on a charge of illegally owning a gun while being a drug user, according to a court filing by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware.

What they're saying: Hunter Biden's attorney Chris Clark also dismissed the allegations on Friday.

• "As his attorney through this entire matter, I can say that any suggestion the investigation was not thorough, or cut corners, or cut my client any slack, is preposterous and deeply irresponsible," Clark said in a statement.

• "A close examination of the document released publicly yesterday by a very biased individual raises serious questions over whether it is what he claims it to be," Clark added.

Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House counsel's office, said in a statement on Friday: "As we have said many times before, the President was not in business with his son."

• "As we have also said many times before, the Justice Department makes decisions in its criminal investigations independently, and in this case, the White House has not been involved."

Go deeper: Hunter Biden's Rorschach test