I hadn't seen that story, but it's definitely based off the testimony statements of the witnesses.
That's a fair question. And I discussed it pages ago. And made links to it here from another post no one bothered to read it so far to my knowledge.
"For the record there's an exhibit 6 in the transcript which basically details the laptop, hard drive, and external hard drive timeline and a discussion after that. pg 119-127 of the pdf
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Whistleblower-1-Transcript_Redacted.pdf
It's later talked about below the timeline that "sportsman" is in fact Hunter Biden. Information mentioning he was in that area the day it was dropped off due to financial records, other intelligence. His phone number matched at the time the repair shop said he called, etc... I should have cut and paste the images from that exhibit I suppose. So I'll spend the time converting to .jpg so that part is here. Line 43e in particular deals with what they thought about the contents of the computer.
I was a geek then and for a long time prior but I don't really tinker with hardware as much these days and don't work in IT. I don't know the exact procedures to do that and I agree there might be some doubt in the back of their heads that their could be misinformation in there. At the same time they had access to the iCloud to verify any information that was backed up. If the data there hadn't been changed since before it was dropped off you can make an assumption that it was all from Hunter Biden. The computer repairman could have changed things after the it was dropped off but the iCloud would show the changes and the time they changed (I assume). If it was after it was dropped off obviously it's been added. There would be no access for an outside source to play with the iCloud server logs. They also mention that they obtained warrants for the 3rd party iCloud data for the investigations they were doing. I can only assume by their assertions if the FBI found any "funny business" ie differences or forensic changes while in the repairman's possession they would have been told since they were using it. Basically what 43e inferred, there were ways to confirm the data using other means than just the data on the drive as well as forensics on it.
It took months according to the timeline. And yes like before it obviously wasn't in Hunter's or the FBI's hands at the computer shop.
Did you state this without reading the timeline and associated questions they answered? I don't think the FBI is going to release all their normal procedures on it, or even to the IRS agents. But if you didn't read my links and are asking these questions I highly suggest you read the link I provided before from exhibit 6 through the end of that line of questions.
I do agree that there is obviously a timeframe that it was out of Hunter's and the FBI's hands so there was no full chain of custody. However any data that backed up to the iCloud is verifiable if you compare them, not that it really matters then of course because it's the same data.
Part of that timeline was why the investigation was started in the first place. Things like tax returns being filed years late with massive deductions that they weren't allowed to interview others about aren't from the laptop. Tax evasion that occurred and was mentioned in emails from years prior to when it was dropped off.
If you decided that the iCloud account was hacked as well and all that data is potentially tainted which is what a couple have suggested then sure if that's true there is obviously no way to have any idea who put it on there. I mean you wouldn't have IP logs showing it being messed around with from different locations but nah, it must have been hacked too.