bighairymike: Is there any evidence the FBI pursue any sort of investigation aimed at trying to determine the existence of these tapes and texts?

Yes.

The allegations in the 1023 surfaced years ago when Rudy Giuliani was working with Russians 4 Trump® and shared the information with the Justice Department. Then-Attorney General Bill Barr tapped former Pittsburgh US Attorney Scott Brady to oversee an FBI investigation into the matter. Remember, this is years ago, and reportedly the information generated no credible evidence so the case was never moved to a formal inquiry or investigation.

Here's where it gets murky.

Today Barr says, don't ask me, I'm not aware of the case being closed -- he always chooses his words carefully, dontchaknow -- but ask U.S. attorney David Weiss because the case was turned over to him.

Weiss -- who has rebutted a key element of testimony to Congress by an Internal Revenue Service official who said that Weiss complained about being blocked from pursuing the case the way he wanted -- will not comment other than to describe the investigation as 'ongoing'.

Hunter Biden's attorney says Hunter Biden was informed the investigation into him was closed but there may be others who are still under investigation in the case, otherwise he wouldn't have pled guilty.

So, do Hunter Biden haters still have a hope and a prayer? Yeah, but if Trump had to try to extort Ukraine into simply announcing an investigation of the Bidens, I wouldn't hold my breath.