No retreat! The Hunter probe follows Biden after Camp David as the president declines to comment on the appointment of a special counsel for his son while the plea deal has fallen through and he stands with Asian allies
- President Joe Biden was questioned on Friday at the trilateral summit at Camp David with leaders of South Korea and Japan on the Hunter Biden probe
- Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed US Attorney David Weiss as special counsel a week ago
- “I admit – I have no comment on the ongoing investigation.” That is a matter for the Justice Department. And that’s all I have to say,” Biden said
When asked Friday about his reaction to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of the US attorney in charge of the Hunter Biden investigation as special counsel, President Joe Biden responded with “No comment”.
Garland’s announcement came last Friday, but the president this week avoided getting into situations where reporters could ask him questions.
But on Friday, Biden gathered Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a historic trilateral summit at Camp David, which ended with the traditional press conference.
“I admit – I have no comment on the ongoing investigation.” That is a matter for the Justice Department. And that’s all I have to say,” Biden said.
An American reporter had wormed its way in and asked a question about Hunter Biden after quizzing each of the three leaders on regional issues.
President Joe Biden (center) was asked about the Hunter Biden probe during his historic summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) on Friday
Garland held a news conference a week ago and announced that Delaware US Attorney David Weiss would be appointed special counsel.
Weiss, a Trump agent, was already charged with the investigation.
But those references didn’t reassure Republicans, especially after IRS whistleblowers claimed Weiss didn’t have full authority to conduct the tax and gun investigations into the first son.
Garland said that Weiss himself applied for the nomination, which is usually done to provide protection from political pressure or the appearance of pressure.
“He believes his investigation has reached a stage where he should continue his work as a special counsel and has asked to be appointed,” Garland said.
Republican lawmakers also pointed out that they believe the first son received a “sweetheart plea deal.”
Hunter Biden’s plea deal officially fell through last Friday.
Several Republicans have suggested that Weiss’ promotion is an attempt to obstruct the ongoing Republican Congress investigation into the Biden deal deals.
“This action by Biden’s DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the corruption of the Biden family,” said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Senator Chuck Grassley — an Iowa Republican who previously led an investigation into the Biden deal deals — initially reacted positively to the development.
“It’s about time,” he told while touring the Iowa State Fair last Friday.
Upon hearing that Weiss was being promoted rather than appointing a new person, Grassley became more skeptical.
“Have they made him special counsel so he doesn’t have to testify before the United States Congress?” he mused. “If that’s your game, then I would say there are ulterior motives.”
He also pointed out that the way the Senate confirms U.S. attorneys from each state is by requiring the state’s senators to sign off, meaning two Democrats can give the green light to the appointment during the Trump years given by Weiss.
“From what I know today, I don’t want to say what he did at his job, but you see that this consent form, which the judge didn’t accept, raises a lot of questions about him,” Grassley said. “Didn’t you have the government and the guilty on the same side of the table?”