Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed US Attorney David Weiss of Delaware as special counsel in the investigation into Hunter Biden’s foreign dealings.
Garland made the shocking announcement at a news conference on Friday, showing the hurdles are getting tighter for the president’s son.
The appointment is a move by Garland to undermine claims by Republicans and IRS whistleblowers that Weiss does not have full authority and is being pushed by the Biden administration.
Garland’s move came as new court filings also showed Hunter’s tax and gun offenses are likely to go to court and negotiations for a new settlement treaty appear to be failing.
Top Republicans in the House of Representatives immediately opposed the move, calling it an attempt to disrupt the Republican investigation.
“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.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed Delaware Attorney David Weiss as special counsel in the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden
“If Weiss brokered the sweetheart deal that couldn’t be approved, how can he be trusted as a special counsel?” McCarthy asked, saying, “House Republicans will continue to pursue the facts for the American people.”
A Trump spokesman said the special counsel is “apparently trying to move the case to a more pro-Democratic venue” and that there are indications the case could end up being heard in Washington, DC or Los Angeles rather than Wilmington.
Garland said Weiss himself applied for the nomination.
“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.
“Having considered his application, as well as the exceptional circumstances surrounding this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as Special Counsel.”
This comes amid angry Republican complaints about a deal the government negotiated with Hunter’s attorneys and calls from Congressional Republicans for Weiss to testify about it.
For years there have been calls for a special counsel to oversee investigations into allegations of political interference.
Garland made the announcement Friday amid Republican criticism of a “sweetheart” plea for Hunter Biden that blew up last month
US Attorney David Weiss can continue his investigations as a special counsel, a designation intended to protect him from political influence
Former President Donald Trump and Margo Martin ride a cart prior to the first round of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Bedminster golf tournament at Trump National Bedminster. Trump’s defense attorneys say he’s being treated unfairly compared to Hunter Biden
Weiss has already overseen the prosecution of the president’s son affected by the scandal. He would retain his role as US Attorney for Delaware.
Garland said Trump-appointed Weiss asked him on Tuesday to be appointed special counsel to oversee the “ongoing investigation” and any other prosecutions.
The shocking development shows that Hunter’s legal troubles are far from over and come just weeks after his settlement fell dramatically over gun and tax allegations.
in one new submissionProsecutors said negotiations on a new settlement agreement had stalled and that the government “now assumes that the case cannot be resolved without a trial”.
Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark said in a statement, “Whether in Delaware, Washington, DC or elsewhere, we expect a fair resolution on behalf of our client – this US attorney has been diligently investigating my client and he for five years had proposed a solution which we are keen to enforce in court. It is difficult to understand why he would have proposed such a solution if there were other crimes he could have successfully prosecuted and we are not aware of any.
“We are confident that once all these maneuvers are complete, my client will find a solution and move forward in life successfully.”
The news comes at a time when Hunter’s move toward a possible no-jail deal contrasts with the legal gauntlet that former President Donald Trump is currently facing. His attorney represented him in federal court in DC in a case related to January 6th. He faces charges in federal court in the classified documents case.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a staunch Trump loyalist, criticized Garland’s move.
“David Weiss cannot be trusted and this is just another way to whitewash the Biden family’s corruption.” Weiss has already signed a deal so horrific and unfair a federal judge rejected it.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) also called the move a “cover-up.”
“This move by Attorney General Garland is part of an effort by the Justice Department to attempt a cover-up on the Biden family amid mounting evidence from the House Oversight Committee of President Joe Biden’s role in his family’s plans to ‘brand’ millions of dollars.” to sell to foreigners,’ he said.
“The DOJ’s misconduct and politicization in the criminal investigation into Biden has already resulted in the statute of limitations for the serious crimes committed by Hunter Biden having expired.” provided evidence to the Biden transition team and Hunter Biden’s attorneys about planned interviews and searches, and attempted to covertly set Hunter Biden on the path to a sweetheart deal,” he continued.
“Let’s get clear on what today’s move is really about.” “The Biden Department of Justice is trying to block congressional scrutiny since we presented the American people with evidence of the Biden family’s corruption,” he said .