Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Friday announced a significant development concerning the inquiry into President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware overseeing the investigation, has been given special counsel status.
This move suggests the investigation has progressed to a more advanced stage and may influence the political landscape leading up to the 2024 presidential election, The New York Times reports.
A Reuters report suggested the move indicates Hunter “may be headed for trial on criminal charges.”
The report cited a June poll showing half of Americans, including 75% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats, “believe the younger Biden received preferential treatment from Weiss.”
Raising a potential snare for Weiss’ appointment, Newsmax host Greg Kelly pointed out a Justice Department regulation prohibiting an employee of the United States government, which Weiss is, from being named special counsel.
Nevertheless, in his statement from the Justice Department’s Washington headquarters, Attorney General Garland revealed that the decision came after the investigation had “reached the stage” where the powers of a special counsel were necessary to continue.
Weiss will now possess the authority to delve deeper into all aspects of the inquiry and has the liberty to file charges in any jurisdiction.
The scope of the inquiry encompasses various facets of Hunter Biden’s life, including his overseas business transactions, drug usage, and tax matters.
Although there were indications that the investigation might soon conclude, a recent turn of events saw a Delaware federal judge declining a proposed plea deal, which would have resolved pending tax and firearm-related charges.
This decision is anticipated to stir discontent among President Biden and fellow Democrats. Behind closed doors, several have expressed their dissatisfaction with Garland.
They argue he has been less proactive in probing former President Donald J. Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Furthermore, they’ve voiced concerns over his earlier appointment of Robert K. Hur as a special counsel to scrutinize President Biden’s management of classified materials.
The Biden administration’s unwavering approach to not comment on such probes might face challenges.
With the Republicans possibly using the Hunter investigation as a political tool against the president, staying silent might become increasingly challenging.
One of the significant advantages of a special counsel status is its relation to Congressional oversight.
If a special counsel wants to take an investigative move that is overruled by higher-ups at the Justice Department, the department is required to report that to Congress, according to The Times.
This provision ensures the special counsel can pursue the truth without apprehension of undue interference.
President Trump’s team responded to the special counsel appointment with suspicion.
His campaign issued a statement arguing the Biden family has been “protected by the Justice Department for decades.”
“Crooked Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and the entire Biden Crime Family have been protected by the Justice Department for decades even though there is overwhelming evidence and credible testimony detailing their wrongdoing of lying to the American people and selling out the country to foreign enemies for the Biden Cartel’s own financial gain,” the statement reads.
“If this special counsel is truly independent – even though he failed to bring proper charges after a four year investigation and he appears to be trying to move the case to a more Democrat-friendly venue – he will quickly conclude that Joe Biden, his troubled son Hunter, and their enablers, including the media, which colluded with the 51 intelligence officials who knowingly misled the public about Hunter’s laptop, should face the required consequences.”
Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) also expressed skepticism about the appointment, claiming Weiss “cant’ get his story straight” regarding the investigation.
“David Weiss can’t be trusted and this is just a new way to whitewash the Biden family’s corruption,” Jordan spokesman Russell Dye added.
“Weiss has already signed off on a sweetheart plea deal that was so awful and unfair that a federal judge rejected it. We will continue to pursue facts brought to light by brave whistleblowers as well as Weiss’s inconsistent statements to Congress.”
