U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has been leading the investigation into Hunter Biden, has been appointed as special counsel, a move aimed at granting him greater independence from the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland made the announcement on Friday, addressing concerns from Republicans about the handling of the investigation and the leniency of a proposed plea deal.
Weiss, a Donald Trump appointee, has been overseeing the case since 2018 and has remained in his position under the Biden administration. This appointment comes after the proposed plea deal fell apart in a Delaware federal court last month. The deal would have seen Hunter Biden plead guilty to failure to pay federal income tax and enter a diversion program to resolve a potential gun charge. However, prosecutors now believe that the case will not be resolved without a trial.
In response to the appointment, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Chris Clark, stated that they expect a fair resolution for his client and intend to pursue the proposed resolution in court. He questioned why Weiss would have proposed such a resolution if there were other offenses to be prosecuted.
Although Weiss had not initially requested special counsel designation, he made the request to Garland on Tuesday. After considering the circumstances, Garland concluded that it was in the public interest to elevate Weiss to this position. As special counsel, Weiss will retain his authority and responsibility to oversee the investigation and make decisions regarding charges. This status also allows him to investigate related matters.
Garland emphasized that a special counsel is not subject to day-to-day supervision from the department but must comply with its regulations. He also stated his commitment to making as much of Weiss’s report public as possible, within legal requirements and department policy.
The appointment of Weiss as special counsel has garnered significant attention across news networks. Republicans, such as Rep. James Comer, view it as an attempt to obstruct congressional oversight and hide alleged corruption within the Biden family. However, there is currently no credible evidence to support these claims.
Hunter Biden’s business dealings have long been a target of Republicans, but there is no substantial evidence to suggest that President Joe Biden benefited from or participated in his son’s financial activities. Hunter Biden has been open about his struggles with addiction, as detailed in his book “Beautiful Things.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who is facing conspiracy charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, has frequently made inflammatory comments about Hunter Biden. Last week, a federal judge in the Trump case issued a protective order to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information. The judge also warned Trump about his rhetoric towards potential witnesses, emphasizing that political considerations would not influence her decisions.
In conclusion, the appointment of David Weiss as special counsel brings a new level of independence to the investigation into Hunter Biden. The decision has sparked controversy and drawn attention from both Republicans and the media. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for the Biden administration and its efforts to address allegations of corruption.
