Attorney General Merrick Garland testified Wednesday that he would have to personally authorize any potential charges against first son Hunter Biden. He was being questioned over congressional concerns that the Justice Department under the current White House has been weaponized.
Garland has thus far resisted appointing a special prosecutor for the case, which would seemingly prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest between himself and his boss.
The younger Biden has been under investigation by David Weiss for years, but no charges have been filed as of yet.
Garland was asked by the Senate Judiciary Committee if Weiss may charge Hunter without outside political pressure. He replied that the Trump appointee has “full authority to make those kind of referrals.”
The Biden administration AG reiterated that “he will be able to do that,” and that Garland would need to sign off on the charges.
James Comer goes after Merrick Garland for refusing to properly investigate Hunter Biden. pic.twitter.com/x1M7J6V57J
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 2, 2023
The DOJ, of course, has fallen into disrepute in recent years in the wake of its spying campaign on former President Donald Trump’s successful 2016 run for the White House.
The agency allegedly refused to investigate Hunter’s abandoned laptop, and it was recently revealed that a former New York FBI spy chief is under indictment accused of giving services to a Russian oligarch.
Garland also faced fierce questioning Wednesday from 89-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) over the Hunter Biden investigation. The Republican prodded the AG over the at least “dozen sources” that provided information to the FBI and DOJ on possible criminal acts by Hunter.
Grassley noted both the sheer volume and similarity of details “demand” the DOJ look into the allegations. He then asked Garland specifically what steps had been taken to determine their validity.
Garland sidestepped the direct question, however, instead asserting that he vowed during his confirmation hearings that he would not interfere with Weiss’ investigation.
It was later that Grassley questioned whether the Weiss investigation was truly “independent.” The Republican wondered if Weiss “must seek permission from a Biden-appointed US attorney,” is the criminal investigation “insulated from political interference?”
The appointment of a special prosecutor would go far in deflecting the concern that having Biden’s DOJ in charge of investigating his son is not the definition of “independent.” It would also ease the stain of previous partisan acts that have shaken public trust in the agency.
