In Major Escalation, Delaware Federal Prosecutor Named Special Counsel to Investigate

by Charlotte Hazard

In a dramatic shift, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss was being upgraded to a special counsel to investigate the Biden family finances.

The decision means the probe into Hunter Biden’s taxes and his father’s potential dealings with his foreign clients will carry into the 2024 election at the same time the president’s chief rival Donald Trump faces two federal indictments brought by the same department.

Garland said the appointment of Weiss to an independent prosecutor was in the “public interest,” required by department rules and requested Tuesday by Weiss. 

“On Tuesday of this week, Mr. Weiss advised me that in his judgment, his investigation had reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel, and he asked to be appointed,” Garland said.

Weiss is the federal prosecutor who brought charges against President Biden’s son in Delaware. Last month, he announced a probation-only plea agreement for Hunter Biden, which was rejected by a judge.

In June, Hunter Biden struck a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid prison by pleading guilty to two tax crimes and admitting to a gun charge that could be dismissed. 

Garland did not take questions after the press conference.  

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Charlotte Hazard is a 2022 Liberty University alumni who graduated with a major in journalism and a minor in government.