Senate Republicans seek special counsel authority for prosecutor in Hunter Biden criminal probe

CNBC ^ | 9/19/22 | Dan Mangan

[Libloather]

More than 30 Senate Republicans asked Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday to give the federal prosecutor who has been investigating Hunter Biden for several years “special counsel protections and authorities.”

The group, which includes Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, wrote in a letter to Garland that the move is warranted because the criminal investigation involves President Joe Biden’s son. They also contended it would “avoid the appearance of impropriety.

Giving U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss special counsel authority would also “provide additional assurances to the American people that the Hunter Biden investigation is free from political influence,” the letter argued.

If Garland honors the request, it could give Republicans and Democrats in Congress insight into the grounds for any future decision by Weiss on whether to prosecute Hunter Biden. Lawmakers might not otherwise get that justification if Weiss is not granted special counsel status.

Giving Weiss that status also would force Garland to explain to Congress any disagreement he had with an action proposed by Weiss during the probe, up to and including a recommendation that Hunter Biden be charged.

Former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies have for years cited Biden’s son and his business dealings in attacks against the president.

Hunter Biden disclosed the existence of the criminal probe in late 2020, shortly after his father was elected president. He said that he had been informed that Weiss was looking into his “tax affairs.”

[Recompennation]

I to am disenchanted by the republican party and it’s membership and I too spit at their apparent submission to wrongs from the election and January 6 to energy boboos to border voter open doors. Our money is worth less and prices are higher. No I’m not happy with the republicans but I am certainly not a dumbocrat. I do know that President Trump was and still is the best President for our country then and now. Why the swamp don’t drain is because we the people have not pulled the plug.