Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed Delaware federal prosecutor, David Weiss as special counsel to oversee the investigation of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son.
The move comes after prosecutors say they have not been able to reach a new plea deal with Biden after their previous deal was rejected by a judge last month and the case is now expected to go to trial.
“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 so appointed,” Garland said.
“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” he added.
Weiss was nominated by then-President Donald Trump in 2017 and confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate in 2018. He began investigating Hunter Biden in 2019.
On Friday Garland said appointing Weiss as special counsel “reinforces for the American people the department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters.”
Hunter Biden reached an agreement with Weiss’ office in June to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges related to his failure to pay income taxes this year. But a federal judge refused to sign off on the deal, and Hunter Biden instead pleaded not guilty last month.
