Main Topic: Appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel in the ongoing probe of Hunter Biden
Key Points:
1. U.S. Attorney David Weiss appointed as special counsel in the investigation of Hunter Biden and any related matters.
2. Weiss was already overseeing the Hunter Biden probe and requested to be appointed special counsel.
3. Plea negotiations with Hunter Biden's team on tax charges have fallen apart, and the case is now expected to go to trial.
Main Topic: Appointment of David Weiss as special counsel for the Hunter Biden probe
Key Points:
1. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel for the Hunter Biden probe.
2. Weiss, who was already overseeing the probe, requested the special counsel title.
3. The appointment confirms Weiss's authority to conduct a thorough investigation independently.
Main Topic: Republicans criticize the appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel in the investigation into Hunter Biden.
Key Points:
1. Republicans accuse Weiss of signing a "sweetheart deal" with Hunter Biden and question his trustworthiness as special counsel.
2. Republicans suggest that Weiss was appointed to inhibit congressional investigations into the Bidens and to avoid testifying before Congress.
3. Republicans vow to continue their own investigations into the Biden family's alleged corruption and insist that Weiss must still testify before Congress.
Main Topic: Mike Pence welcomes newly appointed Hunter Biden special counsel and criticizes Justice Department under Trump administration.
Key Points:
1. Mike Pence welcomes the appointment of David Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe.
2. Pence criticizes the Justice Department under the Trump administration for pushing a "political agenda."
3. Pence expresses confidence in Congress, particularly House Republicans, to continue investigating the Hunter Biden probe.
Special counsel David Weiss plans to indict Hunter Biden by the end of the month on a felony gun charge, following the collapse of a plea deal and ongoing disputes over a pretrial diversion agreement.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer criticized special counsel David Weiss for seeking to indict Hunter Biden on a gun charge, stating that it is the least of the crimes Biden has committed.
Special Counsel David Weiss assures a Delaware federal court that an indictment against Hunter Biden will be forthcoming by the end of the month, following the collapse of a plea agreement and concerns over a pretrial diversion agreement.
Despite facing mounting legal troubles, Hunter Biden appeared relaxed as he took a stroll in Malibu, just a day after Special Counsel David Weiss announced plans to seek an indictment against him for purchasing a gun while using drugs.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has not yet subpoenaed Hunter Biden due to the legal complexities, but indicated that he is open to Hunter Biden voluntarily testifying before the committee to clear his name.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has requested more information and documents related to the Justice Department's investigation into Hunter Biden, including an interview with special counsel David Weiss and interviews with other top DOJ officials, amidst allegations of mismanagement and slow progress in the case.
Hunter Biden plans to plead not guilty to federal gun charges and is requesting for his initial court appearance to be held remotely, according to a court filing.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appears before the House Judiciary Committee, defending himself against Republican accusations that the Justice Department is protecting President Biden and his son Hunter Biden, while also facing questions about the investigation into Hunter Biden and the indictments against former President Trump.
Potential tax charges against Hunter Biden faced obstacles when federal prosecutors in California and Washington, D.C. declined to assist U.S. Attorney David Weiss in charging him, leading to frustration and concerns about the investigation's future, according to testimony from an IRS law enforcement official obtained by POLITICO.
IRS officials Michael Batdorf and Darrell Waldon testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, contradicting Attorney General Merrick Garland's claim that Special Counsel David Weiss had "full authority" over whether to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes, revealing that the Justice Department's Tax Division would also need to authorize charges.
The House Judiciary Committee is preparing to hear testimony from special counsel David Weiss and interview other Justice Department officials related to their investigation into Hunter Biden, with the goal of shedding light on claims that the Delaware US Attorney's office could have brought charges against the first son.
The House Oversight Committee's first hearing in the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden featured several false and misleading claims from Republican members, including claims about shell companies and payments to the Bidens, Hunter Biden's qualification to sit on the board of Burisma, the Justice Department's handling of a search warrant related to Hunter Biden, wire transfers to Hunter Biden from China, allegations of bribery involving Joe Biden and Burisma, Hunter Biden's failure to pay taxes, and a purported text message between James and Hunter Biden.
Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss sought special attorney authority to charge Hunter Biden in D.C., but his actions and testimony from D.C. U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves suggest that Weiss did not actually need this authority, leading to questions about why he pursued it and why he did not pursue charges in D.C.
