Republicans React With Outrage to Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Hunter Biden
Republicans in Congress have expressed outrage after Attorney General Merrick B. Garland appointed David C. Weiss, the Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. attorney, as a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. For months, Republicans had demanded such an appointment, with many calling specifically for Weiss to lead the inquiry. However, the public reaction from Republicans was one of anger, with some accusing Weiss of whitewashing the Biden family’s corruption.
This reaction is significant as it reflects how Weiss, a Republican, has fallen out of favor in conservative circles. Furthermore, it highlights the Republican party’s persistent opposition to the Justice Department. Representative Jason Smith, Republican of Missouri, claimed that the appointment was meant to distract and delay their investigations into the Biden family’s finances.
Privately, some Republicans were more nuanced in their response to Weiss’s appointment. They viewed it as a victory, as it acknowledged that their allegations against Hunter Biden deserved a serious investigation. This prolongs the scrutiny on Hunter Biden’s actions, potentially influencing the 2024 presidential election and associating both Trump and Biden with scandal, even if no wrongdoing is proven.
The appointment of a special counsel also allows Republicans to attack Hunter Biden further. Jason Miller, a top Trump adviser, stated that the appointment was an “acknowledgment that Hunter Biden did something wrong.” The Justice Department has been under criticism from Republicans for a proposed plea deal with Hunter Biden that fell apart. Republicans have accused the department of leniency towards the president’s son and claimed political interference.
The announcement of the special counsel met with conflicting reactions among Republicans. Some expressed satisfaction, particularly former President Trump, who has long desired an investigation to portray the Biden family as corrupt. Others feared the appointment could impede their own investigations, as Weiss may refuse to testify due to the ongoing special counsel investigation.
The appointment grants political cover to President Biden and Attorney General Garland against Republican accusations of a biased justice system and undermines Republican arguments for an impeachment inquiry, as the investigation is now outside the normal workings of the Justice Department.
However, some Republicans have lost faith in Weiss due to the plea deal offered to Hunter Biden. Senator Chuck Grassley, who once supported Weiss’s appointment, rescinded his endorsement, stating that Weiss was not the right person for the job.
Democrat-aligned groups have criticized the Republicans’ response, labeling it as disingenuous. They see it as a political ploy to interfere with an ongoing investigation and harm President Biden.
The appointment of Weiss as a special counsel will likely extend the life of the investigation and complicate the narrative for Democrats moving forward. It gives Republicans leverage and momentum in their oversight activities, but the White House is likely to use it as an argument against rushing into impeachment.