The Weiss special counsel investigation is an ongoing criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the appointment of David Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, as the special counsel on August 11, 2023, three days after Weiss requested such authority.
Since 2018, Weiss had been investigating Hunter Biden as U.S. attorney. In 2023, Republicans asked Garland to appoint a special counsel, some specifically demanding for Weiss, a Republican appointed to his role by President Donald Trump. Garland ultimately appointed Weiss, giving him additional authority. However, congressional Republicans then expressed criticism, some stating Weiss was untrustworthy.[1][2][3]
A plea agreement negotiated in July 2023 fell through after a U.S. district judge declined to approve it, due to disagreement between the defense and prosecution about the extent of the prosecutorial immunity offered. In September 2023, Hunter Biden was indicted on gun-related charges arising from his purchase of a handgun in 2018, when he had an addiction to cocaine. In December 2023, the special counsel indicted Biden on nine additional counts, all tax-related charges.[4] Biden's gun trial began on June 3, 2024, and he was found guilty of all counts on June 11, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal trial.[5][6][7][8] Hunter Biden was scheduled to face an additional trial related to the tax charges starting on September 5, 2024.[9] On this day, however, he would instead change his plea to guilty.[10][11]
- ^ Luke Broadwater; Maggie Haberman (August 12, 2023). "Republicans Wanted a Special Counsel Investigation of Hunter Biden. Now Many Oppose It". The New York Times.
But on Friday, after Mr. Garland elevated Mr. Weiss to special counsel status, Republicans in Congress reacted publicly not with triumph, but with outrage. "David Weiss can't be trusted and this is just a new way to whitewash the Biden family's corruption," Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee wrote on X,...
- ^ Robertson, Nick (August 11, 2023). "Who is David Weiss, the newly appointed Hunter Biden special counsel?". The Hill.
- ^ Vazquez, Maegan (August 11, 2023). "Republicans who demanded special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden aren't satisfied". The Washington Post.
- ^ Thrush, Glenn; Schmidt, Michael S. (December 7, 2023). "Hunter Biden Indicted on Tax Charges". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Hunter Biden trial live updates: Historic gun trial against president's son begins". NBC News. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Lybrand, Holmes; Cohen, Marshall; Grise, Kate (June 3, 2024). "Hunter Biden's trial on federal gun charges". CNN. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Lauer, Claudia; Whitehurst, Lindsay (May 24, 2024). "Hunter Biden gun trial set for June 3 could last up to 2 weeks amid disputes over evidence". Associated Press. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Swan, Betsy Woodruff; Gerstein, Josh (June 11, 2024). "Hunter Biden found guilty on federal gun charges". Politico. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Jansen, Bart (June 11, 2024). "What's next for Hunter Biden? Sentencing, likely appeal and looming trial on tax charges". USA Today. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Ella (September 5, 2024). "Judge accepts Hunter Biden plea change, staving off trial". The Hill. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Reid, Paula; Cohen, Marshall; Perez, Evan; Gannon, Casey (September 5, 2024). "Hunter Biden offers to change plea to avoid a trial in tax case". CNN. Retrieved September 5, 2024.