Conflict Between House Republicans and Attorney General Merrick Garland Over Alleged Bias Toward Hunter Biden

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House Republicans engaged in a confrontational exchange with Attorney General Merrick Garland this Wednesday, alleging that he and the Justice Department have unduly politicized their operations to benefit Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden.

The hearing before the House Judiciary Committee marked Garland’s first appearance in two years and occurred during an unparalleled period in the Justice Department’s history. Notably, Garland is overseeing ongoing legal cases against Donald Trump, who is the first former president to face criminal charges, as well as an investigation concerning the sitting president’s son.

Committee Republicans, spearheaded by Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, accused the Justice Department of exhibiting favoritism toward the Biden family and simultaneously targeting Donald Trump, a probable contender in the 2024 presidential race.

Jim Jordan argued, “The Justice Department seems to be serving dual roles: safeguarding President Biden while scrutinizing President Trump.”

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In a meticulously measured manner, Garland defended the Justice Department, an organization comprising over 115,000 employees, at a juncture when both political and physical threats against agents and their families are escalating.

Garland stated, “Our duty is independent of directives from the president, Congress, or any external parties. I am neither the president’s counsel nor Congress’s prosecutor; the Justice Department serves the American populace.”

Republicans interrogated Garland on accusations that the Justice Department had improperly meddled in the multi-year investigation into Hunter Biden and had undermined the authority of the lead prosecutor.

Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, queried whether Garland had conferred with FBI officials concerning the Hunter Biden case. After a prolonged pause, Garland responded, “I cannot recall such discussions,” subsequently adding, “To my knowledge, I have not.”

Just over a week prior to this hearing, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy initiated an impeachment inquiry focused on President Biden, with particular emphasis on the Justice Department’s handling of Hunter Biden’s case. This move was denounced by the White House as lacking substantive basis.

Hunter Biden’s legal team has taken an aggressive stance against Republican detractors, recently suing the Internal Revenue Service following whistleblower allegations brought to Congress regarding the investigation.

Republicans argue that both during and post-Trump tenures, the Justice Department has not fully examined allegations against Hunter Biden, involving his association with Ukrainian energy firm Burisma and his tax affairs.

David Weiss, the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for Delaware, has been maintained by Garland to continue the Hunter Biden investigation in an effort to shield it from claims of partisan influence. Weiss was recently accorded special counsel status, allowing him comprehensive authority to investigate and report his findings. Under this new mandate, Weiss indicted Hunter Biden on federal firearms charges.

Democrats, conversely, sought to direct attention to other issues within the criminal justice system, such as domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and gun violence. Jerry Nadler, the leading Democrat on the committee, criticized Republicans for concentrating on “disproven conspiracy theories” related to Hunter Biden.

The hearing also included an inquiry into Weiss’ management of the case, initiated by Republican chairmen from the Oversight and Ways and Means committees, following whistleblower claims from IRS agents that their work had been improperly obstructed by the Justice Department.

Gary Shapley, a long-serving IRS agent involved in the case, provided congressional testimony alleging that Weiss had indicated he did not possess the ultimate authority to level charges against Hunter Biden. This testimony is disputed by two FBI agents who were present at the same meeting and have no recollection of Weiss making such a statement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Attorney General Merrick Garland and Hunter Biden

More about Attorney General Merrick Garland and Hunter Biden

• Justice Department’s role in Ukraine war crimes investigations
• Attorney General Garland’s previous appearance before the House Judiciary Committee
• Whistleblower claims about interference in Hunter Biden investigation
• House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry against President Biden
• Special counsel status granted to U.S. Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss
• Congressional testimony regarding Weiss’ handling of Hunter Biden case
• Democrats’ focus on domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and gun violence
• Hunter Biden’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service