US Attorney General Merrick Garland elevates Hunter Biden prosecutor to special counsel

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss as a special counsel in his investigation of President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, Garland announced on Friday.

Weiss asked Garland to be appointed special counsel on Tuesday and Garland said he concluded it was in the public interest after considering the request, ABC News reported.

A senior Department of Justice official told reporters that this is the first time Weiss has asked to be appointed special counsel. Weiss himself has said the same before, pushing back on claims by an IRS whistleblower.

"This appointment confirms my commitment to provide Mr. Weiss all the resources he requests," Garland said. "It also reaffirms that Mr. Weiss has the authority he needs to conduct a thorough investigation and to continue to take the steps he deems appropriate in dependently based only on the facts and the law."

Garland said Weiss "will continue to have the authority and responsibility that he has previously exercised to oversee the investigation and decide where, when and whether to file charges."

A representative for Hunter Biden's legal team issued a statement, saying, "This doesn't change our understanding of Mr. Weiss' authority over the 5-year investigation into Mr. Biden. For years, both Mr. Weiss and the Department have assured us and the public that Mr. Weiss had more authority than a special counsel and full authority to negotiate a resolution of his investigation - which has been done. Whether in Delaware, Washington, D.C. or anywhere else, we expect a fair resolution not infected by politics and we'll do what is necessary on behalf of Mr. Biden to achieve that."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.