U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland pushed back Friday on claims that U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump nominee, was blocked from bringing charges against Hunter Biden last year and that he refused to designate Weiss as a special counsel in the case.
Garland’s remarks come after IRS whistleblowers claimed in testimony that was released on Thursday that Weiss was blocked from bringing charges against Hunter Biden in multiple jurisdictions last year.
Garland told reporters that Weiss was “permitted to continue his investigation and to make a decision to prosecute any way in which he wanted to, and in any district in which he wanted to.”
“Mr. Weiss has since sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee confirming that he had that authority,” Garland said. “I don’t know how it would be possible for anybody to block him from bringing a prosecution, given that he has this authority.”
When asked to confirm that Weiss was never told “no,” Garland responded, “I’m saying he was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own.”
Garland was later asked about allegations from the IRS whistleblowers that Weiss was asked to be named a special counsel to give him extra power and protection in the case and that the Justice Department denied his request.
“The only person with authority to make somebody a special counsel or refuse to make somebody a special counsel is the Attorney General,” Garland said. “Mr. Weiss never made that request to me.”
“Mr. Weiss had, in fact, more authority than a special counsel would’ve had, he had and has complete authority, as I said, to bring a case, anywhere he wants in his discretion,” Garland continued.
Garland said that he supports Weiss addressing the allegations from the IRS whistleblowers in a public setting “when [Weiss] deems it appropriate.”
Garland was later asked about Republicans who have discussed holding the FBI Director in contempt over a document that allegedly contains information about a criminal bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden.
“I certainly understand that that some have chosen to attack the integrity of the Justice Department and its components and its employees by claiming that we do not treat like cases alike,” Garland said. “This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy, and essential to the safety of the American people.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. “You’ve all heard me say many times that we make our cases based on the facts and the law. These are not just words. These are what we live by. They’re the foundation of the way we make these decisions.”