Attorney General Merrick Garland’s testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday left Republicans unsatisfied and failed to clarify most of the questions surrounding the Justice Department’s high-profile investigation of Hunter Biden.
Garland spent hours on defense as GOP lawmakers grilled him about the details of special counsel David Weiss’s investigation, the now-withdrawn plea deal offered to Hunter Biden in June, and the Justice Department’s handling of Jan. 6 defendants.
SEVEN UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR MERRICK GARLAND ABOUT THE BIDEN INVESTIGATIONS
Here are six takeaways from his hearing.
CONTRADICTIONS CONTINUE ON WEISS AUTHORITY
Garland offered conflicting answers on whether Weiss had full authority to advance the Hunter Biden investigation before his appointment as special counsel last month.
Asked repeatedly about testimony from two IRS whistleblowers and two FBI agents, all of whom said Weiss had to seek permission from Joe Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys to charge Hunter Biden outside Delaware, Garland claimed Weiss could have overcome those roadblocks by requesting a special designation from the Justice Department.
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