Washington — Special Counsel David Weiss, who leads the federal investigation into Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, testified to investigative committees about the authority he had in pursuing criminal charges against him, according to CBS News.
Weiss testified in a closed-door session, and he voluntarily appeared before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee to address misunderstandings about the scope of his authority in the Hunter Biden probe. Contentious discussions revolved around his special attorney authority under 28 U.S. Code § 515 and his dealings with U.S. attorneys in Washington, D.C., and California.
Although he faced numerous questions, Weiss refrained from answering, citing federal norms that prosecutors cannot discuss ongoing investigations. According to the transcript of his testimony, Weiss pursued charges in both Washington, D.C., and California. U.S. attorneys Matthew Graves and E. Martin Estrada declined his proposals, but offered administrative and logistical support for the investigation.
Weiss repeatedly emphasized that he was not ‘denied’ the charging authority but chose not to file charges that required approval. Weiss was later granted special counsel status by Attorney General Merrick Garland, although they have never spoken directly.
There have been conflicting accounts about aspects of Weiss’s testimony, with allegations from whistleblowers about the Department of Justice’s involvement in the decision-making process regarding the prosecution of Hunter Biden on tax charges. Weiss has repeatedly denied these allegations. He has maintained that the decision-making process involved multiple complex factors and that he is not in a position to discuss the private communications between himself and the Department’s executives.
In any case, the special counsel’s office is still considering a wide range of charges against Hunter Biden and is expected to continue its investigation in the District of Columbia and California, while pursuing other leads that may result in criminal charges or other legal action.
