U.S. Attorney David Weiss speaks during a press conference on May 3, 2018, at his district office in Wilmington, Del.
Suchat Pederson | The News Journal | AP
The federal prosecutor in the criminal case against Hunter Biden testified Tuesday behind closed doors to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee in a proceeding that Democratic members blasted as pointless.
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Penn., called the interview with special counsel David Weiss “a farce,” and “an absolute waste of time,” according to NBC News.
Weiss was called to testify to the Judiciary Committee about his authority to make charging decisions in his criminal investigation of Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden.
The special counsel, who also is the U.S. Attorney for Delaware, earlier this year charged Hunter Biden with criminal charges related to possessing a handgun while being a drug user, and with failure to pay federal income taxes. Hunter Biden, 53, has pleaded not guilty in the cases.
Republicans have questioned whether Weiss’s probe and charging decisions were hamstrung by political considerations within the Department of Justice, whose leader, Attorney General Merrick Garland, was appointed by the Democratic president.
Weiss’ appearance was the first time the special counsel had been asked questions by a congressional panel in the middle of a criminal investigation.
Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, told reporters that Weiss confirmed that he had the authority to charge Hunter Biden, and that he was granted expanded special counsel powers shortly after he requested them.
“Mr. Weiss just confirmed the fact that he had ultimate independent authority to charge whatever charges he deemed to be appropriate,” Goldman said.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, walks to appear in a federal court on gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., October 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Mike Segar | Reuters
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.