WATCH: John Kennedy Leaves Merrick Garland Speechless With Question On Hunter Biden

In Wednesday’s Senate oversight committee meeting, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) confronted Attorney General Merrick Garland with questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of alleged tax crimes by Hunter Biden, particularly concerning the expired statute of limitations related to his income from Ukrainian energy company, Burisma Holdings.

The heated exchange thrust the spotlight once again on the Justice Department’s operations and decisions under Garland’s stewardship, as well as ongoing partisan tensions over the Biden administration’s legal challenges.

The dialogue took a sharp turn as Kennedy steered the conversation towards the Hunter Biden case. The senator asserted, “Mr. Hunter Biden did not pay taxes on $1 million in 2014 and 2015…For hookers, for Lamborghini, for strip clubs, for sex clubs, for porn website memberships. Why did the Department of Justice let the statute of limitations run?”

Garland responded cautiously, indicating ongoing investigations, “As you well know, Senator, that investigation is being conducted by Mr. Weiss, who was appointed by President Trump to be the U.S. Attorney in Delaware…It’s now a special counsel. He will issue a report which will explain…”

Kennedy, unsatisfied with the response, pushed further, suggesting institutional failings allowed Biden to avoid prosecution, “But we can’t… Mr. Hunter Biden walks free on not paying taxes on a million bucks from 2014 and 15 because the Department of Justice let it happen, right?”

Throughout the interrogation, Garland reiterated his stance of non-involvement in ongoing investigations and highlighted his role in appointing Weiss as special counsel to ensure an unbiased inquiry, “I’m not going to know the intricacies of Mr. Weiss’ investigation. There would be no point. It’s Mr. Weiss who’s responsible for this investigation.”

WATCH:

The back-and-forth spotlighted the larger assessment by Republicans who allege that the DOJ under Democratic leadership has been lenient and or negligent in prosecuting alleged wrongdoings by members of the Biden family. Democratic members of the committee and supporters of the administration argue that these attacks are politically motivated, aiming to undermine President Joe Biden’s credibility and distract from legislative agendas.

David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware, was appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2023 to investigate Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. The role grants Weiss extensive jurisdiction and minimal oversight from the Department of Justice to focus on allegations of tax evasion and potentially other charges.

Hunter was indicted in December 2023 on nine tax-related charges, including both felony and misdemeanor offenses. He is accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. The probe also examines a gun charge linked to drug use, although such charges are less common.

As special counsel, Weiss operates with a high degree of autonomy. He can bring charges in districts beyond his Delaware jurisdiction, potentially including California and Washington, D.C. The special status aims to ensure the probe’s impartiality and thoroughness under what Garland has called “extraordinary circumstances.”

Weiss has testified before Congress, stating that he adheres to standard Justice Department procedures despite his broad authority. He indicated that his investigative efforts have not been obstructed by other jurisdictions, though he has encountered some procedural delays. The investigation’s timing could significantly impact the political scene, especially with the upcoming 2024 Presidential election. There are concerns among Democrats about how this will affect Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.