Weiss Discusses Challenges in Indicting Hunter Biden
In a recent closed-door session with Congress, David Weiss, the former special advisor, revealed that he mostly relied on the Department of Justice (DOJ) while trying to assemble a legal team for indicting Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. This information surfaced from a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital, showing that when Weiss approached the DOJ in 2023, he only received a single resume.
Weiss mentioned that, reflecting on the situation, he had to reach out directly to various contacts and offices, as he faced difficulties in hiring lawyers to handle the sensitive case involving the president’s son. His testimony was part of a broader investigation into Hunter Biden’s prosecution.
Insights on Weiss
Having been appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Delaware during the Trump administration, Weiss initiated the investigation into Hunter Biden. He was later designated as a special advisor by former Attorney General Merrick Garland after a previous agreement concerning Biden fell apart.
There have been accusations against Weiss from Republicans claiming that he offered Hunter a lenient plea deal involving just misdemeanors. Interestingly, a judge ultimately rejected that agreement, leading Weiss to pursue two indictments related to illegal gun possession and tax felonies.
Some believe that Weiss faced intense scrutiny from both political sides over how he managed the investigation. This situation became a hot topic in national news, especially given Hunter Biden’s history with substance abuse and questions around potential connections to his father.
While Republicans argue that Weiss was too lenient, Democrats counter that Hunter was treated more harshly than most defendants due to his familial ties. In a highly controversial move, Joe Biden later extended an unconditional pardon to his son, drawing criticism from both political parties.
“One Resume” — Finding Legal Help
In a discussion regarding his recruitment efforts, Weiss remarked that he was fortunate to eventually hire skilled prosecutors. However, the initial search for lawyers was challenging, as he received minimal support from the DOJ’s Deputy Attorney General’s Office during that spring.
Weiss mentioned not having communicated much with former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, leading him to believe he may have been sidelined on the Hunter Biden case. During his attempts to find lawyers, he met the head of recruitment at a U.S. Attorney’s Office event, where—despite his inquiries—he felt there wasn’t much progress. At one point, he humorously acknowledged having received just one resume.
Tax Issues and Further Investigations
For his congressional testimony, Weiss was permitted by Trump’s DOJ to discuss the Hunter Biden case, although he was restricted from disclosing confidential tax information about Biden. However, he indicated that, had he been allowed, he might have pursued charges against Hunter related to his taxes from the years 2014 and 2015.
Weiss noted that he believed a broader timeframe would allow for more comprehensive allegations, which would better serve the prosecution. This is particularly significant considering Hunter’s past role as a board member for the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, while his father managed U.S. foreign policy towards Ukraine. This situation has raised numerous questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Ultimately, Weiss cited Joe Biden’s pardon as a factor in his decision to lodge charges regarding tax evasion only for select years since 2015. He expressed a willingness to discuss further details if legally permitted. During his testimony, Weiss also rejected the idea that his team had seriously considered federal charges against Hunter under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, noting a lack of sufficient evidence to support such an indictment.
