33 senators want special counsel privileges for Hunter Biden investigator


A group of Republican senators has signed a letter petitioning Attorney General Merrick Garland to extend "special counsel authorities and protections" to the attorney investigating Hunter Biden's foreign business practices, the New York Post reports.
The letter was organized by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and signed by a third of the U.S. Senate, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). In the letter published on Monday, the senators listed the "politicization" of the Department of Justice, a deficiency of trust in public authorities, and recent allegations of an FBI coverup of evidence that could implicate the first son. The senators also state that they believe evidence points to multiple federal crimes committed by Hunter Biden, including "tax fraud, money laundering, and foreign-lobbying violations."
"Given that the investigation involves the president's son, we believe it is important to provide U.S. Attorney [David] Weiss with special counsel authorities and protections to allow him to investigate an appropriate scope of potentially criminal conduct, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and provide additional assurances to the American people that the Hunter Biden investigation is free from political influence," the letter states.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
U.S. Attorney for Delaware Weiss has been investigating Hunter Biden, who recently used a loan or gift from attorney Keven Morris to allegedly make a $2 million payment to the IRS for back taxes to avoid prosecution.
The Republican senators sent the letter the day after President Biden said his son's foreign business deals in China, Russia, and Ukraine did not constitute a conflict of interest for him in an interview for the CBS program 60 Minutes.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
July 9 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include AI in the job market, a book on GOP blowback, and a new line of Barbie doll
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities