The two top Republican 2024 contenders heavily criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland’s choice to appoint U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel in the probe of Hunter Biden. The appointment comes on the heels of a failed plea deal regarding firearms and tax charges brokered by Weiss.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) argued that “they’re going to find a way to give him some type of soft glove treatment.” He further said that he did not understand why Garland would appoint Weiss specifically.
“But we’ve come to expect that,” he said. Furthermore, the Florida Republican said that Weiss’ earlier investigation into Hunter Biden “really should be pursued.”
DeSantis said that he had not yet seen allegations of corruption against the Biden family fully investigated.
“I’m not confident that this arrangement is going to lead to that, but it should,” the governor said.
Later on Friday, DeSantis said at an Iowa campaign stop that if Hunter Biden was a Republican, “he’d be in jail by now and we all know that.”
The candidate also referenced Hunter Biden’s paintings being sold for high sums, comparing the president’s son’s artwork with that of his six-year-old daughter.
A statement from the Trump campaign said that Weiss “failed to bring proper charges after a four-year investigation and he appears to be trying to move the case to a more Democrat-friendly venue.”
The former president wrote on Truth Social that Weiss “was picked by the two Democrat Senators from Delaware” and that he “would have not been picked by me.”
President Trump weighs in on Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, David Weiss, and deranged Jack Smith.
Those that are saying “He’s a Trump supporter” about David Weiss are WRONG. He’s the same man who gave Hunter a speeding ticket for bribery.
Do you agree with Trump? What do you think?… pic.twitter.com/0xADF3qSxk
— The Trump Train 🚂🇺🇸 (@The_Trump_Train) August 12, 2023
Trump wrote that Weiss investigated Hunter Biden for four years, “giving him the “sweetheart” deal of all sweetheart deals.” He further suggested that Garland instead appoint “Deranged Jack Smith.”
“But a brilliant Judge in Delaware saw through it all,” he continued. “Now, I read, the Department of Injustice wants a new Judge and Jurisdiction. But so do I, with far stronger reasons than Hunter & Crooked Joe.”