MAGA Republicans, including James Comer, have been foaming at the mouth in the wake of Hunter Biden reaching a plea deal for federal tax misdemeanor charges and a probation agreement for gun felony charges, hypocritically attacking US attorney David Weiss, who brought charges against Hunter. Even though Trump himself appointed Weiss, saying the Delaware prosecutor “shared his vision,” and Congressional Republicans, including James Comer, supported Weiss’ nomination in 2017, many Republicans have decried the deal and denounced it as part of a supposed two-tiered justice system.
Republicans’ blatant hypocrisy for crying foul about an GOP appointee-led investigation that began during the Trump administration — and has continued into the Biden administration — could not be clearer. This contrast only further demonstrates how Republicans continue to attack the DOJ to appease former President Trump instead of addressing the real issues Americans are facing.
For Years, Republicans Supported the Delaware Prosecutor Who Brought Charges Against Hunter Biden & Previous DOJ Investigations
December 2017: Trump Himself Appointed Delaware Prosecutor David Weiss. In December 2017, President Donald Trump appointed David Weiss as US attorney in Delaware, saying that Weiss shared his vision for “Making America Safe Again.” The Republican-led Senate confirmed Weiss’ nomination by voice vote in February 2018.
June 2018: Trump’s Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Worked Directly with David Weiss. In June 2018, Sessions called for a new initiative involving large staffing increases, asking David Weiss to focus on violent crime: “Under President Trump’s strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements. I have personally worked to repurpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher.”
Late 2018: David Weiss’ Five-Year Hunter Biden Investigation Began During The Trump Administration. “It’s the first time the Justice Department — part of the executive branch, headed by the president — has brought charges against a child of a sitting president. The decision by U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2018, indicates an end to the sweeping, five-year investigation by federal prosecutors, FBI agents and IRS officials into Hunter Biden’s conduct. The Biden administration has kept Weiss in place in order to avoid having a U.S. attorney appointed by the president oversee his son’s criminal case. Weiss’s office said in a statement, ‘Hunter Biden received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018. Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year.’ Regarding the gun charge, the statement said, ‘from on or about October 12, 2018 through October 23, 2018, Hunter Biden possessed a firearm despite knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.’ Weiss’s office also said that its investigation of Biden is ongoing.” [NBC News, 6/20/23]
2019: James Comer Was Satisfied Leaving Presidential Investigations With The Department of Justice In the Wake of the Mueller Report. Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) has called Hunter Biden’s plea deal a “slap on the wrist” and doubled-down on calls to investigate the Biden family. Yet in 2019, after the Department of Justice released the Mueller report, detailing an investigation into Trump for possible obstruction of justice related to allegations of foreign election interference, Comer released a statement expressing confidence in the investigation’s findings, stating, “I think we need to move forward and focus on the issues that the American people care about.”
December 2020: James Comer Supported David Weiss’ Investigation Into Hunter Biden. During a December 2020 interview on Fox News, Comer supported David Weiss, demanding that the-President-elect Biden retain the Delaware prosecutor and his investigation into Hunter Biden: “Joe Biden needs to give a commitment that he’s not gonna terminate that U.S. attorney in Delaware who has already been investigating Hunter Biden.” [Fox Business, 12/17/20, VIDEO]
Today, Republicans Are Hypocritically Attacking David Weiss and the Department of Justice
Former President Donald Trump: “Wow! The corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere “traffic ticket.” Our system is BROKEN!” [Truth Social, 6/20/23]
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY): “🚨🚨🚨Hunter Biden is getting away with a slap on the wrist when growing evidence uncovered by the House Oversight Committee reveals the Bidens engaged in a pattern of corruption, influence peddling, and possibly bribery.” [Twitter, 6/20/23]
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY): “This is the epitome of the politicization and Weaponization of Joe Biden’s Department of Justice as they give a slap on the wrist to President Biden’s son – a tax fraud and corrupt pay-to-play criminal.” [Axios, 6/20/23]
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): “Hunter Biden pleading guilty to a gun charge and misdemeanor tax charges with no jail time is a stunt to make him look like he is just cooperating with the DOJ. […] We are controlled by COMMUNISTS!!” [Twitter, 6/20/23]
Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX): “The DOJ brought three weak charges against Hunter to try to trick the American public into thinking they aren’t politically biased…But Hunter will see zero days in jail even though he has committed many crimes. Trump faces 450 years over a paperwork dispute.” [Axios, 6/20/23]
Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) reportedly accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of being “compromised and politicized,” telling reporters: “Hunter’s apparent gun and tax crimes are a diversion from the real issues. [Axios, 6/20/23]
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO): “Hunter Biden was able to quietly plead guilty to a FEDERAL GUN LAW VIOLATION and WILLFUL FAILURE TO PAY INCOME TAXES. There was no raid of his crackhouse. There was no jail time. No flashy indictments. His lawyer says the investigation is over and they’re wrapping a nice little bow on it. If you think that this is justice being served, you’re sadly mistaken.” [Twitter, 6/20/23]
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ): “The release of this plea deal this morning is part of a bigger deflection scheme.” [Twitter, 6/20/23]