BS BRIEF
- Hunter Biden called former Attorney General Merrick Garland “the single greatest mistake” of President Joe Biden’s administration during an appearance on the “I’ve Had It” podcast.
- Hunter argued Garland should have pursued President Donald Trump more aggressively after Jan. 6 while also defending his father’s hands-off approach to Justice Department decisions.
HUNTER BIDEN SAYS MERRICK GARLAND WAS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ‘GREATEST MISTAKE’
WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden is taking aim at one of the most prominent members of his father’s Cabinet, arguing that former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s leadership at the Department of Justice represented the biggest mistake of the Biden presidency.
Appearing on the “I’ve Had It” podcast, Hunter Biden criticized Garland for what he described as the Justice Department’s failure to aggressively pursue President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, while simultaneously allowing federal investigations into Hunter Biden himself to proceed.
“My take is this,” Hunter Biden said. “Removing myself from it as much as I can—my personal feelings—is the single greatest mistake of my father’s administration was the leadership of Merrick Garland.”
Hunter Biden acknowledged that ultimate responsibility rested with his father for appointing Garland.
“The buck has to stop with my dad,” he said. “He was the president and he chose him.”
At the same time, Hunter defended President Biden’s handling of the Justice Department, saying his father maintained a strict separation between the White House and federal prosecutors.
“He played by the Constitution and the tradition that the president will never… involve himself in any decision-making as relates to anything at the Department of Justice,” Hunter said. “I guarantee you there was a division between church and state there.”
The interview turned to Garland’s handling of investigations surrounding President Trump.
Hunter Biden argued that Garland should have opened what he called “a completely 100% legitimate investigation” sooner after Jan. 6, criticizing what he characterized as excessive caution by Justice Department leadership.
“Did you not watch what I watched?” Hunter asked during the interview. “Did you not see the people storming the Capitol of the United States of America… You didn’t see a president and know that it was a concerted and planned effort on their part?”
Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing related to Jan. 6 and has characterized many investigations against him as politically motivated.
Podcast host Jennifer Welch also criticized Garland, suggesting he had been selected largely because of his bipartisan reputation after his unsuccessful Supreme Court nomination during the Obama administration.
Hunter agreed with that assessment, responding simply:
“Massive mistake.”
Garland’s tenure as attorney general was marked by politically sensitive investigations spanning both major parties. The Justice Department oversaw the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith to investigate Trump while also continuing a years-long investigation into Hunter Biden involving tax offenses and a firearm purchase.
Hunter Biden ultimately pleaded guilty to federal tax charges and was convicted in a separate federal firearms case before receiving a sweeping presidential pardon from his father during the final weeks of the Biden administration. The pardon covered federal offenses committed or potentially committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024, drawing criticism from Republicans while prompting renewed debate over presidential pardon powers.
Garland has repeatedly defended the Justice Department’s independence, saying prosecutorial decisions were made based on facts and law rather than political considerations.
Hunter Biden’s latest comments add another chapter to the ongoing reassessment of the Biden administration by many of its own allies, with Garland increasingly becoming a focal point of criticism from Democrats who argue the Justice Department moved too cautiously in investigating Trump while aggressively pursuing other politically charged cases.
DBS WIRE SOURCES
- Fox News — Hunter Biden calls Merrick Garland the ‘greatest mistake’ made under the Biden administration
- Reuters — Coverage of Hunter Biden’s legal cases and presidential pardon
- Associated Press — Coverage of Merrick Garland’s tenure as attorney general
- CNN — Coverage of Hunter Biden podcast remarks
- NBC News — Analysis of Garland’s Justice Department and post-administration reaction
