Hunter Biden investigation: Garland appoints David Weiss as special counsel

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Friday he appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss to serve as special counsel in the investigation into Hunter Biden after Weiss requested that he be given the authority this week.

"Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel," Garland said.

Federal investigators in Delaware opened an inquiry into Biden in 2019, according to Garland, and they subpoenaed his laptop from a repair shop as part of it.

Garland noted that Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, began leading the investigation at the time based on allegations of "certain criminal conduct by, among others, Robert Hunter Biden."