{"id":1997910,"date":"2023-08-11T14:11:01","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T18:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-investigation-what-can-special-counsel-david-weiss-do-now-that-hes-been-appointed\/"},"modified":"2023-08-11T14:13:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T18:13:29","slug":"hunter-biden-investigation-what-can-special-counsel-david-weiss-do-now-that-hes-been-appointed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-investigation-what-can-special-counsel-david-weiss-do-now-that-hes-been-appointed\/","title":{"rendered":"What powers does special counsel David Weiss have in the Hunter Biden investigation?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhunter-biden-investigation-what-can-special-counsel-david-weiss-do-now-that-hes-been-appointed%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1997910&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Role of Special Counsels in High-Profile Investigations<\/h2>\n<p>The appointment of special counsels has become a \u200droutine procedure \u2064for the Justice Department in recent months as several investigations into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-trump-special-counsel-jack-smith-was-involved-in-obama-era-lois-lerner-irs-scandal\/\" title=\"New Trump Special Counsel Jack Smith Was Involved in Obama-Era Lois Lerner IRS Scandal\">high-profile politicians<\/a> and figures related to \u2064everything \u200dfrom classified documents to foreign business dealings \u2062continue to play out.<\/p>\n<p>Since November 2022, three special counsels have been appointed to four \u2062cases, \u2062two of which pertain to former President Donald Trump and\u200c one each belonging to President \u2064Joe Biden and \u200dHunter Biden.<\/p>\n<h3>Renewed\u2063 Attention \u2063to the Role of Special Counsels<\/h3>\n<p>These appointments have \u200drenewed the public&#8217;s attention \u2064to the role that these prosecutors play in widely known investigations such as these. Here is what to know about the role of a special counsel, the most \u200crecent\u200c prosecutors selected for the role, and what different powers are \u200bgiven to special \u200ccounsels.<\/p>\n<h3>What is a Special\u200b Counsel?<\/h3>\n<p>A special \u200bcounsel is an attorney appointed to investigate and possibly prosecute\u2063 a\u2064 case. The\u200c cases are typically ones that the\u2063 Justice Department believes it\u2064 has a conflict with or with significant public interest, so it requires\u2063 someone outside of the government to take responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>The Code\u2063 of Federal Regulations dictates that a special \u200ccounsel must\u2063 have \u200c&#8221;a reputation \u200bfor integrity and impartial decision-making&#8221; and &#8220;an informed understanding of the criminal law and \u2064Department of Justice\u2064 policies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Special \u2063counsels \u200bstill must\u2062 adhere to DOJ regulations, procedures, and policies, but they have greater day-to-day autonomy compared to U.S. attorneys.<\/p>\n<p>They report to the attorney general, Merrick Garland, who is the only \u200cone who can fire them.<\/p>\n<h3>Who\u200c Are \u2063the\u2063 Appointed \u200dSpecial Counsels?<\/h3>\n<p>Right now, there are three special counsels who were appointed by \u2063Garland.<\/p>\n<p>Most \u2064recently, Garland appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss after the\u200c Delaware prosecutor requested the authority earlier\u2064 this week. Weiss, who was appointed by Trump, is investigating Hunter Biden for \u200ctax evasion and possessing a gun while being an unlawful user of \u2064a controlled substance.<\/p>\n<p>Jack Smith is the special \u2063counsel for Trump&#8217;s two \u200dcases: one for \u2064alleged mishandling of classified\u200b documents and another for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election that led to\u2062 the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Smith delivered a 40-count indictment for the\u2062 former case in June and four counts for the latter case\u200c in August. Trump has pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Hur is the \u200bthird special counsel, who is in charge \u200dof the investigation into\u2064 President Joe Biden&#8217;s alleged mishandling of classified documents. \u2064Hur and Biden&#8217;s \u200battorneys are reportedly negotiating the parameters for a sit-down interview with the president.<\/p>\n<h3>Powers of Special\u200c Counsels<\/h3>\n<p>Special counsels are provided with a budget and can request outside attorneys to help with their cases. \u2062Special counsels are\u200b also empowered to bring down indictments, as well \u200das issue subpoenas and \u2063search warrants.<\/p>\n<p>Garland can override an indictment, but regulations\u2062 impose a high standard: The attorney\u2063 general may do so only if he or she concludes \u200b&#8221;the action is so inappropriate or unwarranted under established departmental practices that it\u2062 should not be pursued.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>If that happens, \u2062the DOJ must inform Congress\u200c of that\u200c decision when the investigation \u200dconcludes.<\/p>\n<p>Weiss had a tentative\u200b plea deal agreement with Hunter Biden&#8217;s \u200blawyers, which involved the younger Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and \u2062entering into \u200ba <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-department-charges-hunter-biden\/\" title=\"Justice Department charges Hunter Biden\">pretrial diversion agreement<\/a> to avoid \u2063a felony gun charge. However, that deal has since fallen apart \u200bafter a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-investigation-what-can-special-counsel-david-weiss-do-now-that-hes-been-appointed\/\" title=\"What powers does special counsel David Weiss have in the Hunter Biden investigation?\">federal judge scrutinized provisions<\/a> \u200bof\u200d the\u2062 deal, worried\u200b it could grant him immunity \u200bfrom future charges.<\/p>\n<p>Garland said on Friday\u2062 that &#8220;in his judgment, [Weiss&#8217;s] investigation has reached a stage at which he\u200d should continue his work \u200cas \u200bspecial counsel, and he asked to be so appointed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The special counsel authorization allows Weiss to &#8220;conduct the ongoing investigation described above, as well\u2064 as any matters that arose from that investigation or may arise,&#8221; according to the order of appointment.<\/p>\n<p>The order also gives Weiss the authority to &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-investigation-jordan-demands-garland-hand-over-smith-special-counsel-memo\/\" title=\"Jordan demands Garland give up Smith memo in Trump probe.\">prosecute federal crimes<\/a> in\u200d any federal judicial \u200cdistrict arising from the investigation \u200bof these matters.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Garland\u2063 said Weiss will present a report at the conclusion of\u200b his investigation explaining any prosecutorial decisions, a\u200c report that the attorney general said will\u200d be made as public as possible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">CLICK HERE\u200d TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>to potential criminal activity by politicians. These appointments reflect the Justice Department&#8217;s commitment to impartially investigate and hold accountable those involved in wrongdoing, ensuring transparency and upholding the rule of law. The ongoing investigations cover a wide range of issues, emphasizing the importance of independent oversight in our democratic system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1997911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1997910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1997910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1997910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1997910\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1997911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1997910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1997910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1997910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}