Will justice finally be served?
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has suggested the possibility of initiating an impeachment inquiry against Attorney General Merrick Garland, alleging political bias and the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice (DOJ). McCarthy’s motivation stems from claims made by an IRS whistleblower regarding tax crime investigations involving Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden.
According to The Hill, In a tweet on Sunday, McCarthy stated the need to uncover the truth and address these apparent discrepancies. He called for U.S. Attorney David Weiss to provide answers to the House Judiciary Committee. McCarthy emphasized that if the allegations made by the whistleblower are confirmed, they would be a significant part of a larger impeachment inquiry into Garland’s alleged politicization of the DOJ.
McCarthy’s expressed interest in impeaching Garland marks a notable departure from his previous approach to Republican calls for impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and President Biden. McCarthy had previously pledged that any impeachment proceedings would not be politically motivated and advocated for committees to conduct investigations before considering impeachment.
Recently, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee made public the testimony of two IRS whistleblowers, agent Gary Shapley and another unnamed agent, who were involved in the investigation of Hunter Biden’s taxes. These whistleblowers alleged that the case against Hunter Biden was deliberately delayed by prosecutors. The investigation, led by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, resulted in Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay income tax and agreeing to participate in a pretrial diversion program related to unlawful possession of a weapon.
The DOJ did not immediately comment on these developments, but Garland dismissed suggestions that Hunter Biden received preferential treatment due to his relation to President Biden. Garland reiterated that he entrusted the matter to the U.S. attorney, who was appointed by the previous administration and had full authority to decide the appropriate course of action.
Garland also defended the integrity of the Justice Department, rejecting claims that the DOJ treats similar cases differently. He characterized such attacks as an assault on an institution vital to American democracy and the safety of its citizens.
McCarthy’s interest in impeaching Garland follows years of Republican allegations that the Department of Justice unfairly targets conservatives. This sentiment was partly fueled by the special counsel investigation into former President Trump’s campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election. Republicans established a select subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee to investigate what they perceive as the “weaponization” of the federal government.
In May, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced articles of impeachment against Garland, with six co-sponsors supporting the motion.