This counsel hardly seems special

I’m not a fisherman, but I know when something smells fishy.

I’m neither a Constitutional scholar nor a lawyer, but there is something really strange about Attorney General Merrick Garland’s elevation of U.S. Attorney David Weiss to special counsel to continue the investigation of Presidential Son, Recovering(?) Drug Addict, and Professional Lothario Hunter Biden.

Attorney General Merrick Garland’s choice seems strange to some

I will confess to not having 100% of the facts, because there are too many and they keep changing. The difference between me and most other pundits is that I admit I don’t have 100% of the facts. I estimate 87.4% is what I am sure of. 

I have enough facts to ask why Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel when in three letters to congress, Weiss said he had all the authority he needed. 

Those three letters were contradicted by the sworn testimony of two whistleblowers who said Weiss told agents in a meeting he did not have all the authority he needed. One of them was a self-confessed Democrat, and also announced he was gay, for no particular reason I could see.

Weiss, who was appointed by Donald J. Trump, has been investigating Hunter for five years. Five freaking years.

And in that lengthy time, the statute of limitations had passed on several suspicious tax filings from Hunter. 

With the unlimited resources of the government behind him, what the hell is taking Weiss so long?

Weiss is the latest, but not the only, special counsel appointed by Garland.

He follows Robert Hur, appointed in January 2023 — looking into Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents after he left office as vice president — and Jack Smith in November 2022 — investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents and his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Garland said he made the Weiss appointment after Weiss requested it on Tuesday.

Did Garland ask why — now, after all this time — Weiss needed the added authority?

Is it not true that as long as Weiss is working the case, Republicans can’t call him to testify? 

Speaking of Republicans, they have long demanded a special counsel for Hunter. Now they got one, and we are reminded of the adage of being careful what you wish for. 

This is not what they had in mind.

Garland said Weiss’ appointment “reinforces for the American people the department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters. I am confident that Mr. Weiss will carry out his responsibility in an even-handed and urgent manner and in accordance with the highest traditions of this department.”

I’ll have whatever it is  he is smoking. He made the announcement with a straight face and walked off without allowing questions from the media. There would have been many.

As The New York Times reported, “The special counsel announcement marked a stunning reversal: Just last month, Mr. Weiss denied a claim that he had asked to be made special counsel. Mr. Garland had also scoffed at the idea, saying Mr. Weiss actually possessed more power as a sitting U.S. attorney than he would as special counsel.”

Got that?

Weiss was the guy who signed off on the Hunter plea bargain deal that stank so bad a federal judge sent both sets of lawyers to bed with no dinner.

This is the guy Garland trusts for independence, accountability, and even-handedness? It seems like a case of misplaced confidence to me.

I don’t have a horse in this race. I am nonpartisan when it comes to the truth, or at least to the facts.

I avoid hurling accusations I can’t support, but this move by Garland is suspicious, it smells like spoiled fish, and is likely to satisfy no one.