Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, has publicly criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling his appointment the «single greatest mistake» of his father's administration. In an interview on the «I've Had It» podcast released Sunday, Hunter Biden accused Garland and the Department of Justice of failing to prosecute former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots while pursuing charges against him.
During the podcast, host Jennifer Welch pressed Hunter Biden on what she described as «capitulation by Democrats» in pushing Garland as attorney general. Welch criticized Garland for not charging Trump and for investigating Hunter Biden. «One of the things that pisses me off is the Merrick Garland DOJ and the not prosecuting of Trump. And that they prosecuted you,» Welch said.
Hunter Biden responded by stating that Garland's leadership was the administration's biggest error. «My take is this, and 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,» he said. He added that the «buck has to stop with my dad» for choosing Garland, but noted that President Biden adhered to a tradition of not interfering with Justice Department decisions.
Hunter Biden further argued that Garland should have launched a full investigation into the January 6 attack, which he described as a «planned conspiracy» by the Trump administration to undermine the 2020 election. «If Merrick Garland had started a completely 100% legitimate investigation rather than thinking like let's not fan the flames… did you not watch what I watched? Did you not see the people storming the Capitol of the United States of America, beating cops and running congressmen and senators literally out of the building?» he said.
Both Welch and Hunter Biden characterized Garland as a «moderate» and suggested that President Biden selected him as a favor to Republicans and to make amends after former President Barack Obama had previously nominated Garland for the Supreme Court, a nomination that was blocked by Senate Republicans. Welch described Garland as a «milquetoast candidate» and accused President Biden of playing «integrity politics.» Hunter Biden agreed, calling the choice a «massive mistake.»
Hunter Biden's comments come after he was pardoned by his father in the final weeks of his presidency for any offenses he «has committed or may have committed» between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The pardon covered a wide range of potential charges, including those related to his business dealings and tax issues. Hunter Biden had been under investigation since 2018, during Trump's first term, and was convicted on federal gun charges in 2024, though the pardon effectively ended any further legal jeopardy.
The criticism of Garland reflects ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over the Justice Department's handling of high-profile cases. Some Democrats have argued that Garland moved too cautiously in prosecuting Trump, while Republicans have accused the department of being politicized against Trump. Hunter Biden's remarks add a personal dimension to the debate, as he directly links his father's legacy to Garland's performance.
Garland, a former federal judge and U.S. Court of Appeals judge, was nominated by President Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support. His tenure has been marked by controversies over the investigation into Hunter Biden, which was led by special counsel David Weiss, and the department's decision not to charge Trump with insurrection related to January 6. Garland has defended his record, stating that the department operates independently and without political interference.
The interview highlights the complex relationship between the Biden family and the Justice Department, as well as the broader political fallout from the January 6 attack. Hunter Biden's blunt assessment of Garland is likely to fuel further debate about the attorney general's legacy and the Biden administration's approach to justice and accountability.
