Comer vows to call Hunter Biden special counsel David Weiss before Congress for testimony

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer on Friday committed to calling Delaware US Attorney David Weiss in before his panel for testimony after his appointment as special counsel in the Justice Department’s Hunter Biden investigation. 

Republican lawmakers fumed at Attorney General Merrick Garland for granting Weiss special counsel authority earlier in the day. They argued that his appointment will essentially prevent the Delaware US attorney from disclosing any relevant information about the criminal investigation into the first son to GOP-led House committees conducting separate probes into the Biden family. 

Comer indicated that the announcement will not deter him from trying to get answers out of Weiss, he said during an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.

Asked if he would “commit tonight to calling David Weiss to testify before Congress,” Comer responded, “Of course, we will.

“We’re not going to stop. This is just another day in the office for us leading this investigation of Biden corruption. They have obstructed every step of the way. They’ve intimidated our witnesses,” the Kentucky Republican argued. 

He acknowledged that the special counsel announcement “protects David Weiss from coming in front of the committee” while noting that he is “fine” with that because “this is an investigation about Joe Biden.” 

“I don’t think we need any more evidence to show that the Department of Justice is trying to obstruct our investigation. I think Merrick Garland made that argument for us today,” he added. 

Last month, the Justice Department agreed to allow Weiss to testify before Congress after IRS whistleblowers alleged a coverup in the Hunter Biden case.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), along with the heads of two other Republican-led committees, had demanded testimony from Weiss and 10 other Justice Department officials in relation to the probe into the 53-year-old first son’s alleged tax and gun crimes.

“The Department is ready to offer U.S. Attorney Weiss to testify shortly after Congress returns from the August district work period,” read the letter sent by Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte to Jordan (R-Ohio).

Jordan, Comer, and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) had threatened to issue subpoenas to compel testimony from Weiss and other DOJ officials if the DOJ didn’t make the “voluntary” decision to allow their congressional testimony.

It’s unclear if Weiss will still make an appearance before lawmakers after the August recess. 

“Making him special counsel will now make it more difficult for Congress to get answers from him,” George Washington University law professor and Post columnist Jonathan Turley told Fox News. “This insulates Weiss and DOJ more than it necessarily moves the investigation forward.”

Garland said Friday that he made the decision to appoint Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter Biden case due to “the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter.”

A plea agreement reached between Weiss and Hunter Biden on two federal misdemeanor counts for failing to pay taxes in 2017 and 2018 and a weapons charge fell apart late last month. 

“The Government now believes that the case will not resolve short of a trial,” Assistant US Attorney Leo Wise wrote in a Friday filing with Wilmington US District Court.