WASHINGTON:A newly revealed federal criminal probe into the business dealings of Joe Biden's son Hunter will complicate the president-elect's selection of a new U.S. attorney general, former Justice Department officials and legal experts said.
Hunter Biden disclosed on Wednesday that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware is investigating his tax affairs. Media outlets have reported that the issues stem from his work in countries including China.
President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing, and his father released a statement of support after the disclosure.
But its existence places increased scrutiny on Democrat Joe Biden’s choice to run the Department of Justice, the highest-profile Cabinet post he has not yet filled. Whoever is tapped will likely face a fusillade of questions from Republicans about the matter in the Senate confirmation hearing early next year.
Biden “is certainly going to be given an opportunity at the start of his administration to prove that he means what he says about safeguarding Justice Department independence,” said Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis and a government ethics expert. “This is obviously a really sensitive matter – one’s child being under criminal investigation.”
Biden’s transition team is confident that the attorney general pick will be able to fully answer questions about the independence of the office and the integrity of the investigation, according to two transition officials.
During the campaign Biden was critical of Attorney General Bill Barr, whom he accused of politicizing the department and being overly loyal to Trump and his agenda. He pledged to restore its traditional independence from the White House.
He restated that promise in a CNN interview last week.
"I'm not going to be telling them what they have to do and don't have to do,” Biden said. “I'm not going to be saying go prosecute A, B or C - I'm not going to be telling them. That's not the role, it's not my Justice Department, it's the people's Justice Department."
Upon taking office on Jan. 20, Biden has said he would issue an executive order directing that no White House staff or any member of his administration may initiate, encourage, obstruct or otherwise improperly influence specific investigations or prosecutions for any reason; and he will pledge to terminate anyone who tries to do so.
PRESSURE TO KEEP DELAWARE ATTORNEY
Biden may also face Republican pressure to keep the current U.S. attorney in Delaware who is running the probe, David Weiss, on the job for the duration of the investigation or even appoint a special counsel to ensure distance from the White House.
At the dawn of Trump’s term, Democrats called for a special counsel to probe Russian interference in the 2016 election. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions followed suit by naming Robert Mueller to head the investigation.
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, which would hold the nomination hearing for Biden’s pick, said on Thursday that Biden must pledge to retain all Justice Department attorneys involved in the probe.
“Those U.S. attorneys who are involved in this investigation, their staff absolutely must stay on," Hawley said. "I mean, there can't be any talk of replacing or transitioning them.”
Speculation on Biden’s choice has centered on Doug Jones, a U.S. senator from Alabama who lost his re-election bid, Sally Yates, who was a deputy attorney general during the Obama administration, as well as federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland and Deval Patrick, a former Massachusetts governor.
Jones has a personal bond with Biden that dates back 40 years, which could complicate an appearance of neutrality.
Donald Ayer, who served as a deputy attorney general during the George H.W. Bush administration, suggested Biden publicly assert that he will have no involvement with the probe when he introduces his nominee.
"My fervent hope is that that message be put out there loudly, often and early. And hopefully, that they beat the Hunter Biden question to the punch by spelling out exactly where they're headed," Ayer said.
"Hunter Biden is one case among hundreds," he added. "And it will be handled the same way as everything else, and there won't be interference."
Reuters
Fri Dec 11 2020
![Probe of Biden's son places new scrutiny on U.S. attorney general pick Probe of Biden's son places new scrutiny on U.S. attorney general pick](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/41607650645_Hunter.jpg)
Joe Biden and his son Hunter celebrate onstage at his election rally, after the news media announced that Biden has won the 2020 U.S. presidential election over President Donald Trump. - REUTERS
![PRK Sungai Bakap: Raja sehari datang mengundi sebelum bersanding PRK Sungai Bakap: Raja sehari datang mengundi sebelum bersanding](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720246552_PRKSungaiBakap.jpg)
PRK Sungai Bakap: Raja sehari datang mengundi sebelum bersanding
Muhammad Syafiq yang ditemani isterinya, Munirah Yahya, 24 mengundi di Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Jawi di sini pada jam 12.30 tengah hari.
![UIAM nafi tidak berupaya bayar balik hutang UIAM nafi tidak berupaya bayar balik hutang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-05/41588929687_Alquran.jpg)
UIAM nafi tidak berupaya bayar balik hutang
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) menafikan institusi itu berada dalam keadaan tidak berupaya membayar balik hutang.
AWANI Ringkas: Amaran hidupan laut Gastropoda
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Harimau belang mati dilanggar kereta Harimau belang mati dilanggar kereta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720244791_harimau.jpg)
Harimau belang mati dilanggar kereta
Kejadian sekitar jam 5.45 pagi itu menyebabkan kereta jenis Nissan Juke yang dipandu seorang lelaki mengalami kerosakan di bahagian depan.
![Saya ada maruah... - Bernard Chandran tak bayar Lady Gaga Saya ada maruah... - Bernard Chandran tak bayar Lady Gaga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720238179_BernardChandran.jpg)
"Saya ada maruah..." - Bernard Chandran tak bayar Lady Gaga
Bernard Chandran berkongsi pengalaman ketika penyanyi terkenal antarabangsa, Lady Gaga menggayakan rekaan bajunya.
![EURO 2024: England lega UEFA hanya denda Jude Bellingham EURO 2024: England lega UEFA hanya denda Jude Bellingham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720239174_tbEnglandGarethSo.jpg)
EURO 2024: England lega UEFA hanya denda Jude Bellingham
Ketua jurulatih England, Gareth Southgate, berpuas hati dengan keputusan UEFA yang tidak menggantung Jude Bellingham.
![Lawan arus kerana tak perasan jalan tidak boleh dilalui Lawan arus kerana tak perasan jalan tidak boleh dilalui](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720243620_lawanarus.jpg)
Lawan arus kerana tak perasan jalan tidak boleh dilalui
Ketua Polis Daerah Seremban, Asisten Komisioner Mohamad Hatta Che Din berkata, kejadian itu dipercayai berlaku pada jam 11.39 pagi.
PRK Sg Bakap: 31.84 peratus sudah mengundi setakat 12 tengah hari – SPR
Sebanyak 31.84 peratus pengundi bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sungai Bakap telah menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka setakat 12 tengah hari ini, menurut Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR).
![MARA Inc: KKDW cari jalan atasi kerugian agar tidak berulang - Ahmad Zahid MARA Inc: KKDW cari jalan atasi kerugian agar tidak berulang - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720243130_ZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA Inc: KKDW cari jalan atasi kerugian agar tidak berulang - Ahmad Zahid
KKDW akan mencari jalan untuk mengatasi kerugian MARA Inc berjumlah RM286.30 juta seperti dilaporkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara.
[TERKINI] Kerajaan fokus pemulangan aset 1MDB
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata pihaknya difahamkan bahawa penyelesaian telah dicapai antara DOJ dan ahli perniagaan dalam buruan itu, dan ia menjadi urusan kedua-dua pihak terbabit.
![Biden rancang lebih banyak tidur, tiada lagi acara selepas 8 malam Biden rancang lebih banyak tidur, tiada lagi acara selepas 8 malam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71716240052_TBJoeBiden.jpg)
Biden rancang lebih banyak tidur, tiada lagi acara selepas 8 malam
Presiden Joe Biden beritahu Demokrat beliau perlukan lebih banyak tidur dan rancang untuk tidak hadir mana-mana acara selepas 8 malam.
![Pilihan Raya Presiden AS: Biden tidak akan tarik diri - White House Pilihan Raya Presiden AS: Biden tidak akan tarik diri - White House](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715722165_PresidentJoeBiden.jpg)
Pilihan Raya Presiden AS: Biden tidak akan tarik diri - White House
Setiausaha Akhbar White House menegaskan Biden "sama sekali tidak" pertimbang untuk berundur daripada bertanding pada Piihan Raya Presiden.
![Kempen Biden catat rekod kutip AS$38 juta dalam 4 hari selepas debat - Laporan Kempen Biden catat rekod kutip AS$38 juta dalam 4 hari selepas debat - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51719800495_JoeBiden.jpg)
Kempen Biden catat rekod kutip AS$38 juta dalam 4 hari selepas debat - Laporan
Kempen pemilihan semula Presiden AS, Joe Biden catat rekod dengan mengumpulkan AS$38 juta (RM180 juta) dalam empat hari sejak debat presiden pertama.
![Trump boleh tuntut kekebalan pendakwaan untuk tindakan rasmi - Mahkamah Agung AS Trump boleh tuntut kekebalan pendakwaan untuk tindakan rasmi - Mahkamah Agung AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/61714543650_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump boleh tuntut kekebalan pendakwaan untuk tindakan rasmi - Mahkamah Agung AS
Di bawah struktur Perlembagaan yang memisahkan kuasa, sifat kuasa Presiden memberikan bekas Presiden kekebalan mutlak daripada pendakwaan jenayah.
![Prestasi lemah debat dengan Trump, ahli parti Demokrat persoal kemampuan Biden Prestasi lemah debat dengan Trump, ahli parti Demokrat persoal kemampuan Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719671359_TBKamalaHarris.jpg)
Prestasi lemah debat dengan Trump, ahli parti Demokrat persoal kemampuan Biden
Beberapa ahli Parti Demokrat secara terbuka mempersoalkan sama ada Biden sepatutnya digantikan dengan calon lain dari parti itu dalam pilihan raya 2024.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Pentadbiran Biden sangat teruk, paling buruk dalam sejarah - Trump Pentadbiran Biden sangat teruk, paling buruk dalam sejarah - Trump](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719543625_Presidentialdebate.jpg)
Pentadbiran Biden sangat teruk, paling buruk dalam sejarah - Trump
Trump menegaskan bahawa di bawah pentadbirannya, ekonomi negara mencapai prestasi terbaik, dengan banyak negara mengagumi kejayaan tersebut.
![Debat Biden-Trump: Mikrofon lawan ditutup ketika hujah dimulakan, tiada penonton di studio Debat Biden-Trump: Mikrofon lawan ditutup ketika hujah dimulakan, tiada penonton di studio](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719532886_trumpbiden.jpg)
Debat Biden-Trump: Mikrofon lawan ditutup ketika hujah dimulakan, tiada penonton di studio
Ia acara penting untuk dua calon ini menyampaikan manifesto kempen masing-masing, menjelang lima bulan sebelum pilihan raya presiden AS.
![Trump sudah pilih calon gandingan dalam pilihan raya presiden Trump sudah pilih calon gandingan dalam pilihan raya presiden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51717106301_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump sudah pilih calon gandingan dalam pilihan raya presiden
Bekas presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS), Donald Trump pada Sabtu mendakwa beliau telah memutuskan calon gandingannya bagi pilihan raya presiden AS yang berlangsung pada November.
![Tiada siapa boleh atasi undang-undang - Presiden Joe Biden Tiada siapa boleh atasi undang-undang - Presiden Joe Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51717106301_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Tiada siapa boleh atasi undang-undang - Presiden Joe Biden
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden berkata keputusan ke atas Donald Trump yang didapati bersalah dalam perbicaraan memalsukan rekod perniagaan membuktikan tiada siapa boleh mengatasi undang-undang.