Hunter Plea Judge Adds Pressure For Special Counsel

WASHINGTON - July 27, 2023 - PRLog -- A federal judge's rejection of what has been widely regarded as mere "formality," and by many as a "sweetheart" plea deal for Hunter Biden, adds even more weight to the growing pressure for Attorney General Merritt Garland to appoint a special counsel to oversee continuing investigations of - and any subsequent plea negotiations regarding - the President's son, argues public interest law professor John Banzhaf.

Professor Banzhaf played a major role in obtaining special prosecutors for Richard Nixon, and persuaded a federal judge to order the appointment of an independent counsel.  More recently, his formal legal complaint triggered the criminal investigation in Georgia of Donald Trump.

He was also one of the first to publicly suggest filing formal legal oppositions to the plea bargain with the judge, and helped persuade the Heritage Foundation and Congressman Jason Smith, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, to file formal oppositions, including many of the most incriminating documents of which the judge could take judicial notice.

In taking the highly unusual step of refusing to accept a plea deal involving Hunter Biden - stating that she had never before seen such a deal; demonstrating that its terms were not only unprecedented but also ambiguous; and obtaining an admission that a federal investigation of the President's son was continuing and could produce additional criminal charges - Judge Marylellen Noreika made it clear that the two conditions for appointing a special counsel have been met even more fully and clearly than before, says Banzhaf.

If AG Garland does not now agree that the appointment of a special counsel to "assume responsibility" for the Hunter Biden investigation and plea now reportedly being renegotiated is necessary to prevent a conflict of interest and is in the public interest, Banzhaf hopes that members of Congress will pressure him to finally make such a long overdue move.

jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf