Attorney General Merrick Garland has taken the step of appointing a special counsel to look into the actions of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, in light of the collapse of a plea agreement related to tax crimes and a gun charge. US Attorney David Weiss, who was chosen during the Trump administration, will be overseeing the investigation.

This surprising move by the Department of Justice comes after federal prosecutors declared that the plea agreement was essentially dead following its rejection by a judge appointed by former President Trump. The collapse of the agreement now raises the possibility that Hunter Biden may face trial.

Garland stressed that this appointment of Weiss underscores the commitment to providing the necessary resources for a comprehensive investigation. Weiss will be granted the power to take suitable actions based on the facts and the law. This development intensifies the scrutiny on the Biden family, particularly as President Joe Biden pushes for re-election.

Weiss now joins two other special counsels in their investigations. Jack Smith is examining former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, while Robert Hur is investigating Biden’s handling of classified documents after his time in the Obama White House.

Republicans have criticized both the appointment of the special counsel and the collapse of the plea agreement. Many have expressed concerns about the agreement’s scope and its potential to impede ongoing investigations. The announcement of this special counsel raises the stakes in the ongoing probe into Hunter Biden’s activities.