Merrick Garland's Testimony Sparks Controversy and Criticism

Merrick Garland, the US Attorney General, defended the Department of Justice's handling of the Hunter Biden inquiry and other issues during a House judiciary inquiry. Garland vowed to not be intimidated by Republican attacks aimed at eroding trust in federal institutions. Republicans criticized Garland's appointment of David Weiss as a special counsel to handle the investigation into Hunter Biden, claiming that Weiss would protect Joe Biden. The hearing also touched on the defunding of the FBI, with Garland warning of catastrophic consequences if the agency were defunded. The White House dismissed the hearing as a distraction from more pressing matters, such as funding the government.