Hunter Biden has sharply criticized former Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling his leadership the "single greatest mistake" of his father's administration.
The remarks came during a podcast appearance in which Biden argued the Justice Department should have opened sweeping investigations into conservatives far earlier following the January 6 Capitol breach.
Biden acknowledged that ultimate responsibility rested with former President Joe Biden, who appointed Garland, stating, "The buck has to stop with my dad. He was the president. He chose him."
He then contended that Garland failed to act decisively despite clear evidence of a coordinated effort, citing the Capitol attack and claims of a planned strategy dating to before the 2020 election.
During the conversation, Biden referenced audio recordings allegedly featuring Steve Bannon speaking with Miles Guo about challenging the election results and promoting narratives around a laptop.
He argued that a legitimate investigation should have begun immediately rather than awaiting congressional hearings, and questioned why certain prosecutions were delayed or filed in specific jurisdictions.
Critics have pointed to the scale of January 6 prosecutions under Garland's Justice Department, including charges against more than 1,500 defendants, as evidence of aggressive enforcement.
They also note actions such as indictments against former President Donald Trump by a special counsel and targeted enforcement under the FACE Act against pro-life demonstrators.
Some observers argue the department simultaneously declined to pursue comparable charges related to 2020 unrest that caused widespread damage and fatalities.
The contrast between Garland's record and Biden's complaint that he was insufficiently aggressive has drawn significant scrutiny from analysts assessing the administration's legal strategy.
