Sen. Ron Johnson Opposes Appointing Special Counsel for Hunter Biden Probe

Hunter Biden (L) embraces his father, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, in Wilmington, Del., on Nov. 7, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AP Photo

A powerful senator on Wednesday said he doesn’t at this time support his colleagues’ push for the appointment of a special counsel in the probe of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son.

“To single out one individual with a special counsel—I don’t think that’s necessary unless more information comes to light,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, told Fox News. “I’m just not a fan of special counsels—I don’t care if it’s a special counsel against a Republican president or a Democratic one.”

Johnson and Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have been conducting a joint investigation into Hunter Biden. They said last month that Biden was linked to foreign individuals who have ties to the Chinese Communist Party and Moscow.

Johnson’s spokesman didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) this week urged Attorney General William Barr to appoint a special counsel to probe Hunter Biden’s overseas business deals. A special counsel would theoretically insulate the probe from a potential Joe Biden administration, if the nominee wins the 2020 election.

That call has been backed by the likes of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) walks to a Republican caucus luncheon in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington on Oct. 23, 2020. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during a break in the 10th day of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 31, 2020. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

“I have concern now that this investigation will be squashed,” Nunes said during a virtual appearance on Fox Business.

“So we’re probably going to have to look at—and I will talk to my colleagues in the Senate and the House—this probably needs to be a special counsel, similar to like we now have a special counsel with Durham, that is going to continue to look at the Russia hoax.”

Jordan said on Fox News’ “Hannity” that a special counsel “is needed.”

Hunter Biden, 50, said Wednesday that he is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware. The office, citing Department of Justice policy, said it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

Hunter Biden conducted business in China and other foreign countries while his father was vice president.

Democrats have insisted the younger Biden has done nothing wrong.

Johnson told Fox that he'd be watching the newly announced probe “very carefully.”

“I will give whoever is investigating this the benefit of the doubt, but I will certainly be suspicious of an investigation similar to Midyear Exam,” the FBI’s probe into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private server, Johnson said. “That was meant to cover up the truth and exonerate, as opposed to uncover and prosecute.”