Garland Called Foreign Payments to Biden's Son a 'National Security Problem.' Jean-Pierre: 'He's a Private Citizen' (March 1, 2023)

Attorney General Merrick Garland had just testified on Capitol Hill, and a reporter brought one of his answers to the White House. “He was asked a number of questions in regards to Hunter Biden and the ongoing investigation that’s being conducted by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware. And during that particular testimony, he said it would be a ‘national security problem’ if the President’s son had been receiving payments from a foreign government as a means to influence the administration,” the reporter said [1].

“Do you agree with that statement from the chief law enforcement officer of the U.S.?” the reporter asked [1].

“We’re going to continue to be prudent from here and not speak to any investigation that is currently underway by the Department of Justice. And when it comes to Hunter Biden, I would refer you to his personal representative. He’s a private citizen. So I will leave it there,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the March 1, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Well, It’s Not a Meeting”

The same reporter asked about Iran. “Two Iranian warships are going to dock in port in Brazil on Sunday. As you well know, the President of Brazil was just here meeting with President Biden,” the reporter said. “Do you have any issue with Iranian warships docking in port in Brazil?” [1]

“I’m just not going to speak to a potential meeting or a potential engagement. Just not going to do that,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“Well, it’s not a meeting,” the reporter said. “It’s not a meeting.” [1]

“Well, I’m just not going to — clearly, there’s some sort of engagement happening. I’m just not going to speak that — to that from here,” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

”I Only Saw a Bit of the Coverage”

Another reporter asked about what Garland had said on fentanyl. “Senator Graham said, quote, ‘Would you agree with me that whatever we are doing, as relates to sentencing guidelines, is not working?’ And the Attorney General said, ‘I would agree with that because of the number of deaths that you pointed out,’” the reporter said. “Does President Biden believe that sentencing guidelines around fentanyl deaths need to get stricter?” [1]

“I’m going to just — I just caught a bit of that — of the coverage. I didn’t catch all of it,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The reporter tried again: Garland had said he would not oppose labeling the senior-most cartels “foreign terrorist organizations.” “Does the White House believe that —” the reporter began. Over Jean-Pierre’s “I’m just not —,” the reporter finished: “the cartels need to be labeled ‘foreign terrorist organizations’?” [1]

“I only saw a bit of the coverage. What I can say is what he’s committed to. I’m just not going to go into this,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“The number of fentanyl deaths in this country has doubled in the last two years. The Attorney General described it as an epidemic,” the reporter said [1]. Jean-Pierre blamed the GOP: “They want to defund the FBI.” [1]

“Do They Need to Start Saving Money?”

A reporter asked about the student loan case the Supreme Court had heard the day before. “And given the skepticism from a lot of the justices, are there any plans from the administration in the event that you don’t have the authority or the authority is struck down?” [1]

“So, a couple of things. We, you know — the plan that we put forward in August is the plan that we have — right?” Jean-Pierre said. “And let’s not forget, it is a good plan.” [1]

“I guess my question is: If that plan is deemed unconstitutional, is there a backup plan?” the reporter asked. “No, I just said, that’s our plan,” Jean-Pierre answered. “It helps teachers. It helps firefighters, nurses, police officers,” she said [1].

Later, a reporter she called Peter came back to it. “Because everybody who has their own budget at home has to have a plan B,” the reporter said. “I totally — I — I hear you, Peter,” Jean-Pierre said. “And so, look, we do not — we do not — again, we do not have another plan. This is our plan. This is it.” [1]

“So what should they do?” the reporter asked. “Do they need to start saving money?” Jean-Pierre said borrowers “should know that we are going to continue to fight, that we feel strong in our legal authority here.” [1]

“Why D.C. Deserves Statehood”

A reporter asked about the District of Columbia’s new criminal code, which Congress was moving to block. “If I could go back to the question about the D.C. Council action and the likelihood that the Senate will send the President a bill that forces him to make a decision. Is it fair to say the President is at this moment undecided? Has he not yet decided what he’s going to do?” [1]

“I’m just not going to get into hypotheticals from here,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“But has the President decided where he stands? Does he stand with Mayor Bowser? Does he stand with mayors — members of the Council?” the reporter asked. “As it relates to more — D.C. more broadly, and the President has said this as well, it’s a clear example of why D.C. deserves statehood. Right?” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

For the White House’s reversal the next day, see HYGO News’ page on March 2, 2023.

By the Numbers

2: Iranian warships the reporter said would dock in Brazil [1].
2 years: the period in which the reporter said fentanyl deaths doubled [1].
9: federal tax charges Hunter Biden later pleaded guilty to, per Fox [3].
Up to $20,000: the student loan relief Jean-Pierre said borrowers would get [1].
$430 billion: the loan principal the plan would have canceled, per the Supreme Court [6].

What Happened Next

Trump called the cartels terrorists. On his first day back in office, Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14157, creating a process to designate cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. “International cartels constitute a national-security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime,” the order says [2].

“The Cartels functionally control, through a campaign of assassination, terror, rape, and brute force nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border of the United States,” it says [2].

The Supreme Court struck the plan down. On June 30, 2023, the Court ruled 6 to 3 in Biden v. Nebraska that the law Biden relied on “does not allow the Secretary to rewrite that statute to the extent of canceling $430 billion of student loan principal.” [6] For Biden’s reaction, see HYGO News’ page on the ruling.

The Hunter probe got a special counsel. On Aug. 11, 2023, Garland made the Delaware prosecutor, David Weiss, a special counsel. “Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said, according to Fox News [5].

“A senior Justice Department official said the White House was not informed of Garland’s decision before the announcement,” Fox reported [5].

“His appointment as special counsel indicates that, contrary to Hunter’s defense lawyers’ claims, the Justice Department investigation into President Biden’s son is not over,” Fox reported. Weiss “has investigated the business dealings of Hunter Biden and brought charges against him in Delaware” [5].

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty, then was pardoned. On Sept. 5, 2024, Hunter Biden “entered a guilty plea to all nine federal tax charges brought against him by special counsel David Weiss,” Fox News reported [3]. On Dec. 1, 2024, his father pardoned him for offenses he “has committed or may have committed” from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024 [4].

For the FBI memo on Catholics at the same briefing, see HYGO News’ page on March 1, 2023.