CNN Panel Erupts When Scott Jennings Asks A Simple Question About Merrick Garland [WATCH]

A heated discussion unfolded on CNN Monday night when Republican strategist Scott Jennings challenged a panel to address whether Attorney General Merrick Garland should be fired over alleged “corruption” within the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The debate came after Joe Biden issued a controversial pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, late Sunday night, citing that Hunter had been “singled out” due to his familial ties to the president.

In a statement released by the White House, President Biden justified the pardon by claiming his son had been unfairly targeted. “This was a miscarriage of justice,” Biden stated, defending his decision as necessary to shield his son from what he described as politically motivated prosecutions.

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Hunter Biden was convicted in June on three felony gun charges related to the 2018 purchase of a Colt .38-caliber revolver and later pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in September.

The pardon has drawn significant backlash from Republicans and legal analysts, who argue that it undermines the justice system.

Jennings wasted no time in questioning the panel’s view on Garland’s leadership of the DOJ. “Can I ask you a question?” Jennings began. “Do you all think that Merrick Garland should be fired because of this corruption at the DOJ?”

Leigh McGowan, another panelist, pushed back, denying allegations of corruption. “I don’t think there’s corruption at the DOJ. I think the concern is the future DOJ could be corrupted,” she responded.

Jennings pressed further, asking, “If you think this was a politicized witch hunt, wouldn’t the attorney general be held accountable?”

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York responded forcefully, claiming the charges were politically motivated. “These charges were trumped up because his name is Hunter Biden,” Bowman argued. Jennings countered, suggesting that if Biden believed the charges were unjust, he should hold Garland accountable.

Former prosecutor Elliot Williams attempted to navigate the legal nuances, explaining that the charges were technically lawful but likely would not have been pursued if Hunter Biden were not a high-profile figure. “Now two things can be true at the same time,” Williams said. “It is not likely that an individual would have been charged were it not a high-profile case, and it’s still unlawful conduct that is worthy of a pardon.”

The discussion became increasingly contentious when former Republican Rep. Scott Taylor questioned the scope of the pardon. “Why wasn’t he just pardoned for that specific charge? Why did the pardon go so far?” Taylor asked, prompting interruptions from Bowman and McGowan.

Joe Biden’s blanket pardon of Hunter covers the entire period of the 2014 CIA coup in Ukraine when Hunter was appointed to the board of a Ukrainian gas company

This means he can’t be investigated for any criminal activity during this timeframe

Are you paying attention yet?

— Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) December 2, 2024

Bowman argued that the pardon was part of a broader Republican strategy to attack the Biden family. “The Trump administration is going to comb through every aspect of Hunter Biden’s life,” he claimed, adding that the goal was to undermine the Democratic Party.

Williams countered, suggesting the pardon could expose Hunter Biden to scrutiny for “uncharged conduct” that remains under investigation by the DOJ. “It’s the Richard Nixon point,” he said, alluding to how uncharged allegations can still have significant consequences.

The panel’s debate reached a boiling point when Bowman suggested Trump had been “pardoned by the Supreme Court.”

CNN host Abby Phillip quickly corrected him, saying, “Or you could say, by the American people,” referencing Trump’s victory in the November 5 election.

The sweeping pardon has faced widespread criticism, with Republicans accusing Biden of abusing his presidential powers to shield his son and Democrats voicing concerns over the political fallout.

As the debate over Hunter Biden’s legal troubles and the DOJ’s integrity continues, questions remain about how this controversy will impact public trust in the justice system and the Biden administration’s legacy.

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