Pence 'hopeful' that special counsel will investigate Hunter Biden 'without fear or favor'

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday he is “hopeful” that the special counsel overseeing the investigations into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, will fulfill his role appropriately.

“I am hopeful that Special Counsel [David] Weiss will do his job without fear or favor,” the GOP presidential hopeful said during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland granted special counsel status to Weiss, the federal prosecutor who has been investigating the president’s son for five years, saying the move was “in the public interest.”

While Pence said he welcomed the decision, he also applauded House Republicans who have relentlessly called for investigations into the Biden family.

“The American people have a right to know whether or not President Biden's family benefited, or that he himself benefited when he was serving in the job that I had as vice president of the United States in a financial way from foreign nationals,” Pence said, adding that he has “confidence” that Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, and James Comer (R-Ky.), who chairs the Oversight Committee, “will continue to do their job for the American people.”

Both Republicans have been dogged in probing Hunter Biden’s business dealings, searching for an incriminating link to Joe Biden. Democrats say there remains no evidence the president himself benefited from his son's actions.

On Sunday, Pence also criticized the Justice Department, promising, if elected, to “clean house on the whole top floor” and appoint leaders who “will apply the rule of law in this country equally to every American.”

Other Republicans have come out more forcefully against Garland’s decision, claiming that Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2017, has attempted to help cover up corruption by President Biden and members of his family.

“This appointment is camouflage and it's cover-up,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

“I think it's disgraceful. David Weiss was a U.S. Attorney hand-picked to lead this investigation who spent the last five years covering it up,” Cruz told host Maria Bartiromo.