US Attorney Matthew Graves criticized for soft-on-crime record, refusal to assist in Hunter Biden case

The name Matthew Graves has been in the news lately in connection to his reluctance to assist U.S. Attorney – now Special Counsel – David Weiss in bringing charges against Hunter Biden in Washington, D.C., but as Breitbart suggests, the manner in which Graves conducts his own work in the nation's capital is perhaps deserving of an additional layer of scrutiny.

Specifically at issue, according to the outlet, is Graves' startlingly low rate of prosecution in the local as well as federal matters over which he has jurisdiction, something that is arguably contributing to the skyrocketing crime plaguing the city and leaving residents in perpetual fear.

Biden's man in D.C.

Breitbart notes that 56% of individuals arrested this year by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department have gone on to be released back onto the streets, thanks to the policies promulgated and perpetuated by Graves.

Selected for the post he now occupies by President Joe Biden and subsequently confirmed by the Senate in 2021, Graves is charged with prosecuting offenses that run the gamut from drug crimes to homicides, financial fraud to acts of terror.

While Graves has pledged to seek “the fair and impartial administration of justice,” the climate in D.C. has become increasingly fraught, with many citizens afraid to walk the streets of what has been described as akin to a “war zone.”

Breitbart points out that a large proportion of the criminal offenses logged in the district are committed by juveniles, particularly those involving carjacking, but Graves has revealed that, broadly speaking, his office does not pursue their prosecution.

Despite a growing sense of dread among those residing in D.C. regarding rampant crime, in 2022, Graves did not prosecute 67% of all those arrested, and in 2023, 56% of arrestees eluded prosecution by his team.

Non-cooperation cited, conflicts of interest alleged

Though Graves' record in D.C. is assuredly of concern to local residents, it is the role he played –- or did not play –- in the case of Hunter Biden that has drawn criticism on a national level.

According to the Washington Examiner, during his ongoing probe of Hunter Biden's tax and financial affairs, Delaware U.S. Attorney -- since named special counsel -- David Weiss had indicated his desire to level charges against the president's son in D.C., but was rebuffed by Graves, who declined to provide the sort of assistance needed to pursue such a case.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is among those who believe that Graves' stance on Weiss' request is an egregious example of the type of conflict of interest that has worked to protect members of the Biden family from the inception of investigations into their conduct.

In support of that contention, Gaetz has cited Graves' history of work for a Biden-affiliated committee, and his wife's close ties to the White House through her leading role at the liberal National Women's Law Center, among other potentially problematic links.

Graves, according to the congressman, has “benefitted politically and financially by the Bidens at various stages of his life,” and those ties – as well as his blatant failure to crack down on crime in D.C. – are all reasons for heightened skepticism of the manner in which he carries out his duties going forward.