Biden's Relationship With his Attorney General Merrick Garland in the Deep Freeze?

Biden's relationship with his AG Merrick Garland is now in 'DEEP FREEZE' because White House 'thinks tough probes into Hunter and classified documents are unfair'

• Joe Biden appointed Merrick Garland as attorney general, telling him at the public announcement of his role: 'You don't work for me'
• Yet Biden aides are now privately complaining that Garland is too independent, according to The Wall Street Journal
• The aides argue that Garland has gone too far in appointing a special counsel to investigate Biden's classified documents, and mishandled a probe into Hunter 

Joe Biden's relationship with his attorney general, Merrick Garland, is so icy it is 'in the deep freeze', according to a report on Saturday.

Biden and his aides are infuriated by Garland's decision to appoint special counsels to investigate both Biden's handling of classified documents, and his son Hunter's business affairs. They told The Wall Street Journal that Garland was seen as going too far in his effort to appear independent from Biden, who appointed him.

But Garland's aides told the paper that the widely-respected, low-key official was simply trying to stop any suspicion that Biden was influencing his decisions.

Biden, 80, stressed repeatedly in his hiring of Garland, 70, that he was choosing someone with integrity and independence. Biden vowed that he would not interfere in Garland's work.

As he ushered Garland onto the stage, he told him: 'You don't work for me.'

Yet now that very independence is proving problematic, sources told the paper.

Joe Biden is seen listening to his attorney general, Merrick Garland, speak in June 2021. Relations between the two men are now said to be in the 'deep freeze'

Biden's aides feel that Garland has mishandled the investigation into the president's son, Hunter

Biden and Garland are seen at the White House in May 2022. The two men are said to be extremely distant with one another

Biden, seen leaving church in Delaware on Saturday, has been angered by both the investigation into his handling of classified documents, and the inquiry into his son

And a lawyer for Hunter Biden - who on Thursday was federally indicted on charges of lying about his drug use on a gun permit - accused Garland of being biased against the Bidens.

Garland worked as a senior official at the Justice Department under Bill Clinton's attorney general, Janet Reno, who angered Clinton by launching an investigation that ultimately led to the revelations of his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

'Merrick comes from exactly the same school,' said a former department official who worked with both Reno and Garland.

'They both believe very strongly in the independent and nonpolitical nature of the department, which is good for the department, but not always so good for the attorney general's relationship with the president.'

Bill Clinton was famously irritated by the actions of his attorney general, Janet Reno. The pair are seen together in July 1993

Barack Obama, conversely, was criticized for being too close to his attorney general, Eric Holder.

Barack Obama is seen with his attorney general, Eric Holder, in May 2013