I have to assume that the attorney general is finally about to do what Justice Department regs called for him to do the moment he was confirmed two and a half years ago: appoint a special counsel for what the Justice Department brands the “Hunter Biden” case. We shall see. If I’m right, look for three things …

Third, will the special counsel be given a sweeping mandate to investigate and prosecute any and all crimes uncovered in an inquiry into the Biden family influence-peddling business (much like Garland gave Jack Smith a sweeping mandate to investigate Donald Trump for document-retention crimes, post-2020-election crimes, and any other crimes discovered during the probe)? Or will Garland draw a narrow remit that limits the special counsel to Hunter Biden’s tax and gun crimes?