Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, a potential challenger to President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary, suggested that the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden has compromised the president's image. Phillips, who made the comments on NBC News' "Meet the Press," stated that he does not believe the president is corrupt but emphasized the importance of the public perception. Phillips expressed concern about how the news coverage of the investigation may affect the public's perception of the president's integrity, especially in a partisan political climate.

Attorney General Merrick Garland recently appointed David Weiss as the special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, giving Weiss the authority to pursue the case wherever it may lead. Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden for the past five years, was granted special counsel status to "formalize" his authority in the case, according to Garland.

Phillips, while expressing admiration for President Biden's leadership, called for a new direction for the Democratic Party and suggested that a moderate governor from the heartland could be a strong challenger to the president in the Democratic primary. President Biden's campaign has not yet responded to Phillips' comments.

The investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings has been a subject of scrutiny by House Republicans, who have been pursuing an investigation into the matter. However, Democratic lawmakers like Phillips and Rep. Jamie Raskin have emphasized the importance of letting the justice system run its course and allowing the investigators to do their job.