Hunter BidenDemetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images Hunter Biden's legal troubles just got a whole lot worse. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate him. Meanwhile, Biden's plea deal for tax crimes and a gun charge has collapsed. The president's son could soon face a trial. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday signaled that the Justice Department is deepening its investigation into Hunter Biden by elevating US Attorney David Weiss to the level of special counsel.The surprise announcement came as federal prosecutors suggested that a plea deal with the president's son is now effectively dead after a Trump-appointed judge refused to accept it.