Below is my column in the Hill on how the Hunter Biden plea deal is one of the most surgical and skillful examples of a “controlled demolition” in the history of political scandals. While the public has raised rightful concerns over a two-tiered system of justice, you have to admire the skill of the political and media elite in dropping this scandal without collateral damage to themselves.
Here is the column:
About a year ago, I wrote a column describing what I saw as evidence of a “controlled demolition” in progress in the Hunter Biden scandal. The media and political establishment had reached the point where they could no longer bury the influence peddling scandal by claiming that Hunter’s laptop was Russian disinformation.
That worked for defusing the scandal in 2020, but now another election was fast approaching, which called for a “controlled demolition” to protect political and media figures from any public backlash. I wrote: “Like those buildings dropped between other structures, it takes precision and, most importantly, cooperation to pull off. Specifically, this controlled demolition will require the perfect timing of the media, Democratic politicians, and most importantly, the Justice Department.”
The key was to get Hunter to plead to a couple of minor offenses with little or no jail time. The White House and the media could then declare the scandal over and insist that there is nothing more to discuss.
Of course, there is a great deal more to discuss. For critics, the plea agreement looks like rushing to the scene of a bank robbery and giving the getaway driver a ticket for double parking.
The House Oversight Committee has documented potentially millions in financial transfers from foreign sources to Biden family members. The labyrinth of LLC corporations and accounts used for the transfers seems designed to evade detection. Indeed, allegations from a trusted FBI source referenced payments that were being made to the Bidens without directly involving “the big guy.” That was the name allegedly used for President Biden after associates insisted that no one should use his name.
Attorney General Merrick Garland took the most important step in pulling off the controlled demolition by steadfastly refusing to appoint a special counsel. Such an appointment would allow the release of a report that would detail the alleged corrupt practices of the Biden family and the knowledge and involvement of the president. It is the essential framing used in demolition to avoid broad blast effects.
The second key is the charge. In buildings, you have to use just enough explosives to take out supports to collapse the structure in on itself. In scandals, it comes down to the criminal charges. You need an assortment of minor charges to suggest equal justice without anything large enough to cause collateral damage to others. It also has to be minor enough to get Hunter to take one for the team.
The Hunter plea is the perfect charge load for the scandal. He will plead to a couple of misdemeanors on tax violations without addressing how he actually made this money. The gun charge looks like a serious threat for incarceration, but it is little more than a phantom felony count under which Hunter will be allowed to go into a diversion program and ultimately negate the violation.
The problem for those seeking to drop this scandal in a confined fashion is that the House GOP is now investigating the influence-peddling scandal. The Democrats’ loss of the House in 2022 was a huge blow to the Biden team and, when the new Congress was sworn in, it was essential to enter a plea deal before the release of more serious evidence. In May, I called it a “capstone plea” to make it more difficult for the Justice Department to be pressured into stronger action.
The House will push ahead, but the media has already imposed another blackout on coverage. The challenge for the White House is that this plea could come at a tactical cost. If this is the end of the Hunter Biden investigation, the Justice Department and FBI will have a more difficult time withholding evidence on the basis of an “ongoing investigation.” That is why it is a bit suspicious to see U.S. Attorney David Weiss state that that there is an “ongoing investigation.”
The Justice Department will not say whether this is an investigation continuing in conjunction with the prosecution or whether there is a mandate to investigate the influence peddling scandal.
The House will also be able to inquire how the Justice Department investigated the influence peddling charges, if at all. House investigators have said that there is no indication that some of their evidence was previously acquired by the Justice Department. In the meantime, IRS whistleblowers have alleged that Hunter Biden was given preferential treatment in their investigation and that the Justice Department cut them off from further work on the case.
Chris Clark, Biden’s attorney, insisted that “with the announcement of two agreements between my client, Hunter Biden, and the Unites States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, it is my understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved.”
If true, the demolition of this case will constitute one of the most impressive scandal managements in American history. Mark Loizeaux, president and owner of Phoenix, Maryland-based Controlled Demolition Inc., once said that the success of the company is due to their effort to “identify the sensitivity of each of the neighbors to the unavoidable byproducts.” In this case, the “neighbors” are the White House, the media and a host of others that want this scandal taken down without implicating their earlier dismissals and denials. Just a couple of muffled thuds, a puff of smoke and an empty space.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanTurley.
From where did Hunter Biden receive the funds that he did not pay taxes on? Are bank Suspicious Activities Reports a matter of public record?
Influence peddling, money laundering, tax evasion, perjury et al. ad infinitum.
Communists (liberals, progressives, socialists, democrats, RINOs, AINOs) in America are “protected.”
John “Dudley Do-Right” Durham.
Four years and $6.5 million.
Results: “Those pesky democrat officials and bureaucrats cheat and they are bad people,” John Durham.
He sure showed them, didn’t he?
Great job. Thanks a lot, Dudley.
__________________________
“We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.”
– Barack Obama
______________
“We will stop him.”
– Peter Strzok to FBI paramour Lisa Page
___________________________________
“[Obama] wants to know everything we’re doing.”
– Lisa Page to FBI paramour Peter Strzok
___________________________________
“I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy’s office — that there’s no way he gets elected — but I’m afraid we can’t take that risk It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before 40.”
– Peter Strzok to FBI parmour Lisa Page
_________________________________
“People on the 7th floor to include Director are fired up about this [Trump] server.”
– Bill Priestap
___________
President Donald J. Trump impeached twice, charged by a New York DA, and the DOJ, as the Bidens, Pence, Hillary get sweetheart deals and Obama’s Trump “investigations” continue.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The continuing Obama Coup D’etat in America is the most egregious abuse of power and the most prodigious crime in American political history. The co-conspirators are:
Kevin Clinesmith, Bill Taylor, Eric Ciaramella, Rosenstein, Mueller/Team, Andrew Weissmann,
James Comey, Christopher Wray, McCabe, Strozk, Page, Laycock, Kadzic, Sally Yates,
James Baker, Bruce Ohr, Nellie Ohr, Priestap, Kortan, Campbell, Sir Richard Dearlove,
Christopher Steele, Simpson, Joseph Mifsud, Alexander Downer, Stefan “The Walrus” Halper,
Azra Turk, Kerry, Hillary, Huma, Mills, Brennan, Gina Haspel, Clapper, Lerner, Farkas, Power,
Lynch, Rice, Jarrett, Holder, Brazile, Sessions (patsy), Nadler, Schiff, Pelosi, Obama,
Joe Biden, James E. Boasberg, Emmet Sullivan, Gen. Milley, George Soros, John McCain,
Marc Elias, Igor Danchenko, Fiona Hill, Charles H. Dolan, Jake Sullivan, Strobe Talbot,
Cody Shear, Victoria Nuland, Ray “Red Hat” Epps, Don Berlin, Kathy Ruemmler, Rodney Joffe,
Paul Vixie, L. Jean Camp, Andrew Whitney, Lisa Monaco et al.
Historian Kevin Kruse:
“Today in 1964, three civil rights workers were brutally murdered in Mississippi.
“Today in 2005, the Klan leader who orchestrated it was finally convicted.”
More of the history here: https://kevinmkruse.substack.com/p/mississippi-burning-7f1
“Today in 2005, the Klan leader who orchestrated it was finally convicted.”
Black kids in Chicago kill more blacks than the Klan.
Today Education performance results were released Reading and Math at decades old lows.
The most affected? Minoritory children, children Democrats use as political fodder, in order to keep the political donations from teacher unions comming.
But you focus on 1964. hoping nobody notices the atrocities inflicted on minorities in 2023
We’ll leave the thousands of aborted black babies for another day. (If you don’t want to educate them, killing them is an option)
Glad to know that you’re disinterested in history.
That Democrats were the KKK?? We all know it. They are still Racists today.
ATS, we are interested in history, but first and foremost, we are interested in life. Black lives matter, as do white lives and all lives. You focus on history to push a sick ideology and the culture of death while forgetting the black youth killed daily due very much to your ideology. That makes you a heinous person.
BTW, you do know that 2 of the 3 civil rights workers killed on this day in 1964 were white, right? Those two were both Jewish. You know that the KKK are anti-Semites, right?
ATS, the KKK were horrid and anti-Semitic, but they were never that powerful and relied on government rules and enforcement powers to make life difficult for black people and Jews. What we must remember is they misused the Rule of Law and were Democrats that disdained the law.
Today we have a new set of Democrats that also have little regard for the Rule of Law, but instead of persecuting blacks, they are using blacks as a political weapon. Blacks should take note that where Democrats have control over cities, the number of black deaths climbs far out of proportion to their numbers. The Democrats pretend to care, but everything they do makes life worse for Blacks while we see an increasing number of black youth die on the streets.
You are a leading supporter of this type of death by despotic ideology.
When Johnson get his civil rights legislation passed in the 1960’s, he was fortunate to have a big bunch of republican votes. Back then, it was the solid south.
Hmmmm…Democrats then, and Democrats today. Supporters and founders of the KKK!! Heck, they had their very own Senator. Biden, Clinton and Obama Eulogized him.
In breaking news it seems as if the Democrats plan is to attack Durham unmercifully. Nadler and that lunatic Cohen from Memphis (the guy that wore the KFC chicken hat) are attacking the guy as a MAGA apologist and really going off the deep end with this tack. Very odd and typically fascist.
Durham wasn’t honest. Background/evidence: https://www.emptywheel.net/2023/06/20/a-guide-to-the-false-claims-john-durham-will-tell-congress/
Take note, the anonymous figure is intent on linking rather than defending the empty wheel mishandling of events. The anonymous figure is as empty as the empty wheel.
One would only say that if they had an empty wheel instead of a brain. The empty wheel was proven to be what it is, empty.
and what are the bona fides of emptywheel? who are they?
Either the claims are accurate and substantiated or they aren’t, regardless of what you believe about her bona fides.
Yes, what is crazy is the demonrats are mixing Durhams report for 2016 up wiuh 202 election.
HullBobby,
I have read some of the transcripts.
Duham owned them both.
It was awesome.
Hank Johnson wanted to know why he didn’t indict Hunter!!
What I find amazing, and disgusting, is how far the Democrats and the media will go into the tank for a corrupt dementia patient with no ability to lead the nation. How is it possible for a guy like Newsome to say that in private meetings Biden is cogent etc etc? We have eyes and ears and an ability to analyze what we see and hear.
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest 🎶
An “Anonymous” man is just an idiot.
HullBobby,
So true. So very true.
I take it that you’re not a fan of Simon and Garfunkel.
They think we are as stupid as their voters.
You are forgetting the 4 years that John Durhan who was appointed by the Trump justice department and continued under Biden came up with nothing but what Hunter Biden was charged with. The Biden justice department did not interfere. Where is the proof that Hunter Biden got a special deal and not the same deal that others is the same circumstance get.
>> Where is the proof that Hunter Biden got a special deal and not the same deal that others is the same circumstance get. <<
Start here. Read this excellent thread from a former US government attorney:
https://twitter.com/tolmanbrett/status/1671150389591441415
Then go here:
https://news.yahoo.com/kodak-blacks-lawyer-slams-hunter-234335535.html
I just read the Tolman tweet.
He is spot on.
Thank you for posting that.
Durham proved the corruption within the bureaucracy. That type of corruption prevents appropriate legal investigation and convictions. This knowledge invalidates everything you have said and demonstrates you bought into the lies.
There is a reason Durham found nothing on Hunter Biden. He was not charged with investigating that matter. He was charged with the duty of investigating how and why the FBI created the Russia/Trump collusion inquiry considering they had so little evidence that it was true and knew that it had been created by Hillary Clinton.
The problem with democrats is that they are so certain of many things that just aren’t true.
Congressman Hank Johnson asked Durham the same question. Can Democrats be any dumber??
@cfofthewoods: re:”The problem with democrats is that they are so certain of many things that just aren’t true.” Pree-cise-lee! That is deliberate and is why they are so creative in the construct of their interogatories. The intellectually astute can see right through the utterances of the likes of Jackson-Lee and Cohen but the braindead Democrat electorate to whom they are directing their diatribes are as challenged as Stevie Wonder at the velvet rope fronting the Mona Lisa.
Congressman Hank Johnson!! I didn’t know you posted here!! Do you know where you are?? Do you know what Durham was investigating?? Keep watching MSNBC. It shows.
David, You have no idea what the Scope of Durham was. You sound just like the idiot dems questioning Durham. uninformed and delusional.
Very well written article. Hopefully the right people will read it.
IS the Hunter Biden ‘Controlled 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧’ Complete?
Isn’t this a continuous Sḥỉt Show
and
WHO is this Idiot? the CIA Puppet too say:
” “If any candidate thinks supporting Ukraine is too costly, are they ready to go to war? Are they ready to fight? Send their children? Die?” Zelenskyy said. “They will have to do it anyway if NATO enters this war, and if Ukraine fails and Russia occupies us, they will move on to the Baltics or Poland or some other NATO country. And then the U.S. will have to choose between keeping NATO or entering the war.” ”
If Americans “Wants and Elects” a President upon the premise that They (Americans) do not want War and welcome Peaceful relations with the World, 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡.
Trump, DeSantis, RFK Jr. Seek Ukraine Settlement
Rather than continuing to arm and fund Ukraine’s military, Trump and DeSantis have both called for a peaceful cessation of hostilities.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/zelenskyy-questions-us-presidential-candidates-calling-for-ukraine-peace-deal-are-they-ready-to-go-to-war_5342643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge
This War is about the Economics of Greed to keep the cash-flow of the Military Industrial Machine rolling and the pocket$ lined of People of a certain proclivity. And 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧-𝐭𝐨-𝐚-𝐓.
What a way to do Business (War Inc.), it’s a sickening mentality.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/DELAY%20CONFUSE%20DISTRACT_0.jpg
There is no peaceful solution both Russia and Ukraine will accept.
It is now being reported that Putin showed a draft outline of a peace deal in April 2022 at Istanbul and the Ukrainian delegation signed it.
Russia would of pulled back it forces to pre-war lines if Ukraine agreed not to join NATO.
Peace was possible.
If Biden wins in 2024, every person who voted for him should enlist in a combat MOS and volunteer for the front lines if Biden gets us into a real head on head shooting war with Russia.
And if they are too old, then their kids or their grandkids should.
And bring back the draft. Raise the draft age to 30. All biological males have to serve. No college exceptions. All economic classes, no exceptions.
Whenever politicians start elective wars, they should be the first ones sent to the front.
98% of war would be averted if that was the case.
Darren,
Having served in the military, I understand the need for a volunteer fighting force.
However, there are some who are way to happy to send off those into harms way that are not them or their kids.
“CONGRESS SHALL…COLLECT TAXES…TO…PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE”
__________________________________________________________________________
Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense…
I appreciate the sentiment in your comment–I think many (most?) people agree that there is a basic unfairness when the most vocal agitators for and instigators of war never seem to have a personal risk at stake. However, after making a couple of exemptions to the draft, why did you made an exemption for trans males (“All biological males have to serve”)? It seems to me that with rights come responsibilities, so why should someone “identifying” as male not have to assume the consequences and subsequent responsibilities of being drafted?
CK Wallis,
Thank you for your response.
I added the biological males part as I would except to see a “sudden” increase in military aged males declaring themselves as females or trans to dodge the draft.
Probably should of added something in reference to being obese. Obesity is already a problem for recruitment now as it is.
Mr Turley any idea of what the solution is????
The solution rest wholly with the voters
We see in places like San Francisco, and Chicago, when the voters are given a chance to change direction, instead double down on the awful Democrat policies that make their communities unlivable.
Iowan2,
Well said.
Despite the obvious, most Democrats will double down and vote for more grift, more corruption, more endless wars, more two tiered justice system.
I’ not Turley, but I thinj GOD is the answer. He is moving slow but sure. Yellowstone park isn’t far from DC. I like to tell people to hang on! Cause GOD doesn’t do anything half way plus remember h GREAT! Set the stars, moon in their place and made everything in nature you see!
Welcome to democrats communist America or Murika as Obama used to say. The law is for thee and not for me. Just like the garenteed income…. so much fleecing to do, so little time. If you’re a conservative in Murika your a jew to the communist democrats in the socialist republic of murika….
Merrick Garland is arguably the best mob lawyer in American history. Garland’s ability to skillfully slow walk cases for years always claiming they are “under investigation” and keep the Bidens out of jail is truly amazing. Only two misdemeanors and a gun felony that ultimately gets dismissed ? Brilliant. His title should be Fluffer in Chief for all balls Biden. Thank you, Jonathan, for an excellent article.
Will the millions of Americans subjected to new audits by the 80,000 new IRS agents have the opportunity to plead to misdemeanor charges?
A better way to describe it is “impressive corruption…..at every level.”
How do liberals live with themselves?
Lots of booze and drugs
Jim22,
Booze, drugs, and lying to themselves and others.
Just look at the first son.
One of the most interesting statements after the plea deal became public was when a Hunter Biden attorney, when asked, stated that he recalled no questions relating to the “laptop”. Really?
A review of the CBS evening news was remarkable in the earnest, serious faces of the reporters when they stated that the DOJ just did not have enough evidence for anything more serious! And that this closed the door on this unseemly incident.
The difference today is that Twitter is no longer controlled by the gov-tech-media collusion. Can’t get on YouTube well just hop over to Twitter and show it there.
Also there was news that the mother of Hunter’s illegitimate daughter gave up on naming the child Biden and also agreed to reduce his monthly support payments from $20,000 to $5,000 dollars. I would certainly like to see that NDA.
Also, if he completes the diversion, he will still to likely be able to buy a firearm. Firearms for me but not for thee.
This sounds and seems so much like the ending of the Godfather when all accounts were settled, so to speak.
“Also there was news that the mother of Hunter’s illegitimate daughter gave up on naming the child Biden and also agreed to reduce his monthly support payments from $20,000 to $5,000 dollars. I would certainly like to see that NDA.”
Hunter might have provided a lump sum payment high enough for her not to break the NDA. This action would prevent further court hearings and essentially stop all the legal maneuvering centering around her closing up one area of great legal concern. If we watch her habits closely and notice a lifestyle change, that change will help tell us what is in the NDA.
IS the Hunter Biden ‘Controlled 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧’ Complete?
Isn’t this a continuous Sḥỉt Show …
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/ENDLESS%20SHIT%20SHOW_0.jpg
and
WHO is this Idiot? the CIA Puppet too say:
” “If any candidate thinks supporting Ukraine is too costly, are they ready to go to war? Are they ready to fight? Send their children? Die?” Zelenskyy said. “They will have to do it anyway if NATO enters this war, and if Ukraine fails and Russia occupies us, they will move on to the Baltic’s or Poland or some other NATO country. And then the U.S. will have to choose between keeping NATO or entering the war.” ”
If Americans “Wants and Elects” a President upon the premise that They (Americans) do not want War and welcome Peaceful relations with the World, 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡.
Trump, DeSantis, RFK Jr. Seek Ukraine Settlement
Rather than continuing to arm and fund Ukraine’s military, Trump and DeSantis have both called for a peaceful cessation of hostilities.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/zelenskyy-questions-us-presidential-candidates-calling-for-ukraine-peace-deal-are-they-ready-to-go-to-war_5342643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge
This War is about the Economics of Greed to keep the cash-flow of the Military Industrial Machine (Wall Street) rolling and the pocket$ lined of People of a certain proclivity. And 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧-𝐭𝐨-𝐚-𝐓.
What a way to do Business (War Inc.), it’s a sickening mentality.
cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/DELAY%20CONFUSE%20DISTRACT_0.jpg
” Specifically, this controlled demolition will require the perfect timing of the media, Democratic politicians, and most importantly, the Justice Department.”
Isn’t that near the definition of conspiracy?
“The House Oversight Committee has documented potentially millions in financial transfers from foreign sources to Biden family members. ”
Where is the explanation? So far, Joe Biden has not explained. However, he is very truthful when he chooses his ice cream.
IMPRESSIVE SCANDAL MANAGEMENT
NO!! SCANDAL SUPPRESSION!!!!
S. Meyer,
That is why we have to point out the obvious two tiered justice system to everyone.
Point out that had anyone not named Biden (or Clinton) lied on ATF form 4473, we would goto prison for a federal felony.
The level of corruption is so great and people still pretend it does not exist.
I keep listening to ATS’s arguments, along with Braindead Bug. They are starting to sound alike, which doesn’t speak well for ATS whose foolishness becomes more evident with Bug around.
ATS can’t see that money traveling through many different banks and shell companies without any reasonable statement on where the money came from is enough to convict.
His brain is warped. You answered what happened to the generic left; too much booze or drugs. The booze might be the big one with the deflated basketball inflator, but with ATS, I think it is his Stalinist-like ideology.
Everyday, I can’t believe what America has turned into since the Great Divider got elected mainly because of his color. People were so proud to vote for the 1st black president. Too bad he was a disappointment. He promised to fundamentally change America, and so far, he is winning. This is a travesty. The radical left has destroyed a once great country.
my real wonder is why the “opposition party” the Republicans just gave Democrats Trillions of Dollars for MORE CRIME?
in a fascist state the leaders and their cronies don’t have to follow laws!
The USA is a Fascist State
A fascist state that includes pervasive, anti-American, unconstitutional Central Planning, Control of the Means of Production (by unconstitutional regulation), Redistribution of Wealth and Social Engineering, and that adheres to the slogan: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
That sounds like communism.