Below is my column in The Messenger on what I called Biden’s “break-the-glass” option after the disaster in Delaware. After the column ran, Fox News asked White House Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre about the possibility of a pardon. Jean-Pierre cut him off and responded unequivocally “no.” I hope that proves to be true but it would have been more assuring to come from someone who did not clearly misrepresent the President’s earlier denial just a day earlier and change his long-standing position. The President previously denied a series of facts that have been proven, including the fact that his son did make money in China and President Biden did have knowledge of (and interact with) his son’s business dealings. The real question is whether the fix in this case will fail and leave the President with the pardon option behind the glass.
Here is the column:
The collapse of the Hunter Biden plea bargain has left many in Washington shocked. After all, this is a city that knows how to fix a fight. After five years, the Biden corruption scandal was supposed to die with a vacuous plea bargain and no jail time. Most everyone was in on the fix, from members of Congress to the media to the prosecutors. The problem was the one notable omission: Judge Maryellen Noreika of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
The sentencing hearing was a moment that made the Hindenburg disaster look like a seamless landing. Noreika asked a basic question on the implications of the agreement, and the entire deal immediately collapsed.
Now the Justice Department is in a bind. It could not admit in the hearing that Hunter Biden could escape future liability for a host of uncharged crimes. Yet, when a defendant backs out of a generous plea deal, federal prosecutors ordinarily will pursue all of the available charges — and jail time.
While President Joe Biden once declared, in more colorful terms, that no one messes with a Biden, the Justice Department may now find it has no choice. It could be forced to actually treat Hunter like an ordinary citizen.
The debacle in Delaware still could result in a plea deal. The parties have a month to “work things out,” and most judges sign off on deals, given the discretion afforded to the executive branch on criminal charging decisions. They just need to be clear about the terms, and clarity is something neither side seemed eager to establish publicly during Wednesday’s hearing. However, an agreement would require prosecutors either to fight to preserve a sweetheart deal — one without additional future charges — or to proceed, as they would in most cases, with a full prosecution.
That would include obvious potential charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Noreika forced the Justice Department to admit that it still could charge Biden as an unregistered foreign agent. That was the charge used against onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the similarities between the cases are striking. It took little time for the Justice Department to use the charge against Manafort. Yet, in the Hunter Biden investigation, five years have passed, and the Justice Department seemed mired in doubt over applying the same standard to the president’s son.
A FARA charge could further expose Hunter’s alleged influence-peddling operations, with what House GOP investigators say were millions in foreign payments from a virtual rogue’s gallery of foreign officials. The Justice Department also would face pressure to seek the same long jail sentence given to Manafort; he was sentenced to 73 months of imprisonment, which included the statutory maximum 60 months for a conspiracy to violate FARA. (That same year, political consultant W. Samuel Patten pleaded guilty to lobbying and consulting on behalf of the Opposition Bloc, a Ukrainian political party, and received 36 months of probation.)
That is not even including potential felony charges for the original gun violation, money laundering, or other crimes. If the Justice Department were to show the same aggressive effort toward Hunter Biden that was shown to figures like Manafort, Hunter could be looking at a real possibility of years in jail.
There is, however, the ultimate “break-the-glass” option that I raised previously if the Bidens and their supporters could not rig the process: Joe Biden could pardon his son and then announce that he will not run for reelection.
Facing an impeachment inquiry, low public support, and a son in the legal dock, Biden could use the case to close out his political career. Of course, a pardon would be what I consider another abuse of the pardon power for personal benefit. President Bill Clinton waited until the end of his second term to pardon his half-brother. Biden could do the same by acknowledging that the pardoning of his son is a form of raw self-dealing. However, as he has said throughout the scandal, he loves his son and blames his crimes on his struggle with addiction and grieving.
With that, Biden could bow out of the election without admitting (as many on both sides are saying) that old age has taken its toll on his mental and physical capacity. He would end his political career with an act as a father, which some would condemn but most would understand. That would clear the way for a new generation of Democratic candidates who would have a better chance of defeating Donald Trump or another Republican presidential candidate.
President Biden could even give Hunter a preemptive or prospective pardon. That would effectively end any federal investigation, although the pardon would need to cover the waterfront of possible charges. By resigning and becoming a lame-duck president, Biden also would undermine congressional Republicans’ impeachment calls. And it would allow his own allies to declare the scandal over, with Biden taking responsibility by giving up a second term in office.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the congressional investigation would end. Even if such a move dampened the demand for an impeachment inquiry, it would not likely stop Republicans from pursuing answers about the official handling of this investigation and claims of political interference.
Yet, any damage would be contained by Biden offering himself up as a sin-eater for his family. Democratic candidates would not likely face backlash for their opposition to investigating the scandal; their chances of retaking the House could be substantially increased. Likewise, the media would not have to face the mounting evidence that it has steadfastly ignored for years.
The pardon-and-apology approach might appeal to Biden not only as an effort to convert vice into virtue but to justify his withdrawal from the election as a selfless act.
Everyone in Washington would win — except, of course, the public: The Bidens would keep alleged millions in influence-peddling profits; Hunter would not even have to pay his full taxes; members of Congress and the media could avoid taking responsibility for burying the reports of corruption.
That is what is called a “happy ending” in Washington.
Jonathan Turley, an attorney, constitutional law scholar and legal analyst, is the Shapiro Chair for Public Interest Law at The George Washington University Law School.
The political backlash would be tremendous. I don’t think the rest of the democrats would want to see him do that.
Come on. Assuming it can be proved that President Biden and his son are in a criminal conspiracy, Can the President get away with pardoning Hunter and himself. Certainly not what the framers intended
He easily could. If Hunter admits to all the bribery and claim that he duped his dad into being a conduit for the money but not a penny stayed with Joe, it’s doable.
Biden could livestream himself stuffing his pockets with bribes while simulcasting Trump shooting someone on 6th Ave, and neither would lose one vote.
We have sunk that low.
I believe it’s 5th Ave. .. but your point still stands.
The issue for the Democrats, echoed endlessly in the media sound-booth, is Trump .. . the whole Trump and nothing but the Trump.
The Biden(s), too, would be disposable Putin puppets the moment they interfered with the pursuit of the Devil.
*’Laurance Tribe Esq: “So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!”
Professor Turley: “Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?”
Tribe Esq: “Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!”
Professor Turley: “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Laurance, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!”
~ adapted from A Man For All Seasons
The Left Hates Sound of Freedom Because They Hate Children
Carpe DiemJuly 28, 2023
An appropriate reaction for anyone who has seen the film Sound of Freedom is one of sheer horror, shock and anger toward a child trafficking industry that subjugates over a million children globally to sexual abuse – and unimaginable trauma for both the victims and their families.
https://amgreatness.com/2023/07/28/the-left-hates-sound-of-freedom-because-they-hate-children/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=act_eng&seyid=79846
Don’t forget that the evidence shows not just that Hunter Biden was operating as an unregistered foreign agent, Joe Biden was as well. More importantly, it’s when they were doing this. Obama surely had to know what the Biden’s were doing. Same with SoS John Kerry and of course Hillary Clinton. In other words, major figures in Obama’s orbit would be exposed to an impeachment inquiry involving the FARA allegations. Joe is not calling the shots on what he will do next, he never has. A plea arrangement will be worked out that has Hunter pleading guilty to anything necessary to shut down further investigations to protect Obama and his entourage. Then Joe will go in for a routine physical and cognitive test. The results will put an end to his campaign. Joe will pardon Hunter, then resign. And Kamala will “compassionately” pardon Joe.
It’s a love story after all.
I doubt a plea deal is possible for the very reason that you cite.
DOJ/FBI CAN NOT allow this investigation to end.
The moment they do, their last fig leaf protecting them from the House GOP is gone.
THAT was the big deal in court.
DOJ can NOT say this ends everything – even if it really does.
And Hunter would be unwise to accept a deal that does not end everything.
The DOJ Garlan, Biden etc. have tried to game the system and they have LOST.
Biden would have been far better off if Garland had appointed a Special Counsel in 2021.
That would have protected the DOJ and FBI and WH from having to answer questions.
The SC could have drug this out forever and done nothing and there is little republicans could have done about it.
The Bigger the Biden scandal becomes the worse and more corrupt DOJ/FBI/… all look.
They have known everything we know now for 6 years and failed to act.
“What does a corrupt DOJ do? Have its ridiculous plea deal set up for Hunter thrown out by honest judge? Drop campaign violation charges against Dem donor, crypto crook Bankman-Fried? Beef up indictments against Biden’s leading 2024 opponent? Or all 3 in a week?”
Victor Davis Hanson
@VDHanson
Fishing once on the Rio Grande River in upper New Mexico I snagged a 20 plus inch Cutthroat Trout, while reeling it in I lost it, telling my fishing buddies they all laughed, Yea Sure you did. Not giving up, I continued to fish for the allusive fish only to hook a Carp, and in doing so I lost all my hooks, bait and ended my quest for that allusive fish.
This is clearly the cleanest and easiest way to go for joe and hunter. But what about the rest of his crime family – brother jim, daughter, sister, in-laws, outlaws, etc. etc? Perhaps a general absolution for anyone who’s been to the White House or the same Delaware beach, or …
It’s kinda messy.
What is going on with Hunter is called Obstruction of Justice. How many times did we hear this term used against the Trump admin. Beyond time to start using it.
I, like most of middle America, am so sick and tired of dem control, dems pushing their way into our private lives, their open borders, their wars, and the double standards they have created for their own misdeeds and evil practices. When the good men and women of this country have had enough they will resist and it will be glorious
Well, if you look at the polls of the younger generations they are dumber than stumps. They are all for the Federal Gov’t providing for their every want. This is from an 80’s old perspective.
I am guessing that Turley will also call for Trump to pull out of the race because he has been indited on multiple state and federal felony counts. Actions that no one (sane) doubts that he did. The Biden “scandal” is a report from a guy who heard an ambiguous off hand comment from someone else.
As you know, Turley has made it very clear that Trump is above the law.
Trump is being targeted using lawfare.
Hillary is above the law.
Obama is above the law.
Joe Biden is above the law.
Hunter Biden is above the law.
Democrats are above the law.
You get the picture….
Trump cheated to get into office with the help of Russian hackers because Americans didn’t want him
Trump bragged about his ability to sexually assault women because he is “famous”
Trump began lying about losing a “rigged election” even before Election Day because he knew he couldn’t win
Trump fired Chris Krebs, head of cybersecurity for saying that 2020 was the most secure election in history
Trump did a terrible job as fake “POTUS”–trashed economy, trashed public health, trashed our relations with allies
Trump stole classified documents, lied about returning them, directed staff to erase security footage showing that boxes were moved before his attorney came to retrieve
more documents
Trump showed off classified top-secret documents to impress young female staffers with what a big shot he thinks he is
Trump paid off a porn actress with campaign funds and falsified election documents, calling the bribes “legal fees”
Trump tried to bully state election officials to “find” votes he didn’t get, and got fake “electors” to falsify certified Electoral College documents
Trump got his fans to attack the Capitol to try to stop Joe Biden from taking office based on the Big Lie
Trump sat and watched television for over 3 hours while his fans trashed the Capitol, hunted Pence, intending to lynch him because he wouldn’t refuse certified election
documents
Trump continues to lie about losing in 2020, despite multiple investigations, recounts, re-recounts and audits.
Trump’s massive ego, his toxicity and lies have pitted Americans against one another and is an embarrassment to the United States of America
Trump is desperate to “win” so he can pardon himself and the fans of his who have been criminally prosecuted because they beleived his lies
You get the picture.
The rantings of Hannity and Levin do not establish that Hillary, Obama, Hunter or Joe Bien are above the law. You have no evidence.
Joe Biden’s brazen criminality is truly shocking.
The Biden DOJ is running a protection racket for Democrats and Biden, Inc. that is truly shocking.
Federal prosecutors in Biden’s utterly corrupt DOJ just charged a maintenance worker at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Did you catch that? — Biden’s DOJ just went after *a maintenance worker* with the full force of the feds coming down on him.
That same corrupt govermnet is doing all it can to protect the *obvious criminality* of the Biden Crime Family.
A truly frightening and disgusting sight to behold.
Every American should be outraged.
Joe Biden is not a dictator. He needs to stop acting like one.
Impeach Biden now. NOW.
Impeach Garland now. NOW.
Gigi
Your rantings are all the evidence needed. Lies and hate.
Everything you said is untrue. You have no evidence. There—-see how easy that was??
Oh Gigi, that was exhausting. Go have a nap.
Ah, anonymous, I see you didn’t read the article. See, the latest “biden scandal” is that Hunty’s attorneys and the DOJ conspired to hide a grant of total immunity by placing it in the “diversion agreement” that ostensibly dealt only with the lying on a firearms form charge. Do try to keep up.
sf44: where is the PROOF that the special prosecutor and Hunter’s attorneys “conspired to hide” anything? You made that up.
Lmao NO PROOF!!!
Hey Gigi, where is the proof that trump trashed the economy or health care or foreign relations??
You are a liar and made that up.
See how easy this is???
In other news, Anonymous would like to report that Sam Bankman-Fraud will not be charged with campaign finance violations for donations to Democrats.
Nothing to see here. Move along. Move along.
Biden gang send unaudited untold Billions to Ukraine. Office of Ukraine president Zelenskiy invests heavily in Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto currency. Sam Bankman-Fried lavishes DNC/Biden with millions in campaign contributions.
*circle of life.
Yep. Follow the money.
I didn’t know Vindman was involved with Biden.
Since comments here don’t follow logical order… I will restate. “The Biden “scandal” is a report from a guy who heard an ambiguous off hand comment from someone else.” I didn’t know Vindman was involved with Biden.
I heard you the first time.
The Biden scandal is millions of dollars solicited by and paid to the Biden family. We now have a clear indication that there was a quid pro quo: the firing of Victor Shokin. And this should be nailed down by the Judiciary Committee. But even in the absence of a quid pro quo, it is obviously corrupt for an American official to take monetary “gifts” from foreign governments or even non-governmental entities. No sane person would think otherwise.
U=brainwashed
“Actions that no one (sane) doubts that he did.” Polls suggest that the majority of the country views the multiple prosecutions of Trump as being politically motivated. No sane person would think anything else.
Dear Prof Turley,
You going to have to cut some bait to catch any fish for the ‘good of the country’ .. . but this is a nice try.
The ‘friends with benefits’ plea deal between DoJ and Hunter Biden is “Null and Void”. For the time being. The DoJ wanted what Hunter didn’t have, and Hunter wanted what DoJ couldn’t give.
The DoJ are looking to kiss and make up .. . but it appears Hunter is in the catbirds seat. (it wouldn’t surprise me if Hunter had ‘tapes’ and other evidence of DoJ infidelity.)
Which begs the question, for what, and to who[m], any prospective and preemptive crimes and misdemeanors could president Biden pardon? It’s not Hunter Biden’s fault the DoJ is a philandering promiscuous whore.
>” President Biden could even give Hunter a preemptive or prospective pardon. That would effectively end any federal investigation, although the pardon would need to cover the waterfront of possible charges. By resigning and becoming a lame-duck president, Biden also would undermine congressional Republicans’ impeachment calls. And it would allow his own allies to declare the scandal over, with Biden taking responsibility by giving up a second term in office.”
I suppose if president Biden can declare Victory in Ukraine .. . anything is possible.
*the anarchy inherent in U.S. hegemony is moving to a climax . ..
If all of us were being honest, most Americans want a president to protect the nation within their Oath of Office – even if a president breaks the law. For example: a legitimate national emergency, none of us want a president hamstringed from protecting us.
There is little risk to any president if breaking laws for legitimate national emergencies but none of us want a president breaking the law for political or self-serving reasons.
Some issues aren’t always clear in the heat of the moment – like Bush detaining mostly innocent suspects after 9/11. When a good leader (and good people) makes those honest mistakes – they apologize to their crime victims and make then whole. Most American leaders never apologize or admit mistakes – that’s just plain evil.
Bush Republicans, in my view, are quite evil and ungodly NOT for making honest mistakes, but 20 years later never having any remorse for destroying and punishing the wrong people – which makes all of us less safe! Republicans the Law & Order Party and Party of GOD – simply let innocent Guantánamo inmates be destroyed and die in jail in 2023. That’s an evil this voter will never support.
Both parties do it, but what system do we want to have in the future for children and grandchildren to inherit? At minimum America needs “systematic” reforms to correct these systems.
Nice mental gymnastics. A president should be able to break the law for ‘the good of the country’, unless you deem the reason ‘not good’.
No, the president should NOT be able to break the law…for ANY reason. Full stop. Your mindset opens up the crappy government we’ve had my whole life. The Constitution is the bedrock of our law, and along with our full body of law, should be inviolate for all members of the country, as applicable (ie: constitutional limitations apply to goverment, etc).
What we need is to be rid of the democrat and republican parties, for good. P.s. why does this text box auto capitalize democrat but not republican?
You are basically assuming a potus should be allowed to do evil by your definition of “good” and get away with it. What our current potus has and is doing is pure evil by any non partisan eyes. A career corrupt politico by even his own admissions long ago. His acts and his families organization to launder foreign monies IN THE TENS OF MILLION$. All manner of dirty behind the scenes dealings and weaponizing the DOJ , and the system itself against any political oppo. Fixing the court to get his son out of crimes committed. America is currently served nothing wiht the most corrupt admin it has suffered since the FDR era of diktat.
If all of us were being honest, most Americans want a president to protect the nation within their Oath of Office – even if a president breaks the law.
🤔 Take another, or more likely, first look at the oath. First and foremost, the President is swearing to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. No one with two brain cells to rub together wants a president to violate his oath of office under the pretense he or she is protecting our country.
There is little risk to any president if breaking laws for legitimate national emergencies but none of us want a president breaking the law for political or self-serving reasons.
That is as naïve as it gets. “Legitimate” national emergencies are always the pretext for exercising unconstitutional authority. A repentant dictator-in-chief is still a dictator. The next time you “think” it’s okay for a president to break the law for exigent circumstances, place yourself in the crosshairs and tell us you’re willing to have your rights violated for the good of the country. And don’t expect an apology.
Joe will withdraw from the campaign hiding behind the fig leaf of an exaggerated physical ailment unrelated to his never-to-be acknowledged cognitive impairment. At that point, without breaking stride, the Democrat thugocracy will focus its $2 billion on getting Gavin Newsome elected. The Democrats don’t care who runs as long as it is someone they can control.
I prophesied a few weeks back that Newsome will be the next president (not that I want that). The dems and libs control everything and will make it happen. The last “election” showed that they can steal it. By the time Newsome is done, you will probably be able to kiss the first and second amendments goodbye and then it’s over folks.
The Professor is wrong…..a Father acting in the best interests and love for a Son would have put a stop to the misconduct of the Son by applying tough love that worked to punish the misconduct.
Loving Joe Biden did none of that and has plainly defended, supported, been involved with, and benefitted from that misconduct.
When your Son continues to be a drug and alcohol addict, enters into a sexual relationship with his dead Brother’s Wife, fathers and illegitimate child, cavorts with hookers, and commits multiple felony crimes…..there is no explaining all of that by denying repeatedly that it is the Devil that made the Son do it. Perhaps the Devil did….but Daddy went along with the Devil.
My Daddy explained to me early in my life that upon getting myself into trouble I should also be prepared to get my own self out of that trouble or accept the fact I would have to pay the consequences.
That is not what Joe Biden has done…..but should have.
Joe Biden is complicit in Hunter’s criminal acts and has his very own problems and Sins to answer for.
re: Ralph Chappell
Joe Biden has much in common with another father – H.W. Bush (Senior) – with a son very similar to Hunter. George W. Bush that also abused drugs and alcohol.
Daddy Bush even got his son into the National Guard to avoid combat duty.
Churchville, to compare the parenting skills and just the class of GHW Bush and Joe Biden is a joke and then you top it off by equating Hunter Biden with G W Bush, a man who found sobriety and became a governor of TX and a president. Hunter is a thief, a drug addict, an abuser of women and a foreign asset, but you just keep hating on the Bush family for some demented reason.
There is dumb and then there is insanity. Churchville, buy a mirror quickly.
And the Diaper Wearer in Chief got HIS son Hunter into the military as well, where he promptly FAILED a drug test and was thrown out.
It’s incredible that leftists continue to disparage Bush Jr. for joining the National Guard during the Vietnam war when Biden, Clinton, and Trump all managed to avoid any service at all.
👍
Dumb and ignorant, but what should we expect from this sock puppet?
I think a critical point must be remembered: Hunter did not get into much of his trouble by acting for his own account. A persuasive argument holds that he acted as Joe Biden’s agent. Complicity seems too limiting a term. Here, we have complicity combined with sponsorship and direction. Perhaps I grasp at an distinction without a difference, but Biden can’t cut his son loose without the son possibly turning on the father. Joe Biden may find himself in the Mafiosi’s predicament: to silence a lieutenant one must kill him or risk going down with him. But of course, a Mafiosi does not possess a power of pardon recognized as binding in the law’s of this society. Pardon seems to be Biden’s out.
The question is who’s running the country, Biden, Fetterman, Feinstein, O’Connell, Nancy, Nadler, Hank Johnson? Seriously the nations in a tailspin who’s the real pilot/s?
Obama is crashing this plane, in case you aren’t paying attention
Water-boarding Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, James Biden, would be a good start to get some semblance of the unvarnished true facts.
That would hurt our climate crisis. Top / bottom surgery would be more than reasonable to address their “toxic masculinity”
Dear professor Turley, I don’t want to be mean but your naïvete is showing. For Hunter’s entire life, his father has treated him as the sacrificial lamb. The current mess is due in a large part to Hunter’s actions on behalf of his father. Joe Biden, or whoever that is, is perfectly happy to let Hunter go down in flames to save his own sorry hide. If Hunter goes to jail, or worse, oh well. The important thing is that the Big Guy rides off into the sunset on his motorized shopping cart. I understand that professor Turley and other sane democrats would love a scenario in which this whole nightmare, which they voted for, would just go away. They want to be spared having to choose between the Biden Titanic and the Trump lifeboat. But it doesn’t work that way. None of us are going to get out of this mess until democrats admit they made a mistake and take steps to rectify it. And I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Professor Turley writes, “Joe Biden could pardon his son and then announce that he will not run for reelection.”
Gov. Sununu suspects something similar might happen. Specifically, he forecasts Joe running in the primaries and then ceding his delegates to whomever he chooses at the convention.
In these scenarios, there remains the thorny question of Kamala and the black vote. Dissing her might suppress the black vote on election day. Nominating her would definitely suppress the sane vote on election day.
Governors Whitmer, Pritzker, and Nuisance are insufficiently black. Reparations can only fix that problem by poisoning everything else.
Roger Stone believes Michelle Obama will be given the nomination, thus solving the black problem, but Michelle is a completely unknown quantity as a candidate. The Democrats might elect Senator Sasquatch in Pennsylvania, but running an empty pantsuit nationwide is really rolling the dice–especially if she doesn’t like the job.
Finally, there’s just sticking with ol’ Joe, but that gets shakier by the news cycle. The Deep State is running out of shovels.
The Democrats can’t win the election like this, but they can still make sure the GOP loses it. The irony is that the Democrats claim Trump is “Orange Hitler,” but they’re still desperate to get Hitler the GOP nomination, even if it means subverting the justice system. That’s either reckless stupidity or shameless gaslighting. Why can’t it be both??
Of course, they could always just cheat…
“if it means subverting the justice system. That’s either reckless stupidity or shameless gaslighting. Why can’t it be both?? Of course, they could always just cheat…”
The left is good at garnering power in the long term, but once they get it they don’t know how to use it.
True that, Alan.
They cheated in 2020. Why can’t they do it again?
An interesting but far from surprising analysis.
Other factors to consider:
1. The Democrats have demonstrated that a president can be impeached and sent for trial even on the verge of and after leaving office. And, even more shamefully, without hearings.
2. There is MUCH more at stake than removing Biden from office. The investigation into these circumstances serve also to determine the extent and identification of ALL players in the Biden corruption scandal so that remedial action can be taken to prevent such events in the future.
3. There are national security issues at stake. To expect to have a pardon and resignation sweep those issues away is not an optimistic approach, it is a ‘bury your head in the concrete’ approach. It potentially places the US in a very compromised situation. Did we learn nothing from the Afghanistan exit debacle?
4 The “he loves his son and blames his crimes on his struggle with addiction and grieving.” defense might be used to justify pardons and resignation, but it does not in any way preclude investigation of those matters. There is likely criminal activity involved in the Biden activities AND cover-up. The likelihood of other actors participating is high. Any attempt to thwart investigations must be viewed as attempt to cover-up.
The statement “Democratic candidates would not likely face backlash for their opposition to investigating the scandal; their chances of retaking the House could be substantially increased.” can and should NOT be accepted at face value. What and where (outside of the beltway) is the exact basis for such a claim? Any Democrat in a tight race that takes such a position does so at high risk. And using “grieving” as a cover? All of us have grieved, but almost none of us have behaved like the Bidens.
Consider the ‘historic factor’. Joe has indicated he wants to be a ‘president among presidents’ in terms of history remembering him. His pardoning numerous family members and himself (Hunter alone will not spare his family other investigations) with broadly interpreted pardons followed by his resignation may be expeditious in the short run, but Biden will have earned himself easily ‘the most disgraced president in history’ award. The ‘Biden Burisma’ scandal will easily replace ‘Teapot Dome’ in the lexicon and the Biden organization will rival that of Tammany Hall in terms of infamy.
The biggest factor of all that Biden has to contend with should he decide to ‘pardon and run’: he would immediately lose any control over those now supporting him. And predicting the way startled rats run can be remarkably difficult. Life might even get harder for his family; they would be marked as pariahs.
Personally, I hope that Biden suffers impeachment and conviction for one reason: Upon conviction, his Secret Service protection ends. Plus: without private security of the highest order, the rest of the Biden crime family remains quite vulnerable. Just think of the temptations arising from such a situation. Dangerous ground for sure. But the Senate will never convict. Too many cowards who think they are gods.
It would also end Hunter’s career as an artist.
But, in the hearts and minds of true patriotic American citizens it would just reinforce our growing opinion of the cesspool of DC and the corrupt nature of politicians and, most importantly, government bureaucrats and that system that has no oversite.
Just think about it. You committed a crime and you agree to a plead guilty to a deal deal that makes you immune from prosecution for any other known or unknown crime you may have committed. If that’s not a sweetheart deal I don’t know what is. The judge has given them thirty days to work it out. The question is how is the defense going to work out a protection for any criminal activity committed by Hunter in the past? Their attempt at a blanket immunity for any and all misdeeds by Hunter has collapsed. Another burning question is how did the defense think that they could get away with something that is entirely unprecedented. Hubris is always present when a criminal thinks the fix is in. Now the squealing in fear has begun.