Below is my column in the New York Post on the second indictment of Hunter Biden. The tax evasion charges were brought in a type of Voldemort indictment, skillfully detailing millions acquired from influence peddling without mentioning “he who must not be named.” Indeed, it says nothing of how or why millions were sent to Hunter.
Here is the column:
The 56-page indictment of Hunter Biden for tax evasion makes for racy reading, with the special counsel describing a four-year criminal pattern directed at maintaining Biden’s “extravagant lifestyle.”
That lifestyle included massive expenses for strippers, sex clubs, fast cars and other distractions.
The steps taken by Hunter to evade taxes are impressive, but not nearly as impressive as the efforts of the Justice Department to evade any direct implications for his father, President Biden.
In that sense, the indictment itself is a marvel of evasion.
There are three glaring omissions in the indictment that tend to shield critical payments and conduct that implicate the president.
The Burisma-Ukrainian money
First, the special counsel only indicts tax evasion that occurred in recent years.
That’s because the long “investigation” into Hunter inexplicably allowed the statute of limitations to expire on the most controversial payments starting around 2014 from Ukraine gas company Burisma.
Recent testimony from IRS whistleblowers suggests that wasn’t an accident. Investigators were stonewalled, they claimed, and the Justice Department was previously moving to reject any charges against Hunter Biden.
Exploring those earlier Ukrainian payments opens up questions about Hunter’s influence peddling and would have highlighted the conflict in his father’s extraordinary move to force the Ukrainians to fire a prosecutor investigating Burisma by holding back a billion dollars in aid for the country.
There is still no explanation why special counsel David Weiss would allow the statute of limitations to run out.
But this recent indictment keeps the focus squarely on taxes not paid, not how the money was “earned” in the first place.
Hunter the foreign agent
Also missing in the indictment is any charge against Hunter Biden as an unregistered foreign agent.
Recently, the Justice Department added a charge to the indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) that he ran afoul of FARA, the Foreign Agents Registration Act. FARA also was used to go after Donald Trump associates such as Paul Manafort.
The problem with charging Hunter with FARA is obvious.
It opens up questions about the millions of dollars going to the Biden family from foreign sources, a topic that Attorney General Merrick Garland has spent years avoiding.
In the second indictment, Weiss spends more time detailing the salacious use of this money rather than how and why it was given to the Bidens.
He just matter-of-factly describes millions flowing through these accounts from China, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and other countries.
The unindicted co-conspirator
By focusing on tax evasion alone, Weiss again avoids any direct reference to the focus of the influence-peddling used to raise these millions of dollars.
Even without mentioning the president, the implications of the indictment are devastating for the narrative and denials of Joe Biden.
The president has continued to maintain that he had no knowledge or interaction with these dealings. Those statements are clearly and knowingly false.
The president also maintained that his son has “never done anything wrong” and never accepted any money from China.
That is also untrue, according to the Justice Department and Hunter himself.
Yet Weiss continues to avoid any need to address the person who was the selling point of the influence peddling.
It was the same person who repeatedly called in to dinners and meetings, repeatedly attended events, and held meetings and photo shots for these clients.
Instead, Weiss indicts the failure to pay taxes on the proceeds of these dealings without addressing that underlying corruption.
It is akin to arresting a bank robber for speeding away from the crime scene without mentioning the reason for his flight.
In a scandal with dozens of references to the president and millions sent for influence and access, it took a steady hand for Weiss to avoid ever touching on President Biden’s role.
This was a truly Homeric feat — unseen since the Greek hero Odysseus won a competition by shooting an arrow through the tiny hole in a dozen ax heads.
It takes perfect aim to avoid any contact. It is itself the very model of evasion.
Jonathan Turley is an attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.
When these reports of hunter’s misdeeds surface, do you think that joe sits him down for a father-son guidance session?
no they just call the DOJ who COVER IT UP!
Yes, he tells Hunter, “you’re doing it all wrong son, you don’t pay the whores for their favors, the whores pay you for favors. That is the Washington District of Corruption way, my son.
Although the link to receiving foreign funds has been established, the remaining question(s) is what is the Biden administration providing for the funds. Or, asked in a differently, what are the American people sacrificing for the funds flowing to the Biden family?
“[W]hat are the American people sacrificing for the funds flowing to the Biden family?”
That is precisely the way to frame the issue.
Every Biden administration Ukraine and China policy is, *at minimum*, suspect. If there are grounds for a president to be recused from foreign policy decisions, those (bribery) payments are it.
Right. Where are the documents about US policy towards Shokin that Comer demanded from Blinken? Where is the investigation of the 1023? Comer has established that the Biden family received funds from Ukraine, China, Russia and Kazakhstan among others. Now he needs to show what Biden delivered in return. Without that there will be no political impact of any significance. And of course Joe will pardon Hunter.
In the meantime, Trump will be completing his campaign next fall from prison, after he is railroaded by the weaponised “justice” system. The Republicans need a strategy for freeing him if he wins. He can pardon himself for Federal crimes. Georgia needs to change its law now to allow him to be pardoned by the Governor. That would leave only Bragg’s case in NY. It may be that a legal challenge to this absurd set of charges will succeed.
The Bragg case is DOA, but nothing says he cant serve as president from a georgia prison.
I dont need proof that Joe “changed” policy. He was selling policy, and even if it was consistent with our interests, its still a crime.
Politically, the only real hope is sufficient voters will say “enough already”. If they had a confession from Hunter of Joe’s involvement, the Senate still would not convict. Joe will never confess. He probably thinks he’s innocent. He cant remember what he had for breakfast.
Legally, nothing here either. When Joe leaves office, he knows whats waiting for him. A lawsuit from Tara Reade, who has the same set of facts and evidence as E Jean Carroll, and will prevail as well. She also has a more plausible tale, since she’s not alleging that an old man managed to stick his penis in her while they were standing face to face, with her tights around her knees.
Weiss and Garland: Wilful Malpractice
That is the $5M question right there. Or is it $10M? $25M? $250M?
Regardless, the question that anyone and everyone with any degree of common sense is asking, how was the money “earned?”
It is a sad day for America. Not only is Biden the worst president ever, but the BCF has brought America down to banana republic status.
I suspect that the money was never “earned”, in the sense of a benefit provided to the payor from the payee (and his father). [Except for that once in forcing the firing of Shokin in Ukraine.] It was extorted, just like the mafia and Mexican Cartels do, with threats. To quote Hunter in telling the Chinese what would happen if they did not pay up:
” I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting
for the call with my father.”
Havent you heard? That was just some crackhead being braggadocio. You know how cocaine can make you forget that you are a “well respected lawyer, esteemed board member”, navy jag, and that extortion is illegal.
Ho hum. The full pardon is coming. Just can’t say when Joe will make this stop. Probably just before the DNC Convention. He will then withdraw his candidacy for 2024 and they will nominate the greaseball from California with Michelle as his running mate. The experts on mail-in voting and suitcases under the table at 3:00 am will be called in and VOILA! another 8 years to shut down all opposition.
I also do not believe that Biden is going to be the Democrat candidate. The signs are already there that the party will drop him because he will lose. However, the Dems want to make sure that Trump is the Rep. candidate because he has vulnerabilities, and they think another candidate than Biden will beat him. So, indeed, at the last instance, Biden will drop out (and likely pardon his son) and we get someone else. Gavin/Michelle is a real possibility. They don’t have anybody else as a serious candidate. My hope is that the reps. are playing the same game. First, expose the corruption during the impeachment trial. That might not hurt Newsom but would negatively reflect on Obama and by extension somewhat on his wife. Second, Trump withdraws, and the Rep. nominate with full support of Trump their strongest candidate, i.e., Ron Desantis with Kristin Noem as running made. They will wipe the floor with the dem. ticket in debates. Desantis ten gives Trump an advisory role in his administration focused on cleaning the swamp.
Another day, another signal of the Killing of America by the very affluence that we created.
The very first question asked of Hunter Biden when he appears before the house should be.
We have your cell phone records from 2015. We also have testimony from Devon Archer that a phone call was placed by you, from Dubai, at the behest of Zlovchevsky, who wanted help with pressure he was receiving from the office of Shokin. Who did you call and what was the nature of that call?
Any other question and the fix is in.
Right, Tom. I hope they do have the records of the call.
It’s clear that in many ways they were very careful with their conspiracy. Using whatsapp and signal to communicate, using initials and code names. Using aliases. Even burner phones. But because they have the Biden idiot gene, there were plenty of times that they slipped up. Enough times to stop the stooges and apologists from ignoring reality? Idk. From what we’ve see so far, even if it turns out he called joe that day, it was just normal loving father/beleaguered son chit chat.
“I do not recall” is the likely response to which the legal system seemingly has no recourse.
Does the charge of treason have a statute of limitations?
There seems to be a fine line between being a registered foreign agent under FARA and espionage. Focusing solely on the money received avoids the entire point of why bribery or influence peddling is an impeachable offense.
What did these foreign entities receive in exchange for the money paid? Did they purchase specific US foreign policy and did that weaken our national security or that of our allies?
As an 84 year old great grandmother who follows the news avidly, this was the best piece I’ve read on the Biden crime family. Not only was it informative but the best part was when I laughed out loud at the end!! Kudos, Professor!!
The tragedy repeats! This time, instead of of a pile of bones and fat, it will be Hunter Biden in a modern day Mekone called a federal court. Joe Biden’s modern Prometheus, David Weiss, will not be able to hide from from the US citizenry (Zeus). He will either have to fall on his sword for his master Joe Biden or be tormented as one of the most outrageous lawyers in history.
David Weiss’ fatal flaw? He thinks he can have it both ways.
JB’s “extraordinary move to force the Ukrainians to fire a prosecutor investigating Burisma by holding back a billion dollars in aid for the country.”
In 3, 2, 1 comes the Leftist sand in your eyes:
JB, as VP, didn’t want the prosecutor fired because he was investigating Burisma. He wanted the prosecutor fired because he was *not* investigating corruption in Ukraine.
That is the patently absurd idea that JB wanted the prosecutor fired because he was *not* investigating HB’s corruption.
This is EXACTLY what the lefty stooges have been arguing for months. That Joe (who knew very well that Hunter worked for Burisma), wanted the prosecutor fired because he was not investigating Burisma.
They dont even care how ridiculously stupid they look.
Why is this not part of an ongoing criminal conspiracy along with the 2014 tax issues? If so, doesn’t that negate the statute of limitations?
That would be a good question for the House oversight committee to ask Special Counsel Weiss.
Dear Prof Turley,
It’s akin to looking at the sun and demanding proof of its light. SC Weiss had to do something .. . or go blind looking at the evidence.
According to president Biden “It’s All A Bunch of Lies”. .. and 51 Top Intel officials, including the past 5 CIA directors, tend to agree with him.
The Committee(s) should subpoena 51 top intel officials, including the past 5 CIA directors. .. this is way over SC Weiss’s head.
*btw, Rep. Goldman is talking about you, again .. .
Goldman said, “You asked a very good question to actually name evidence. Every time he goes on TV, he makes bold accusations about all these crimes, crimes, crimes, and they, they, they, even though it’s only Hunter Biden. The only piece of evidence that he pointed to was the Burisma situation… that has been proven up, down, left, right, every single which way to be completely bogus, and in fact firing Shokin, who was not prosecuting corruption, was actually bad for Burisma… This is a house of cards with no evidence, and Chairman Comer just proved that to you.”
Yea, Own Goal Goldman, and Biden didnt know Hunter was working for Burisma, did he?
Comer isnt the one who said Shokin was after Burisma. Burisma (Zlovchevsky) is the one who said Shokin was after him. Archer also said it. Now, Hunter will get his chance to say it.
Dear Tom .. . if that’s your real name (it’s hard to tell around here!),
In fact, the U.S. State Department, illustrious members of the EU and NATO had great things to say about Shokin’s ‘anti-corruption’ efforts just months before VP Biden famously gave Ukraine ‘six hours to fire him’. In fact, Shorkin had confiscated Burisma (Zlovchevsky) holdings just DAYS before VP Biden arrived and demand his resignation. There is also Shokin’s sworn depositions in European courts of law attesting to his ongoing investigation of Burisma. .. if that means anything.
Goldman clearly fell off a turnip wagon and “never underestimate Joe to f*ck things up” ~ h/t Obama
*btw, I still have $100 cash for anyone who can get Obama, on record, saying firing Shokin “was official U.S. policy” in Ukraine.
Agreed. The whole “skokin wasnt doing his job” hoax was drummed up AFTER Biden and Archer joined Burisma. A memo here and there and next thing you know it looks like shokins a bum. They have emails of joe letting hunter know of his movements regarding ukraine. Thats not suspicious, is it?
Joe and Hochstein changed the speech on AF2 on the way to Ukraine. Thats been alleged by insiders. They’ve offered no evidence to the contrary. There is none. Oh yea, Hochstein just happens to be the person hunter went to see on his return from Dubai. Coincidence i’m sure.
Its possible that it was hochstein that was called from dubai, and not joe directly. Same thing. Put that little sh!t hochstein on the stand.
A good thing is worth repeating….”The smoke screen for the ‘Lusitania’ to cloud Walther Schweiger’s periscope”.
John, Can these current Hunter tax only indictments allow prosecutors to investigate bigger (“following the money”) shenanigans back to the Big Guy? Opening up possible influence peddling and extortion?
Joey two scoops
Love it
Modern day Targaryens???
This column should make the Biden apologists head spin. Can’t wait to see their diversions, denials, excuses and tantrums.
What you wont ever see is a single plausible explanation for the growing mountain of evidence. Even if one doesnt find the evidence revealed thus far to be “proof”, it takes a completely dishonest person to not at least have the intellectual curiosity to want to know more.
NONE of these activities and behaviors are normal. Shared bank accounts??
F*cking why??? Comingled funds??? Why? Were hunter and joe secretly married?
Hunter did sleep with his dead brothers wife. He also made sexual overtures to his underaged niece. He’s visited more brothels than Tirian Lannister, the imp. Joe does have an affinity for little girls. Joe apparently did usurp the throne. Joe does seem to have lost his mind, like the “mad king” Aerys.
Jill seems mad with power ala Daenryes. Perhaps she is secretly Joes sister.
They built their own Red Keep in washington, also known as the DOJ, FBI and CIA. They enslave people and call it freedom, enlisting “allies” from whomever will answer the call. They’re trying to behead the “king in the north”, DJT, before the next election. Merrick Garland is Joe’s “High Sparrow”, and all the marxist lefty stooges on this blog are little sparrows, mindlessly wandering about to defend the Biden Targaryen corruption.
As if the first Sweetheart Plea deal wasn’t enough, Merrick Garland has really outdone himself with a one-of-a-kind Sweetheart Indictment for Little Ho Ho. This legal gem is truly deserving of the Congressional Medal of Freedom for “saving democracy” don’t you think Jonathan ???
The bias in the DOJ/FBI/federal bureaucracy is blatantly obvious to all except rabid Democrat partisans at this point. If you study history, this will not end well for the country. Democrats continue to not learn from their prior attempts to control every aspect of the government. The elimination of the judicial filibuster by Sen. Reid is but one example of their refusal to consider long term consequences. How long will the people put up with this bias and corruption? We will see.
Well, the bogus 32 shell companies and the dozens of bank statements showing phony “loans” going to the Biden crime family should certainly clear things up as to Joey Two Scoops involvement.
We had all the evidence we needed to get hillary and we all saw what happened there…I am not holding out any hopes for justice until we fumigate all of the swamp/media/academia. Until then, we are held hostage by corruption at its most refined. We are, in reality, worse off now than we were when we rebelled against the Crown. Where have all of our patriots and freedom fighters gone?
Yes, well said. I have no hope for the survival of the rule of law in this once great country. It will be the rule of law benefiting none but the powerful and connected.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the shells once the Corporate Transparency Act goes into effect next year!