Congress, Criminal law

Harvard/Harris Poll: Majority of Democrats Want Hunter Prosecuted for Contempt

It appears that the concerted effort to excuse Hunter Biden’s defiance of a subpoena in the media has failed. According to a Harvard Caps/Harris poll, 71 percent of Americans believe that Hunter should be prosecuted for contempt of Congress. What is remarkable is that 54 percent of Democrats support his prosecution.

I have previously written that Hunter committed a flagrant, criminal violation in holding his presser in front of the Congress and refusing to appear for a deposition in the House. There is an equally compelling basis to take action against Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Cal.) under House rules for facilitating the alleged federal crime.

The poll shows that, again, the public has rejected the spin in the media and correctly sees this act for what it was: a federal crime.

Every group is lined up in favor of prosecution:

  • Democrats: 54 percent support
  • Republicans: 89 percent support
  • Independents: 72 percent support

The decision of Hunter and his counsel to take this action remains legally incomprehensible. He could have gone into the committee room and taken the 5th Amendment. There is no cognizable defense in my view to this charge.

Hunter may now have not just created a third threat of incarceration, but placed his father and his administration in the worst of possible positions.

Two Trump associates – Steven Bannon and Peter Navarro – refused to appear in the House and were quickly held in contempt by a majority of the House, including Swalwell.

Indeed, President Biden himself has maintained that defying subpoenas cannot be tolerated. When subpoenas were issued to Republicans during the House’s Jan. 6 investigation, Biden declared: “I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable criminally.”

The Justice Department clearly agreed. Under Attorney General Merrick Garland, Bannon went from a failure to appear to an actual indictment in just two months.

Garland would be expected to show the same commitment and speed with the President’s son.

The possibility of a third indictment also can have blowback on his other cases. It shows a continuing contempt for the legal process and a pattern of criminality. It also could be cited as another example of attempting to conceal information from the government. If Hunter faces sentencing on the tax or gun charges, subsequent criminal conduct can make a court less likely to be lenient.

None of this is good for Joe Biden. It shows that the public rejects the claim that Hunter is a victim. Instead, he is seen as displaying the ultimate sense of entitlement and privilege in going to the Hill to thumb his nose at Congress.

Hunter’s contempt is reminiscent of when he told ABC News reporter Amy Robach to “say it nicer” when she asked him about his prior conduct. While the Bidens may be able to get away with instructing the media on how to question family members, it does not have the same license with Congress. Hunter Biden does not get to dictate how or when he will answer questions from Congress. Congress does not have to “say it nicer.”

161 thoughts on “Harvard/Harris Poll: Majority of Democrats Want Hunter Prosecuted for Contempt”

  1. Professor Turley Writes:

    “According to a Harvard Caps/Harris poll–
    ***

    Here’s what else that poll found:

    65% Think U.S. should support Ukraine.

    63% Want a choice other than Trump and Biden.

    62% Believe Republicans are hopelessly divided.

  2. End Of Year Tally:

    House Republicans Opened Impeachment Inquiry..

    But Accomplished Little Else

    In 2023, the Republican-led House has passed only 27 bills that became law, despite holding a total of 724 votes.

    That is more voting and less lawmaking than at any other time in the last decade, according to an analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center, and a far less productive record than that of last year, when Democrats had unified control of Congress. The House held 549 votes in 2022, according to the House clerk, and passed 248 bills that were signed into law.

    The list of this year’s accomplishments is less ambitious and more bare minimum, such as legislation to suspend the debt ceiling and set federal spending limits that helped pull the nation back from the brink of economic catastrophe. The tally also includes two temporary spending measures to avoid government shutdowns. The House cleared the must-pass annual military policy bill last week before leaving for the year, though it is not known when President Biden will sign it into law.

    Edited From:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/house-republicans-laws-year.html
    ………………………..

    For 40 years Republicans have demonized government. And as a majority party, in the U.S. House, they have accomplished very little. Meaning a party that hates government is not that likely to govern. Big surprise!!

    It’s worth noting that the qualifications for wrecking crews are not as stringent as those of construction crews.

    1. End of year count of how many times Estovir has skull f*cked me…

      2345 times. Make it stop!!!

    2. It’s worth noting that the qualifications for getting cornholed by Estovir are not as stringent as those of Senate staffers.

  3. Svelass grunted and this fell out——

    This is a contempt of Congress charge which is handled according to congressional rules.” –

    What congressional rule is that?

    1. Lets see if we can make this easy for Svelaz aka Mr Peetape…

      1. For a contempt of congress charge, this body is used to determine if there is sufficient evidence to indict.

      a) A grand jury
      b) A petit jury

      2. For a contempt of congress charge, this body is used at trial to determine innocence or guilt.

      a) A petit jury
      b) A grand jury

      Is this too many choices for you Mr Peetape?

      Hint—-the answer is always a)

      Fill in the blank.

      1. It helps the discussion for those of us who are interested in the law, thanks.

        Unfortunately, many here are only interested in trolling. They get off on insulting and provoking others. They have no interest in civil discussion of the legal issues, so they won’t engage with the CRS report. They’ll respond with insults and/or provocation, because that’s what serves *their* aims.

        1. Go read the pissant report wtf difference does it make? It says the exact same thing as 2 usc 192 and 2 usc 194

          You see something in there thats says a grand jury finds guilt?

  4. I am not getting any attention on this blog. I have used scores of sock puppet accounts, have copy/pasted innumerable articles from left wing news sources albeit none were original thoughts, I have wh0r3d around in the bath houses of West Hollywood for years with no success, been blocked by my peers on Grindr, and now Tom (who isnt really Estovir but I just say that because I want Estovir in bed), posts more comments than me! What a world! What does a queer troll have to do around here to get attention? make a recording of me taking a big one up the bum in the Senate building and upload said video on the internet?

    3. REGARDING ABOVE;

      This was written by Tom/Estovir, a creepy, closeted nerd, who dreams of someday making a pilgrimage to West Hollywood.

  5. A little off topic but I just saw where Biden stated that Trump undoubtedly supported an Insurrection. I would have to believe that there is more documentable evidence of Biden’s treason with an open border policy than anything President Trump had to do with the J6 RIOT.
    I believe the truth of the extent of the corruption in our government will be revealed in this and Hunter and Joe are only the first of many that will fall.

    1. The J6 narative is dead. J6 was a mess, MAYBE you could call it a small riot – even that is somewhat dubious.

      Regardless, there is strong evidence that everything was under control until the CP accidentally tear gassed themselves and then the crowd.

      WE know that Federal informants, FBI agents, under cover Metro Police, Antifa were involved – we do NOT know the extent of their involvment.
      But if past efforts like the infuiltration of young muslims groups or the Michigan Wolverines are any indication there were more agents than protestors.

      The only people killed were protestors.
      The protestors were unarmed.

      What exactly is the difference between what J6 protestors sought and what Kavanaugh protestors or Dobbs scotus protestors sought, or what recent pro hamas protestors sought ?

      We do not call something an insurrection merely because protestors seek to alter the outcome of some government decision.
      We do not call it an insurection because we do not like their objective.
      We do not call something an insurection merely because for some reason there was a bit of violence.

      The BLM riots calling for the defunding of police were not an insurection. They were stupid. But they were a protest that people were legitimately entitled to do peacefully.
      Those who were not peaceful should be prosecuted for specifically that.
      The “protestors” in seattle who took over parts of the center of the city were not “insurectionists” – though far closer than anything on J6.

  6. Tom is a pathogen of the body politic. Eliminate him, and its health will be restored.

      2. Question is, I mean besides the ones you won’t answer of why anyone should care what you think and why you think your opinion is better than the data collection methods at factcheck.org, what we really need to know is….

        Given your fetishized fascination about steaming turds, what do you think of turds that aren’t steaming?

          1. Oh…, that was original….

            However there is marked lack of an answer (as usual).

            Care to try again?

  8. In other bad news for the Biden Administration. Four of the worlds major oil companies have suspended shipping through the red sea. Their freighters are being attacked by drones and guns purchased with the 16 billion dollars released by the Biden Administration to Iran. How does that effect me you might ask? If these oil freighters have to go around the Cape Horn the cost for just one ship for fuel will increase by at least $700,000 for a trip that takes three weeks longer. You can expect to feel the pain at your local gas station in about three months. When the price of fuel goes up the price of food goes up. Can I hear a another great round of applause and a heartfelt thanks for good old Joe Biden. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf2dUZGt1Oc

    1. This is not headed to the US. nearly all us fossil fuel comes from the western hemisphere.
      But it will be hard on europe already having a bad winter.

      It will effect the US because oil is a global commodity.

  9. Now I have a better understanding of why Joe is falling in the poles. If 55% of Democrats believe that Hunter is a criminal what portion of that 55% will change their vote in November. It doesn’t have to be much to effect the outcome of an election. This has to be one of the most stupid political plans of action that has ever been foisted onto the American Public. It’s not quite at the level of the Pee Tape but it’s pretty close. Thanks Joe.

  11. Trump was a mommy’s boy because he just had Russian hookers pee in a bed Obama had once slept in while I go full scat with my hookers.

  12. “DeSantis and the Florida legislature should throw Biden off the ballot for having engaged in rebellion/insurrection by dissolving the Southern border and abetting invasion of the U.S., and by using his corrupt DOJ/FBI shock troops to shred the law and Constitution and terrorize and persecute his political enemies. Every other red state governor and legislature should do the same. Don’t give the Supreme Court an opportunity to dither or punt on process like it did in 2020.”
    Dec 20, 2023 @seanmdav

    Then Texas should do the same. And keep going…

    1. But you know the Repubs won’t do a dam thing but go on TV and talk about it.
      Where’s McConnell? Where’s R leadership? AWOL. Per usual.

      2. I want to do that. Problem, conservative judges follow the rule of law and the constitution. Conservative prosecutors wont whore themselves out to get, the A list invite to cocktail parties. Republicans wont violate their values to play wield law far

    2. The true “insurrection” is trying to defeat Trump by preventing his supporters from voting for him. Everyone who pursues this conspiracy or who aids this conspiracy should be removed from the ballot. That would include Joe Biden and most Democrats.

    3. Ok… while you tried to be funny.
      Here’s the thing…
      18 U.S.C. 2383.
      That’s the law, crafted in 1948 which codified insurrection.

      So in order to apply the 14th Amendment to anyone …. you have to first find them guilty of violating 18 U.S.C. 2383.

      Now, has anyone done that?
      No charges of insurrection or sedition has been brought against anyone.

      While the J6 threw around the term. And that was introduced into evidence … no one has been convicted, let alone charged under this statute.

      So… how do you commit insurrection and be disqualified under the 14th A. When you haven’t been charged?

      Now before someone tries to argue that at the time of the 14th A, Insurrection wasn’t a crime, therefore you don’t need to be convicted… the laws don’t work that way. Post 1948. You need to be convicted of Insurrection and not the other way around.

      -G

      1. I note that on page 60 of the majority opinion the Colorado Supreme Court specifically addressed the 18 USC 2383 argument.

          1. It’s an argument related to the 18 USC 2383 law (see Gumby’s comment above and page 60 of the decision).

            1. No its not. The law is cross referenced directly to the 14th amendment IN THE LAW. It uses the exact same wording IN THE LAW. It gives the exact same remedy IN THE LAW (plus more). There is no argument.

              1. But then again Ketanji Brown Jackson actually argued that a .1% increase in favorable outcomes of high risk medical conditions trumps the Constitution.

  13. Trump On Disqualification:

    Turley Quoted, But Not Completely

    Trump’s Truth Social feed is already reflecting this. On Tuesday night, Trump quoted Jonathan Turley, a conservative law professor at George Washington University who has appeared as a witness for House Republicans seeking to impeach Biden over nebulous claims of corruption.

    “This country is a powder keg and this court is just throwing matches at it … for people that say they are trying to protect democracy, this is hands down the most anti-democratic opinion I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Trump quoted Turley as saying on Fox News.

    But Trump truncated a portion of Turley’s interview where he said that though he believed the Colorado court was wrong, “January 6 was many things, most of it not good”.

    “In my view, it was not an insurrection. It was a riot,” Turley said. “That doesn’t mean that the people responsible for their day shouldn’t be held accountable. But to call this an insurrection for the purposes of disqualification would create a slippery slope for every state in the union.”

    Edited From:

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/20/trump-response-colorado-disqualified-2024-ballot
    ………………………..

    Thank God Professor Turley admits January 6th wasn’t good. And what a ‘radical’ idea Turley has to hold the ‘rioters’ accountable. Trump, however, didn’t parrot that part.

    1. “AN ARMED UPRISING THAT QUICKLY FAILS OR SUCCEEDS”
      ________________________________________________________________

      Merriam-Webster

      RIOT

      noun
      ri·​ot ˈrī-ət

      1a: a violent public disorder – specifically : a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent

      b: public violence, tumult, or disorder

      2: a random or disorderly profusion – the woods were a riot of color

      3: one that is wildly amusing – the new comedy is a riot
      ________________________________________________________________

      Merriam-Webster

      INSURRECTION

      noun
      in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən

      : an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government

      Choose the Right Synonym for insurrection

      rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

      REVOLT AND INSURRECTION IMPLY AN ARMED UPRISING THAT QUICKLY FAILS OR SUCCEEDS

      revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.
      a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders
      an insurrection of oppressed laborers

    2. Dude!
      Oh so funny!

      What to know one of the possible arguments?
      18 U.S.C. 2383 – The actual law passed in 1948 which made insurrection illegal.

      So post 1948… if you want to use the 14th Amendment you need to first convict someone under 18 U.S.C. 2383.

      Now for the fun part.
      No one has been convicted, let alone charged under this statute.

      This is what is known as due process.

      Something lacking in the Colorado State judicial system.

      Now can you say Judicial Canon #5?
      Go look that one up.

      -G

    3. So ?

      There is no requirement that everyone in public life must familiarize themselves with every bad act ever committed and individually condemn each and every one.

      I would note that President Biden has explicitly called for the swift prosecution and jailing of those who defy congressional subpeonas.
      He did not do so today, and according toe the WH he discussed Hunter doing exactly that prior to Hunter committing a crime.

      The FACTS regarding J6 remain a mess due to the botched partisan investigation by democrats.

      Most people do not know the extent of bad conduct – it increasingly appears to have been very limited.
      It appears to have been initiated by the CP – probably incompetently rather than deliberately.
      There was with certainty a far larger law enforcement presence than we were initially lead to beleive,
      We know there was an FBI presence – but we do not know how large.
      We know that atleast a few of the “instigators” were either informants or Antifa.

      Is it possible this was essentially a “false flag” operation ? It could have been. It probably was not. At the same time it is certain that legitimate protestors do not bear 100% of the culpability.

      We can not know the truth about J6 unless people quit trying to sell a false narative and do a real investigation.

  14. OT – NEWSFLASH

    “IN TEXAS THERE ARE SO MANY MEXICANS AND IMMIGRANTS”

    MEXICAN PRESIDENT ISSUES EDICT ON U.S. IMMIGRATION

    WHAT!!!?
    ___________

    “The [Mexican] foreign ministry is already working on the process to challenge this law.”

    “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wants to win popularity with these measures, but he’s not going to win anything, but he’ll lose favor, because in Texas there are so many Mexicans and migrants.”

    – Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, The Hill

  17. “Hunter may now have not just created a third threat of incarceration, but placed his father and his administration in the worst of possible positions.” Have you not been paying attention, Professor? No one in this DOJ will ever send any Biden to prison – AND THEY KNOW IT. Hence, their chutzpah in giving America the proverbial (and perhaps literal) middle finger.

    1. @JAFO…
      Ok, lets walk thru this…

      Hunter knows that Garland won’t take any action.
      Ok, how? Is he gambling, or did he talk w daddy about it. Now he may not have told Joe what he was planning… but if he knew the fix was in…
      That opens up some interesting questions.

      Or he is taking a gamble because he knows Garland will do anything his daddy wants, and Joe will take care of it afterwards…

      Thumbing his nose at Congress is a very bad mistake.
      Had he gone in… pleaded the 5th because of the charges… he would have come out ahead. It would had been the smart play.

      He pleads the 5th. Jim Jordan comes out to the press and says Hunter didn’t answer any questions and thus lied when he said he was willing to face Congress and testify in a public forum. While that might score some points… all Hunter had to do was to say that he was willing to testify, however there are these politically motivated, trumped up charges against him, so under the advice of counsel, he pleaded the 5th. Had there not been any charges hanging over him, he would have complied willingly.

      That would have mooted the Republicans in Congress and would have gained some cover from the MSM still friendly.

      But by thumbing his nose… he was attempting to send a message that he can’t be touched and that the ‘fix’ was in. No body loves getting the middle finger.

      1. Gumby, the prepoderence of years worth of non-action suggests a pattern, the pattern where the Bidens are not held accountable to the same laws and standards you and I would be under the same circumstances, that pattern – will not be broken before the next inauguration. If that somehow changes, I’ll happily admit I was wrong for this assertion.

      2. If Hunter publicly says he plead the 5th because the inquiry is politically motivated, then AGAIN he gets indicted and convicted of contempt.

        The 5th amendment protects you from self incrimination. Not from a political inquest.

  18. Or perhaps he wants to be convicted while his father is in office so he can be pardoned.

  19. Is anyone seriously attempting to find respect for the rule of law at this point? We are at the doorstep to anarchy because we have lost the one item that binds societies together. Respect for the rule of law is the only concept that keeps civilizations civil. As far back as there are records (see Hammurabi’s code of law) and most certainly before that it became apparent that for
    humans to coexist in groups there must be established and maintained a system of rules regulating human behavior and consequential punishments for disrupting that social order. We are now, ladies and gentlemen, observing the “fundamental transformation” of our nation from one of civilization to chaotic anarchy ruled by strongmen and thugs. (And they are so full of themselves that they think that we haven’t noticed)>

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