Below is my column in the Hill on the new emerging narrative or defense from the Bidens. It has become increasingly obvious that the Bidens were influence peddling, as now acknowledged by many Democrats and media pundits. The new defense is that Hunter Biden and his uncles may have been selling influence, but that it was “illusory” and not actual. In other words, it was a grift. There is an obvious problem with this effort to portray Hunter as a type of Harald Hill, Music Man, selling marching bands. It is still corruption and the President may have not only known about it but fostered it. If that is the case and we just dismissed it as the natural order of things, as Professor Henry Hill warned, we truly do “have trouble right here in River city.”
Here is the column:
As the House of Representatives goes into high gear in its impeachment proceedings (and possible contempt resolution against Hunter Biden), the Biden family legal problems continue to mount. In one week, it was revealed that President Biden’s brother James was caught on an FBI audiotape in a corruption investigation, while Ashley Biden, the president’s daughter, is now also facing demands for unpaid taxes.
James Biden is expected to appear before the House for questioning in the coming weeks. The appearance may solidify a new line of defense for the Bidens: that they are harmless grifters.
After years of denying influence peddling with the help of an obligating media, even some Democrats are now admitting that Hunter and his uncles have been selling influence. Biden associates confirmed that Joe Biden was the brand that they were peddling to foreign clients, who paid millions to the family.
The FBI tape is the latest example of how the Bidens would market their name and access. The surveillance occurred in the bribery investigation into Mississippi trial attorney Richard Scruggs. Like many Biden associates, Scruggs would eventually go to prison while the Bidens remained untouched.
Scruggs forked over $100,000 to James Biden when he was seeking to reinforce support for the massive tobacco legislation and Joe Biden was viewed as skeptical on what some viewed as a windfall for trial lawyers.
Scruggs admitted to the Washington Post that “I probably wouldn’t have hired [James Biden] if he wasn’t the senator’s brother.”
Scruggs was just another shady figure whose business association with the Bidens would ultimately end with a prison stint. As soon as the tape came out, so did the new defense.
James Biden took the money but allegedly did nothing to land his brother.
If that sounds familiar, it should. After Hunter Biden’s former business associate Devon Archer admitted that they were selling the “Biden brand,” the Bidens’ defenders immediately insisted that it was merely “illusory.” In other words, these corrupt figures wanted to buy influence and access, but they were just chumps fleeced by the Bidens.
The idea is to get the public to think less of the coked up Henry Hill in “Goodfellas” and more of the lovable professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man,” the charming rascal ripping off hayseeds by selling marching bands.
It is a curious defense that we are not corrupt because we just ripped off dupes who were corrupt people.
The problem, of course, is that influence peddling is a form of corruption. Indeed, it is a form of corruption that is so damaging to good government that the United States has pushed global agreements to ban influence peddling in other countries.
The question is whether Joe Biden knew about the influence peddling of his brothers and his son. If so, he actively assisted his family in acquiring millions to influence him on public policy or legislation. His family was effectively marketing time shares in a senator, a vice president and now a president.
Whether or not Biden delivered, the family business corrupted the functions of government by converting offices into types of commodities. That is the case regardless of whether or not they delivered. It is akin to an extortionist taking money without any intent to follow through on threats of disclosure or use of damaging material. Even in today’s willfully blind politics, every voter should be able to agree on two simple facts.
First, influence peddling is corruption long opposed by the government and denounced by both parties.
Second, if the president knew that his son and uncles were using him for influence peddling, Joe Biden is also corrupt.
That is why it comes down to knowledge. Under federal case law, money and gifts going to one’s family is often treated as a benefit for the purposes of corruption or bribery. Indeed, many of the current Democratic members previously voted that money going to family members of a judge was impeachable. I represented that judge in the last judicial impeachment tried on the Senate floor.
It is highly implausible that the president did not know about the influence peddling. There were news articles on the allegations, and the Biden family has been accused of influence peddling for decades. It is a virtual family business.
The greater problem facing the White House is that roughly 70 percent of voters (including 40 percent of Democrats) believes that President Biden acted illegally or unethically, or both. Even Hunter’s friend Archer said that the president’s denials of knowledge were “categorically false.” Other witnesses, such as Tony Bobulinski, have stated under oath that they personally spoke to Joe Biden about these dealings.
This is likely why defenders are now failing back on the claim that the Bidens may have been grifting, but not actually selling out. It was an act put on for corrupt marks wanting to buy an advantage. That is why the Biden team immediately said that James Biden took $100,000 but then did nothing to deliver his brother.
But Scruggs later expressed satisfaction for what he got out of the deal, stating “Jim was a help, and Joe gave us some good advice.”
Joe Biden would later join Scruggs at high-profile events, and Scruggs used his private jet to fly Biden to a fundraiser.
These are dealings that will now be pursued by the House. However, the issue remains what the president knew about his family’s influence peddling and when he knew it.
Jonathan Turley is the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at the George Washington University Law School.
Plausible deniability no longer plausible.
There is something unseemly about the ferocity of your repeated attacks on Hunter Biden, the Biden family and Joe Biden. I say this not to defend Hunter Biden’s influence peddling schemes in any way. My concern your obsession with this issue to which you devoted more columns in the last six months than you ever did to Donald Trump’s using his office to enrich his family, and then after leaving office, seeing his son-in-law receive a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s ruling family.
Ding ding ding
Winner winner winner
Chikin egg roll dinner.
Kucher an investment banker, investing others money for fee.
Biden a crack head degenerate artist lawyer selling a “brand” or illusion of using political office and influence in a bribery scheme shakedown accompanied by tax fraud and money laundering, smartest guy I know . Hope that helps.
Neil gold drops a golden turd^^^
than you ever did to Donald Trump’s using his office
There it is. Sea Lioning. Once you see it, it easy to spot.
The practice of a reasonable agreement before launching into one of a fistful of logical fallacies
Rush Limbaugh called them seminar callers. Canned openings before spewing out the latest lefty talking point.
Lefties have been trying to dirty up the Trump family by comparing Hunter to the Trumps, that have decades of history striking international business deals.
In short, a huge fail. not really a try at all.
Perhaps enough pressure may come to be applied to the Biden’s that they roll on their pals and coconspirators. You know those planes full of cash and gold sent to Iran never smelled quite right, billions. Treason is Treason
L.O.L. 🤣 “… but they were just chumps fleeced by the Bidens. …” 🤑
🫣 Hey-Yo Buddy! 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 “𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧. 😲
I distinctly recall Professor Turley alluding to Joe Biden’s longstanding reputation as a notorious influence peddler early on in this “Administration.” At that time, Turley seemed to view it as a cute little foible. How come it’s not cute anymore? Is this really legal/moral indignation or is it merely (completely justified) terror that the beloved Cool Kids’ party will go down with the sinking ship currently under the command of the Rat in Chief?
Tip of the iceberg of the corruption in our government.
Hunter flying around the world on Air Force Two makes quite the splash when you land in a foreign country and meet with their top officials. Joe knew this, of course and it worked like a Swiss watch so that he could pimp out his crack-addicted son for “investments” to run through the 20 Biden shell companies. Sound about right ???
Oh man, thats not illegal. And besides, family members fly on AF1 and AF2 all the time.
Hey libtards…does it sound f*cking stupid when i say it?
Biden proved what sort of person he was when Hunter pleaded for his father to publicly acknowledge his acceptance of his affair with his former sister-in-law.
I can imagine how it happened. Hunter and James Biden pleaded with Joe Biden for a few harmless favors to help them with their business ventures, nothing illegal, just a few pictures with associates, dinners, phone calls. He is glad to do it. It is a victimless scam. He wasn’t personally involved. Then, Dr. Jill says to him, “Your brother James and son Hunter are getting rich off of your name. We could use a new vacation home and I would like a nice diamond. Don’t you think that we deserve something?” So, Joe Biden tells them that he wants 10% for his troubles. He doesn’t get involved, only smiles for the camera and makes a few phone calls. Sometime later, Burisma pressures Hunter to earn his keep. He reluctantly pleads again with his father to get rid of a prosecutor harassing the company, else he will be fired from his cushy job. Joe is in deep now. Dr. Jill demands more. He demands more. The intermingling of funds takes place. Joe clearly is benefiting from the scams, but convinces himself that it is ok because Dr. Jill is demanding more and more.
Sounds about right.
We wont even get into the moral code of a man who claims to be “proud” of his son that cheated on his wife and f*cked his dead brothers widow.
Rick James quotes:
Cocaine a helluva drug
I get the Harold Hill analogy but the Bidens seem more like Bialystok and Bloom to me.
At least Trump would have had an Ulla.
I got the coked-up Henry Hill ‘Goodfellas’ analogy to Hunter Biden.
*in the end, Henry Hill turned State’s evidence and went into the witness protection program.
Dear Prof Turley,
Illusory! I can do that .. . ‘anybody can take a reservation, but it’s the holding of the reservation that’s so important’. ~ Seinfeld episode #19
.. same thing with impeachments.
Next thing you know, over 50 top intel officials, including the past 5 CIA directors, will publish/broadcast widely a letter explaining how Hunter Biden’s laptop has all the classic hallmarks of Russian disinformation.
Unfortunately, the smoldering husk of Ukraine – the ‘bread basket of the world’ – is no illusion. At least 500,000 killed ytd (mostly young Ukrainians) and tens of millions displaced. Global destabilization, anarchy commercial chaos and entire new world alliances forming as alternative(s) to Biden’s ever-shrinking holy writ ‘Sanctions’ regime (speaking of ‘inflationary’ pressures!).
To say nothing of ‘Genocide Joe’s’ long and intimate involvement into, and out of, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya .. . and the Holy Lands.
If that means anything.
*btw holding an impeachment is really the most important part of the impeachment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-brgkkjnHc
I recall that when Biden was first elected Senator ( Yes i’m old enough to remember back that far) his tagline was that he was “the poorest man in the Senate.” Probably no longer true.
It wasn’t long before the tag became “dumbest man in the Senate”.
Facts have already established the DoJ is corrupt and is actively involved in advancing the corruption of Biden Crime Family.
The DoJ stopped investigations that followed facts leading to Joe.
You will never find a crime if you refuse to investigate facts.
Influence peddling = bribery = crime
The real tragedy (crime) is the coordinated coverup by the White House, government agencies (DOJ, IRS, FBI, etc) and the so called media.
When one or more conspire it is a conspiracy.
It is called “rainmaking.” It requires that the public official targeted as delivering what is promised is being duped by clever bagmen. In Biden’s case, the defense is laughable. The evidence that Biden knew about what was happening is irrefutable. That is why the defense of “no financial benefit” is now being paraded by the MSM and the Dem Party. It is irrelvant. He allowed it to. happen. That is enough to send him packing.
Since Joe Biden has been in Congress/public service all his life and his wife teaches; has anyone ever figured out his net worth and where it came from? (Not only for Joe, but for EVERY senator and congressperson!)
public service all his life and his wife teaches; has anyone ever figured out his net worth and where it came from?
Why do you think half the Republicans in DC are trying to get rid of Trump?
He’s the only politician in DC that is not dirtied up by the grift. Because of that, he must go. It is not hyperbole, to predict Trumps death in the next 12 months. The motivation to murder, has been spurred on by far less sums of money. Sadly, Trump will be stopped.
There is only one, singular reason for all of the corruption that has been exposed. DC is nothing but a huge grift. DC is the Mafia. Taking their Vigorish, on every transaction in DC. Its a small vig, 1/100,00%, maybe, but the transactions tally into the $trillions
Iowan, that is an excellent comment! The Regime will not accept another Trump presidency.
$2M cash on his beach house, who has $2M cash at hand, aside from Sen Menendez?
I do…52 W2s later
Dont forget the 600k Jim got from Americore and never delivered on. The fact this guy is still walking around is all the proof you need of the complicity of the DOJ and the media in Biden family corruption
On March 1, 2018, Americore wired a $200,000 “loan” into James and Sara Biden’s personal bank account – not their business bank account. On the same day, James Biden wrote a $200,000 check from this same personal bank account to Joe Biden.
Joe Biden has a War Council of lawyers and strategists working at combating the allegations. Why haven’t they shown us one piece of evidence to support the claim that this was a “loan repayment”? If joe loaned jim that money, SHOW it to us.
Because they have CNN to run cover for them, claiming some bush!t number hand written on the back of a check proves joe loaned him 200k, info they got from an “aide”.
Ask yourselves why everything is a goddam “loan” with these people. Its disgusting and anyone who says “uh da dup, thats not illegal” is just as disgusting.
Ask yourself why someone would need a 200k loan to begin with. What did james do with that money? Who loans even their brother 200k, without asking what the f*ck its for and when/how its gonna get paid back. But we are supposed to suspend all logic and reason and just believe that Joe stroked a $200k check, no questions asked.
And then watch a video of that lowlife scumbag Joe Biden promise to go after “tax cheats”.
I guess when he hired 85,000 more brownshirts, there was an agreement that they wouldn’t be allowed to go after the BCF, just like the IRS whistleblowers.
Most likely those “records” that CNN “reviewed” were indeed provided to them by the Biden “war council”. It wouldn’t be the first time CNN lied about their “sources”.
Instead, CNN says they were allowed by the aide to “review them”, as if they were brought up on Capitol hill and shown the records that Comer has. Gimme a f-ing break. If an aide copied any of those lawfully subpoenaed records and “allowed” CNN to see them, there were MULTIPLE laws broken.
Its a pity that CNN and the like didnt expend this much effort and resources to get to the bottom of the Biden Crime Family years ago. Because they were too busy chasing Alpha Bank nonsense and a pee tape, we have suffered the Biden admin debacle.
Because what do you do with the person widely regarded as the dumbest person in the Senate? You make him the President, that should work out fine.
Which begs an interesting question. Who is paying these white house “war council” twerps? At the very least, convening at the white house, dinking coffee, having lunch, is taxpayer funded. Anyone from the white house council involved? Sounds like a nice RICO case, and a misuse of govt funds/property and campaign finance violations. And since trying to defend his corruption is outside of his presidential duties, no immunity.
LMAO its amazing how quickly the libtards own arguments and tactics can be used against them. They never seem to see it coming.
Thank you Harry Reid!
There isn’t a Biden smart enough to be compared to Harald Hill.
I’m shocked. Shocked. I never thought Joe had enough smarts to be corrupt.
Of course Joe knew about and assisted in this enrichment scheme. His protectors are always telling us how smart and accomplished he is. Well is he or isn’t he?
Supporters of the president no doubt will contort their reasoning to shoehorn the Big Guy’s behavior into harmless campaign contributions. Congress is correct to go slow and to make sure to dot every I and cross every T. The slightest miscalculation in this regard will be seized upon by Biden supporters to disprove the growing pile of evidence showing their sainted president was a lowly crook. Like the Epstein black book, we can expect to see the names of high-ranking present and former officials emerge as the Biden crime family is exposed. When former FBI director Louie Freeh gave a hundred grand to Hunter’s “foundation” for Beau Biden’s kids and petitioned to join Hunter in his overseas “business,” what else was involved? Believe me, before it’s over, this scandal will expose a lot of crimes by a lot of people, many of whom have been the pillars of our society for many years. As Ozzie Myers said during his candid camera cameo on an FBI ABSCAM tape, “Money talks and bs walks!” Follow the money.