The New York Post has created a stir in Washington with its report that a whistleblower claims that the CIA reportedly blocked federal investigators from interviewing Kevin Morris, the entertainment lawyer who has subsidized the expenses and bought the art of Hunter Biden. (For full disclosure, Morris previously threatened me with a defamation lawsuit over my writing about his representation of Hunter. Fortunately, I have not received any summons from either the courts or the CIA). We will have to wait for more details on the allegations, but the response of the CIA struck me as rather curious.
As discussed earlier, the Hollywood lawyer, producer and Democratic donor has emerged as a major figure in the corruption scandal surrounding Hunter Biden.
For years, some of us have complained that we are not sure what Morris was at any given moment.
What became clear in his deposition before Congress is that Morris does not appear certain himself.
He’s Hunter’s confidant, art patron, business partner, and his lawyer.
Now there is a suggestion that we might have to add CIA asset or protected person.
The unnamed whistleblower told the House Oversight and Judiciary Committee that the “intelligence agency stopped IRS and Justice Department investigators from interviewing Morris in August 2021.” That has led Oversight chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) to demand answers from the CIA on whether two DOJ officials were summoned to CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. to discourage their interviewing Morris.
Given the allegations of special treatment by the Justice Department (including blocking efforts to interview Hunter or search Biden properties), this latest report is obviously quite serious. One would expect that the CIA would simply say that no such meeting related to the Hunter Biden investigation occurred. Instead, the agency responded that it “does not obstruct investigations.” The spokesman added “CIA does not comment on specific investigations. We can say that CIA cooperates with law enforcement partners and does not obstruct investigations. CIA also fully and routinely cooperates with our oversight committees and will continue to do so.”
Hunter met Morris when he attended a political fundraiser as a major donor.
Soon thereafter, he warned Biden associates that Hunter’s unpaid taxes raised political problems during Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential run.
He later proceeded to pay off Hunter’s taxes and to subsidize his lavish lifestyle.
He also took an apparent lead in planning public campaigns against the critics of the Bidens, reportedly pushing a scorched-earth approach to attack potential witnesses and accusers.
Then Morris seemed to take on the role of Hunter’s bank and art patron.
He reportedly gave millions to Hunter while insisting that they are loans, not gifts.
Most recently, it was revealed that, despite accounts of buyers flocking to buy Hunter’s overpriced art, it was Morris all along who bought most of the pieces.
How the CIA would fit into any of this is anyone’s guess.
The question is whether Justice Department attorneys were called to Langley to discourage their interviewing Morris. Even if Morris were an intelligence asset, the CIA has disclosed such associations as part of the investigation into the Russian collusion investigation. The Justice Department should also be able to confirm whether such a meeting occurred.
Once again, none of this proves that the whistleblower’s account is true or accurate. However, the very intervention of the CIA into such an investigation involving the President’s son would be alarming. While the CIA does have a need to protect sources and methods, it also has an obligation to assure the public that it is not interfering with domestic cases or being used for political purposes. Greater transparency and clarity would seem warranted in this case from both the Justice Department and the CIA.
If there is credible confirmation of this allegation, it should also lead to a call for Morris to return to Congress to testify as well as any Justice Department attorneys involved in the meetings.
Just when you thought the Biden corruption scandal could not get more bizarre, it does. We just need Johnny Rivers to explain that he is a “secret agent man” who “leads a life of danger” where “you let the wrong word slip, While kissing persuasive lips.”
Jonathan: The official announcement by Ivanka Trump is not the only one. The Telegraph has a headline today “Republicans quietly admit to dropping Biden impeachment vote”. The report indicates Jim Comer has now admitted the obvious. With the GOP’s slim majority in the House evaporating with so many retirements there is no chance for a vote to impeach Pres. Biden. Comer now thinks the “best path” is to make criminal referrals to the DOJ. That’s a symbolic move because, based on Comer’s failure to show any crimes by Biden, there is no chance the DOJ will prosecute the President. Not even Bill Barr would prosecute based on Comer’s flimsy accusations.
So now that Comer’s investigation has fizzled where does that leave you? I’d say left out in the cold! So here’s my advice. Please don’t serve up any more columns about “influence peddling and corruption” by the Biden family. The train has left. All your previous columns on the subject need a decent burial!
The CIA used to conduct recruitment interviews and screening on major university campuses, usually in the springtime before graduation of the senior class. I recall one of my classmates telling me he was interviewed, and was told of an excellent opportunity: guarding oil pipelines in Kuwait for a year. Great pay at the time, @ 52K for the year. But the hitch was that you had to be alive at the end of the year to get paid – no joke. This was circa 1969.
Jonathan: You should be grateful you have followers like UpStateFarmer who thinks you are a “highly respected lawyer with a great reputation” (3/22@4:10pm). Anonymous says you are “one of the very few remaining legal analysts who is still respected…”(3/22@3:29pm). I wouldn’t be on this blog if I didn’t think you were a worthy opponent. So let’s see if your column matches the plaudits from some of your most ardent supporters.
You start your column by citing a NY Post article that says an unnamed whistleblower claims the CIA blocked an interview with Kevin Morris. You say the article “created a stir in Washington”. Two problems. First, a quick Google search shows no widespread “stir” in the media by the Post story–beyond Fox and the Federalist. You work for Fox and you frequently use Post articles as a source for your columns–owned also by Rupert Murdock. The first red flag indicating a bias in your sourcing. Second, no serious consumer of news in NY takes the Post seriously. It deals in salacious gossip and conspiracy theories. It is basically a tabloid that, if you read it’s articles, doesn’t provide any actual factual sourcing for its claims–in this case about Kevin Morris.
Your column seems more to provide an echo chamber for the unproven claims about Kevin Morris by Comer and Jim Jordan–even suggesting Morris might be a “CIA asset”. That’s a claim not based on any proven facts. You claim the allegations by the unnamed “whistleblower” are “obviously quite serious”. How do you know? Proof would be for Comer to identify the “whistleblower”, have him/her testify in open session before the Committee to see if the claim has any merit and can be substantiated.
And how credible are the “whistleblowers” Comer has put forward to back up his claims of “corruption” by the Biden family? Most have either fled the country or are in jail. Alex Smirnov was going to be Comer’s key witness to prove Joe Biden received millions in brides. He is now in jail for lying to the FBI over those claims. Another, Gal Luft, has fled the country because he is under federal indictment on charges of evading US Iranian sanctions and trafficking in arms.
The fundamental Q is does Kevin Morris have anything to do with the investigation of Joe Biden and the allegations of “corruption”? The facts show he is a generous benefactor of Hunter–giving him loans and buying his paintings. So what? Any of us would love to have someone like Morris to help us in a time of need and get us started in an art career. Whatever were Morris’s motives in helping Hunter there is nothing to indicate what he did involved some “secret” scheme to benefit Joe Biden.
I would put Comer and Jim Jordan’s latest allegations about Kevin Morris into the category of throwing mud against the wall and hope something sticks, i.e., an unproven claim that the CIA/DOJ are “protecting” Morris. The fact is the Comer/Jordan investigation has reached a dead end. So they now engage in a sideshow that you treat seriously. For the life of me I can’t understand how a “highly respected lawyer” would want to sign up for such a futile endeavor!
That’s some great whistleblower protection. I’m sure it’s all on the up and up, and they are trading smokes with the J6’ers.
Since all the witnesses are in prison or headed there, I guess the regime wins the 3rd world award.
Is there any chance the smartest son in the world with his Biometa contracts on those non existent biolabs in Ukraine is CIA protected ?
I’m not saying its true, just that it is more obvious than your total dishonesty.
This story of CIA protection of Kevin Morris was reported by 20 sources according to Ground News. If there had been no whistleblower and/or there had been no claims of CIA interference, liberal media would have been all over it. I find it curious that you gloss over “Whatever were Kevin Morris’s motives in helping Hunter…” and disparage the motives of anyone who questions or investigates their relationship. Mr. Turley is a highly respected legal mind and analyst who makes every effort to report on significant issues of the day in a balanced and objective manner and how they relate to matters of law. .
Your entire rebuttal is: “My biases are less biased than your biases!”
>You say the article “created a stir in Washington”. Two problems. First, a quick Google search shows no widespread “stir” in the media by the Post story
Ah… you added a qualifier. One says “stir” you say “widespread stir”.
>You work for Fox and you frequently use Post articles as a source for your columns–owned also by Rupert Murdock. The first red flag indicating a bias in your sourcing.
Does a Times columnist use NYT articles as source material periodically? Obviously.
>Second, no serious consumer of news in NY takes the Post seriously.
No true Scotsman, my bias is better than your bias, etc…
I could keep going with nearly every sentence of your post but this is the internet so I’m not going to. Suffice to say, your rebuttal is horseshit.
He’s a “fixer”, one who “uses influence or makes arrangements for another, especially by improper or unlawful means.”
Whistle blow for me but not for thee
John Brennan’s behavior since leaving the CIA removes all doubt as to how partisan the agency is. It’s not so much shocking that this could have happened, as it is that the information actually saw the light of day.
The White House records ordering the CIA to intervene will be found in a cardboard box, next to a green 1967 Corvette in an unlocked garage.
Darren, could we be rid of Anne?
Thanks, David
We ain’t seen nothin yet, and never will see it all, if Holy Joe keeps his foot on the neck of the corrupt monsters who usurped the power of citizens of this former great land. I have no doubt that we see but a sprinkling of the hurricane wiping out the foundation we were built upon.
Bill Clinton didn’t lift a finger, even to pick up the phone to call the UN to ask for Peacekeepers to protect the poor blacks being hacked to death. Trump owes half a billion which is what it is. Slick made a hundred million after committing perjury, assaulting many women, being disbarred and impeached AND TURNING HIS BACK ON THE MILLION RWANDANS SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER FOR HIS HELP. THANKS LEFTISTS
Sleep tight
Charles Ortell tracked for a decade plus, the clinton foundation money laundering and charity scams, and in his initial official documents from all over the world report, he cited 32 BILLION as the real number , not 2B, and last check it was 100 billion. All the paperwork was corrupted. For instance, a foreign nations government or NGO would have a much higher donation number than the related “charity” would report.
It could be just another intel money washing scheme and the clinton’s could be a lot richer than is said.
I got lucky even coming across this massive investigation years ago, as it is 100% quiet on all MSM and alt channels.
https://charlesortel.com/
The above comment was mistakenly marked as spam by the system. Restored.
Why would Morris give Biden all that money ? Because it’s not his money .
He paid a bill for a product or service?
Did I get it right?
I did, didn’t I?
Trumps own lawyers have called DJT a lier. Trump says he had $500 million. His lawyers say he has less than $450 million. But I guess free speech eh JT?
Actually he has a bit more than that.
The SEC let the merger go thru on his company.
He’ll net over 3B.
So he has the money… sort of.
Still it doesn’t matter.
Just watch and see.
-G
I beleive the figure is $3.4B
DJT – the ticker ID for the new company will list on the Dow on Monday I beleive.
But SEC rules prohibit him from selling significant amounts of that stock for 6months.
And if he does start selling later it will tank the stock price.
However The Stock is likely to be accepted as security for a bond – it is alsmost as good as cash.
While using real estate to secure a bod is far harder.
How much do you have in your wallet right now ?
How much will you have in a month ?
I would note that Trump just had to pay for the Carroll bond.
That would explain the difference.
Regardless yes Trump can say he has 4$0 or $40T – that would be free speech.
This was the inevitable result of the Democrat Party being de facto in control of all 3 letter agencies. Highly placed activists are in positions of power in the US government, and use those positions in service to the Democrat Party.
There will be no accountability, because the agencies that would hold people accountable for misuse of authority, are also Democrat activists.
Merrick Garland, if you are going to sue anybody based on antitrust, sue UPS with delivery boys making $175K.
What’s wrong with this picture?
An effective monopoly on parcel delivery by striking union thugs with just enough intellectual power to steer a package van, oh, and break windshields, slash tires, and block private property with picket lines.
Darren,
Thank you for the clean up.
The good professor’s blog reads so much better after you have logged in even if it means some of my comments were lost.
All good!
Clown.
What is an entertainment lawyer?
Kevin Morris (writer)
Morris is the founder and managing partner of the Morris Yorn Entertainment Law Firm,[2] which represents major American media figures such as Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Matthew McConaughey, Mike Judge, Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldana, Liam Hemsworth, Zach Galifianakis, Chris Rock, and Laura Linney.[3] He produced the 1997 documentary film Hands on a Hard Body, and co-produced the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon for which he won a Tony Award.[4] He is also known for brokering the TV show South Park.[5]
His articles on media and entertainment have appeared in The Wall Street Journal,[6] Los Angeles Times,[7] and Filmmaker Magazine.[4] His first collection of short stories, White Man’s Problems, was released by Grove Atlantic’s Black Cat imprint in January 2015, while his first novel, All Joe Knight, was published by Grove Atlantic in December 2016.
– Wiki
Nony Mouse, thank you.
It’s not surprising that the CIA would block investigations involving entertainment lawyer Kevin Morris. A distant relative of Kevin Morris’s is believed to have certain ties to the JFK assassination, and, accordingly, Mr. Morris cannot answer any questions as a matter of the national security, except as determined by the CIA. The CIA has always maintained that it has sole authority over what is in the interests of national security and what is not. Thus, the DOJ will be free to ask Mr. Morris questions after the year 2053. Who knows? Starting sometime in the year 2054, the CIA may finally release Lee Harvey Oswald’s tax returns and bank records showing that the primary sources of his income were from shell companies controlled by the CIA. So, Congress would be ill advised to pursue any matters that the CIA deems hands-off. The national security is at stake. Please be patient. All will be revealed starting in the year 2054, unless the CIA deems an extension necessary.
KNOW THE ENEMY
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
– Sun Tzu, The Art of War
The CIA, the FBI, the Global Communist Deep Deep State “Swamp” Regime, Liberals, Progressives, Socialists, Democrats, and RINOs ARE the direct and mortal enemies of the American thesis of Freedom and Self-Reliance, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, actual Americans, and America.
Dear Prof Turley,
Not sure the CIA, the clandestine foreign intelligence branch of the intelligence ‘community’, can ‘summon’ DoJ officials. Pretty sure it’s the other way around. .. and they’ve got the cart before the horse again.
In any case, I doubt Bill Burns, director of the CIA, would summon anyone, including the ‘gang of 8’. Clearly, nobody listens to him ~> Burns wrote the 2010 ‘Nyet means Nyet’ intelligence memo describing in alarming detail the outcome of US/Nato involvement in Ukraine.
*’morally indefensible and absolutely necessary’ has always been the battle cry of tyrants and tyranny.
I have just finished reading The Looming Tower and, based on the book, I have very little trust that the CIA is fully cooperating with any other entity
The CIA, global security agencies et al. fully cooperated and conducted a “soft” coup d’etat against President Donald J. Trump.
When did the CIA and KGB and Gestapo merge? I missed the press release.
Do we really want them here in “the land of the free”????
Land of the free?
Free from what?
– Taxation to pay for dependents, parasites, illegal aliens, invaders et al.?
– Confiscation of absolute private property?
– Regulation of not that which is enumerated in Article 1, Section 8, but absolutely EVERYTHING.
Merge? They have always been in bed together. Question is who do they really serve?