Below is my column in The Hill on the Biden pardon and how it might not prove as complete a protection for Hunter Biden — or Joe Biden — as the President had hoped. Ironically, the greatest protection for President Biden in continuing investigations in the influence-peddling scandal could prove that very case that he has denounced that recognized presidential immunity for matters that arise during a presidency. Nevertheless, the action confirms the suspicion that Hunter’s bizarre criminal defense strategy may have been based on the assumption that he had a pocket pardon as insurance against any losses in court.
Here is the column:
The most shocking aspect of President Biden pardoning his own son, Hunter, may be that it was not in the least shocking, given the history of the Biden family. This abuse of the pardon power was widely anticipated even by his allies as the president repeatedly denied that he would ever do such a thing as he ran for reelection. Indeed, it may be the single most premeditated unethical act in political history.
However, it may not achieve what President Biden most hopes for: a clean slate for his son and himself in this massive corruption scandal.
Roughly two years ago, I wrote about how Biden might suddenly withdraw from the presidential race in 2024 and pardon his son as a lame-duck president. “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,” I wrote.
I further noted: “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.”
I wrote about the pardon option repeatedly because none of Hunter’s bizarre (and ultimately unsuccessful) criminal defenses made sense unless he felt confident that his father would pardon him in the end. Hunter’s taunting Congress with open contempt of a subpoena and his ridiculous defenses in court were not the actions of someone who feared consequences from these investigations. They were the actions of someone with a pocket pardon.
NBC is reporting that Hunter’s pardon was being discussed in the White House for a long time, even as Biden and his staff were steadfastly denying that he would issue a pardon. As with his years of denying knowledge of Hunter’s business dealings and meeting his clients, Biden simply lied over and over again to the public.
The eventual pardon restored what was a sweetheart deal reached with Special Counsel David Weiss that would have given Hunter immunity to the immediate charges and any unnamed criminal charges. It collapsed in court when Judge Maryellen Noreika expressed shock at such a deal and asked the prosecutor if he had ever seen such a deal offered to any other defendant. He admitted that he had not.
Now, President Biden has recreated an even more sweeping immunity grant through his own powers by pardoning his son not only for the crimes of which he was convicted, but of any crimes committed between Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 1, 2024.
Think on that. It would cover anything from perjury to murder.
Now it makes sense why Hunter seemed to be engaged in what I described as a “game of chicken with himself.” As a criminal defense attorney, I noted that wild moves in and outside of the courts would make sense only if he knew that his dad would cover him in the end if everything went poorly — even as the president was assuring the public that he would never do such a thing.
In a final show of contempt for the American people, President Biden waited until a Sunday before an international trip to commit this unethical act. He brushed over his past lies by saying that “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word.” What he actually said, over and over again, was that he would never pardon his son.
For many in the media who helped bury this scandal and showed no interest in pursuing the influence-peddling operation of the Biden family, the pardon was met with uncomfortable shrugs. It is a measure of what you can call “Biden ethics.” In the curious world of Joe Biden, a lie that no one believes is treated the same as the truth.
It is likely to work. There may be little interest in pursuing this corruption scandal with so much to get done in the new administration. However, it is not the absolute “get-out-of-jail-free” card that President Biden would like.
Hunter could still be called to testify before Congress or with investigators on the influence-peddling efforts. If he lies, it will be a new crime for which this pardon would not bar prosecution. He would no longer be able to count on a pocket pardon as an insurance policy.
Short of such continued investigation, the Bidens will have achieved something that would have made John Gotti blush. They were able to pull in millions of alleged influence-peddling proceeds. Hunter was showered with gifts and benefits, from a diamond to a luxury sports car. Various Biden family members reportedly received money from the operation. President Biden was himself accused of knowledge and possible benefits from the influence peddling. He will also be protected by this official act.
This is why I once wrote that the Bidens are the GOATs of influence peddling. While influence peddling is the most common form of corruption in Washington, this city has never seen the likes of the Bidens. The only thing greater than their appetite was their sheer audacity.
In this statement on the pardon before fleeing the jurisdiction for a foreign trip, President Biden notably stated that “in trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me.” Indeed, this corruption scandal is as much about the president as it is about his son. And, as the president previously declared, “No one f—- with a Biden.”
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
Well, under Biden, at least the price of housing went down!
https://www.wayfair.com/storage-organization/sb0/sheds-c89567.html
FWIW, I lived in a shed for about 7 years after I became disabled. It was a nice shed, with heat and air, a bathroom and kitchen dog-washing sink. Got a little close when I had 6 cats, though. But I was happy there. I guess I was a pioneer tiny house person.
It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
I don’t, for one minute, doubt that there is more scandal/disabuse of the rule of law yet to come. This old grifter has a good deal of *ss to cover before he goes.
The Left did not select Biden to serve as their Avatar President because of any past familiarity with the truth. Ethics and integrity would have been disqualifying traits; lucky for them he was utterly devoid of those weaknesses. Everything that comes out his mouth has been either a lie or something incredibly stupid for four decades. They knew what they were getting, and they got it. Future historians will be baffled by this episode.
I’m not that baffled since I believe that they all stink and because of that they are oblivious to each other’s stench; much like a cage full of skunks.
@cionnath: Six decades. He was first elected to Congress in the mid-1970s. Seven decades if the plagiarism accusations while in law school are included.
I can’t really fault the guy for being the creepy grifter that he is; I do, however, lay the blame for his ability to do his grift on both the naive/willfully ignorant voters and the jaded power brokers who used his “gift’ for so many years while tacitly turning their eyes aside as to just what he was doing.
Yes, whimsicalmama, I can’t fault the grift, either. Let the sucker(s) beware. Although I have often wondered about the voters of Delaware, how or why they could keep sending such an obvious lying prick to the Senate for so many years. I have avoided that state. I assume that the floors and sidewalks are slippery with their drool, and that they are constantly jostling about, bonking their heads together, with befuddled expressions. Apparently Scranton can spot an idiot when it sees one, and he had to go to Delaware to make good, where he wouldn’t stand out in a crowd.
All you have to do is look at California, in general, Chicago, NYC and the Pacific North West to see that willfully ignorant/naïve voters are responsible for much of our current decimating cities and states. There will always be the likes of a biden or a pelosi in this world but our founding fathers gave us, “We The People”, the ultimate power to prevent such people from acquiring positions of power and “We The People” failed to use that power to keep these types out. I blame “We The People” for being too self-absorbed, uninformed and too distracted by entertainment (of any sort) to do our due diligence to patrol our own governments
So what if Hunter Biden raked in millions from deals overseas? It’s not against the law. Allegedly, President Joe Biden was involved with Hunter’s business when he wasn’t even in office. Turley seems to keep missing that point. If he’s really worried about influence peddling, he better start calling out the wave of it that’s definitely going to happen with Trump and his crew once he’s back in power.
Some claim Biden sold the office, but never explain what exactly that means. Sold what? What policies were changed as a result? What laws were pushed? It seems those claims are nothing more than old fashioned lobbying, which the Supreme Court has pointed out is protected free speech activity. So what exactly is it that Biden allegedly sold? Anyone. care to venture a guess?
Republicans and MAGA crazies have been saying the Biden’s have committed crimes but have never provided any evidence or even brought up charges. Apparently, a mere allegation is evidence of a crime. Trump is already a convicted felon who is going to be in the White House. I doubt the conviction will be dismissed just because he became president. Nothing says the conviction must be tossed out because he’s now President. If he can be president while sitting in a jail cell, he can certainly be president while being a convicted felon. MAGA can simply ignore it like they do with everything else, like Trump lying, sexual assault, racist remarks, etc. MAGA doesn’t care, and neither does Turley. They don’t care about the lying. That’s why this faux outrage about Biden lying about the pardon is pure theatrics. MAGA doesn’t care about lying or criminal wrongdoing as long as It’s Trump or—Republican supporters. Whining about the pardon is as fake as MAGA’s fake news mantra.
“Some claim Biden sold the office, but never explain what exactly that means. ”
Well, let me help you out here. It does not mean that he sold the physical office, like the whole room, along with the desk, the chair, the computer, etc.
Does that help you any???
He had a bunch of papers in his house and garage that might have been valuable to someone.
They were classified, so I’m sure that his ethics would have precluded anything like that.
You didn’t define what he “sold”. John Say keeps saying Biden sold the office. Ok. what exactly does that mean? He never elaborates on that point. It’s left intentionally vague because he really doesnt’ have an argument.
The word “sold” is not hard to understand. The Biden family raked in millions in anticipation of Joe becoming president so they could collect on their pre-payment. Just like Hillary did. Just because we don’t know exactly what that money bought besides the no-show jobs that Hunter was awarded, the Chinese funding a Biden “foundation“ that never did anything, but give a direct line to the Chinese government and so many other things along with Biden telling Russia they could invade Ukraine just a little to start a war that has cost us 200 billion with no accountability to stop a money laundering operation. Zelensky just bought a 88 million dollar hotel in an exclusive ski resort. Anyone wonder where that money came from?
“So what if Hunter Biden raked in millions from deals overseas? It’s not against the law.”
Avtually it is, in many ways.
There are numerous violations of the foreign corrupt practices act – you do not even have to take money from a foreign entity to influence government to violate the FCPA.
At one company I worked for we had to complete training every year on all the different things that we could get in trouble for.
Just the Dinners that Hunter had with foreign actors likely violated FCPA.
Further Hunter failed to register as a Foreign lobbyist – that Violates FARA. While I beleive that FARA is unconstitutional – the left has prosecuted and jailed many people for violating it.
Next the standard for bribery is payment to yourself, a family member or a close associate and a quid pro quo involving the use of public power.
That has easily been established many times over. And Turley has addressed the actual law here many times.
There is zero doubt that the Biden’s have violated the law. This is not a McDonald case.
Massive amounts of money changed hands and the expected quid pro quo was delivered – in most of the country we call that a slam dunk.
Did Sen. Menedez get off because his wife was the bag man ?
“Allegedly, President Joe Biden was involved with Hunter’s business when he wasn’t even in office.”
Partly, but time shifting payments does not make bribery legal. Nor does it get you past the FCPA.
“If he’s really worried about influence peddling, he better start calling out the wave of it that’s definitely going to happen with Trump and his crew once he’s back in power.”
You left wing nuts have claimed this nonsense repeatedly with Trump.
But despite all the absurd nonsense that your special counsels and other lawfare artists engaged in – claims of actual corruption never got off the starting blocks.
“Some claim Biden sold the office, but never explain what exactly that means. Sold what? What policies were changed as a result? What laws were pushed? ”
The trivial example is that Shokin was fired EXPLICITLY because Burisma demanded it and Joe Biden delivered it.
Are you daying that when the Vice President of the United States tells a foreign country that a Billion dollars in loans will be cancelled, if they do not fire the equivalent of the Attorney General that is not an official act ?
There is no exception to bribery statutes for “We think he should be fired anyway”
The state department and the WH were telling Joe at the time – Get Hunter out of Ukraine
“It seems those claims are nothing more than old fashioned lobbying, which the Supreme Court has pointed out is protected free speech activity. ”
NO the Supreme court has required that bribery must have an actual quid pro quo.
That is CLEARLY present here – Burisma ASKED FOR Shokin to be fired. Biden Got Shokin fired.
This is Not the McDonald case.
“So what exactly is it that Biden allegedly sold? Anyone. care to venture a guess?”
No Guess – FACT – the excercise of the foriegn power of the united states government.
When you explicitly tell a foreign country Given me what I demand or you do not get Billions in US aid – that is US power being excercised.
“Republicans and MAGA crazies have been saying the Biden’s have committed crimes but have never provided any evidence or even brought up charges.”
The House has refered numerous criminal acts to DOJ – the Biden DOJ has sat on them.
“Apparently, a mere allegation is evidence of a crime. ”
Incorrect – While the focus is on Burisma – because all the dots are connected end to end, The Hunter Biden laptop and the house testimony is FULL of evidence.
I know that you left wing nuts just close your eyes and say “nothing to see”
“Trump is already a convicted felon who is going to be in the White House.”
Nope, as is now being pointed out with Hunter – you are not “convicted” until after sentencing.
Trump has not been sentenced and will not be sentenced.
While it is most likely this will be tossed on immunity grounds.
The FACT is there is not even a crime in the Trump case.
Calling a payment to a lawyer a legal expense in your private records is NOT A CRIME.
While most people do not understand in great detail what the power of government to make something a crime is.
Most people do understand that REAL crimes cause actual harm.
“I doubt the conviction will be dismissed just because he became president.”
No the conviction will be dismissed because it is bogus lawfare.
It would have been dismissed whether Trump won or lost.
The indictment was lawless, the trial was worse than a political show trial, the prosecution the judge were corrupt and the jury was biased.
Regardless on Nov 5th 2024 the largest jury verdict in history acquitted Trump.
“Nothing says the conviction must be tossed out because he’s now President. ”
There is no conviction to be tossed until after sentencing, and it is probably unconstitutional to sentence – and that is ignoring the bogus nature of the trial itself.
“If he can be president while sitting in a jail cell, he can certainly be president while being a convicted felon. ”
Non sequitur, straw man.
“MAGA can simply ignore it like they do with everything else, like Trump lying, sexual assault, racist remarks, etc.”
People – voters have not ignored your attacks on Trump. They have paid a great deal of attention.
They have evaluated them and found them not merely lacking – but actually offensive.
You do not understand the damage all you lies have done to your credibility.
You lied about Benghazi, you lied about the Alpha Bank, you lied about the collusion delusion.
You lied about the Biden Laptop.
The people do not beleive you, anymore.
It is likely that Trumps term will be filled with the same lies as his first term.
But there is a huge difference – no one beleives you any more.
The only Special Counsels will be to investigate the deep state and democrats.
You will rant and rave and engage in all the same lies and new ones as before – but no one will listen.
“You Don’t Matter Anymore”.
John Say, all you can provide are “ifs”, “mays,” “could have”, would haves”, and “likelys”. That’s not evidence.
You’re just providing allegations as evidence without actual evidence. Even Jim Comer’s comittee failed after nearly two years to find any.
“That is CLEARLY present here – Burisma ASKED FOR Shokin to be fired. Biden Got Shokin fired.
This is Not the McDonald case.”
That doesn’t really apply. Remember, it wasn’t just Burisma that wanted Shokin fired. The EU, members of Congress, and Senate Republicans all called for him to be removed because of the corruption he wouldn’t look into. Biden wasn’t the only one who wanted Shokin gone. Just because Congress backed it doesn’t mean it was a bribe. That’s the kind of dishonesty that kept Comer and Jordan from using that as evidence since they would have to admit that Congress, the EU, and even Ukraine’s Parliament were all on the same page about it. When they talked about Shokin getting fired, it was all about a bigger push from everyone, not just Biden.
“You do not understand the damage all you lies have done to your credibility.
You lied about Benghazi, you lied about the Alpha Bank, you lied about the collusion delusion.
You lied about the Biden Laptop.”
Oh I understand just fine, MAGA doesn’t care about lying at all. Why do you say “YOU”? I didn’t do any of those things. You seem to have this notion that I’m somehow responsible for whatever gripes you have about the left. Pure nonsense.
Trump is being criticized because he does lie on an epic scale and MAGA simply does not care. Lying is not an issue. Even you don’t care. When confronted by Trump’s lying and unethical behavior you revert to whataboutism and indifference. We know you don’t care and neither do Trump’s supporters.
“Further Hunter failed to register as a Foreign lobbyist – that Violates FARA. While I beleive that FARA is unconstitutional – the left has prosecuted and jailed many people for violating it.”
He didn’t have to. That’s the problem. Jim Jordan and James Comer failed to provide any evidence to charge him for violating FARA. Yeah, the left prosecuted many people for violatiing it because they had EVIDENCE. Weiss or the impeachment inquiry committee did not have evidence to prove he indeed violated it. That’s why they were never able to charge him.
“ No the conviction will be dismissed because it is bogus lawfare.“
That’s not an argument. The conviction cannot be dismissed just because Trump becomes president. A jury unanimously found him guilty based on evidence. You cannot cite any legal argument showing why Trump’s conviction should be dismissed besides just saying it was “bogus”. Trump will be the first president elected to office as a convicted felon. Dismissing the case does not mean he is no longer guilty.
So what if Hunter Biden raked in millions from deals overseas? It’s not against the law.
George, you perverted serial pathological Marxist liar. Your lies are blatant enough that I wonder if they could even make The Big Guy blush if he attempted them. The entire life story of The Bagman Formerly Known As The Crackhead Kid was criminal from the first day he went on a joint diplomatic/family business (secret) trip with The Big Guy on Air Force Two.
Acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government is a felony. You danced in the isles every time the FBI indicted a Republican with that. Then you danced in the isles again when the FBI said “We Don’t Believe Our Lying Eyes™ and DIDN’T indict The Crackhead Kid as they read his laptop emails about scoring access for his customers to Daddy’s vice presidential office.
Being the bagman for bribes paid to the Vice President makes him as criminal as those bribing the VP and the VP accepting the bribe.
Being the bagman receiving the money paid by the ChiComs and other adversarial nations to the Vice President for influence in his office is a crime. One of those checks written to the Bidens was to buy a ticket for an unimpeded days long flight of a ChiCom spy balloon across the USA.
And even if we were naive or willing enough to believe The Crackhead Kid was actually selling a product or service of value such that the Chicoms and Putin oligarchs paid him $40+ MILLION for legal services… it is still very much a felony to deliberately choose to hide that income from your tax returns. Year. After. Year. Tens of millions.
How cute that the Bidens are from the party whose war cry is “The Rich Don’t Pay Their Fair Share”!
Curious George, you are a pathetic Marxist Monkey who has no more credibility than the words of Bribery Biden, telling us repeatedly that he didn’t know any of his son’s customers and he would never pardon his son.
@George
George, not going to reply with any detail other than to say you need to read up on material before commenting on it with the objective of getting the dates and facts straight. To do otherwise makes you look remarkably foolish.
Trump said he would consider pardoning January 6th rioters, people were able to make informed decision to vote for him. Biden lied (again), progressive dupes were cast an ignorant vote.
Progressives still think they are smart.
Corruption is inseparable from the President’s ability to grant favors, and from the sheer scale of federal spending. Our foreign aid commitments clearly attract favor-seekers from even more corrupt foreign actors. Industrial policy, moreover, creates incentives for domestic favor-seeking. Much of this clearly takes the form of campaign contributions, and campaign cash itself is used to grant favors, such as the recent gifts to entities controlled by Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton. The return favor often takes the form of gifts received by politicians after they have retired from office. This appears to be acceptable under current law, and hence is the most common and most dangerous form of corruption. Who was the last president who retired on his pension? Eisenhower? Truman? No beachside mansions for them!
“Corruption is inseparable from the President’s ability to grant favors, and from the sheer scale of federal spending.”
And the only even partially effective solution to that is to aggressively take a meat axe to the Federal government until it is chopped all the way back to the powers enumerated for it in the Constitution.
While you are correct – the supreme court has correctly said that you can not criminalize receiving gifts and providing services to constituents.
For a criminal conviction of bribery there must be a clear quid pro quo.
Such as Burisma telling Hunter – “We are paying you to get AG Shokin Fires”
And then Joe telling Ukraine – “Fire Shokin or no Billions from the US”
That is a clear quid pro quo.
The answer to the exchange of favors is simple – reduce the power of government.
There is very little that government is required to do.
Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things. All governments which thwart this natural course, which force things into another channel, or which endeavour to arrest the progress of society at a particular point, are unnatural, and to support themselves are obliged to be oppressive and tyrannical.
Adam Smith
Government can not sell what it can not do.
Pot, meet Kettle
From an ABC article
In the last days of his presidency in 2001, Clinton pardoned financier and fugitive Marc Rich, whose ex-wife participated in Clinton’s presidential campaigns and was a major donor to his presidential library. One of the critics to publicly condemn the Rich pardon was none other than then-Sen. Joe Biden.
“I think either the president had an incredible lapse in memory or was brain-dead when he did that one. I mean, I just think it’s totally indefensible,” Biden said in a Feb. 11, 2001, Fox News Sunday interview.
@sd: thanks for that reminder on how The Big Guy’s supposed moral compass is gimbal-mounted, allowing it to easily swing to point him in the direction where political power can be obtained through the twists and turns of his wholly corrupt political career.
Haven’t seen that mentioned anywhere else including here. Good pick up!
Turley is fully capitalizing on the ongoing discussion about the pardon issue. Regardless of Turley’s perspective, it ultimately holds little significance in the broader debate. President Biden is within his rights to change his stance at any time. Clearly, he has not been entirely forthcoming about his intentions regarding the pardon; critics have labeled his actions as deceptive. While some may view the pardon as misguided or unjust, the reality is that there are no mechanisms in place to reverse it at this point.
Interestingly, it’s worth noting that Michael Flynn’s pardon was issued under similar circumstances. Yet, despite the parallels, Turley has displayed no outrage or astonishment concerning the nature of Flynn’s pardon. This inconsistency raises questions about his motives.
Biden’s decision-making was undoubtedly influenced by his observations of Donald Trump’s cabinet selections for the Department of Justice and the FBI. Knowing Trump’s vindictive nature, it seems that Biden felt compelled to shield his son by exercising the constitutional powers available to him—a move that, legally, no one can contest or challenge. Turley seems to be igniting false hopes and dreams among MAGA supporters by suggesting various “possibilities” surrounding Biden’s pardon decision, yet the underlying truth is that Trump is pursuing a strategy of revenge politics. Ironically, he is utilizing the DOJ in a manner reminiscent of the accusations that Republicans have leveled against the Biden administration.
Moreover, the relentless focus on the pardon issue appears to serve primarily as a distraction from far more pressing concerns, such as Pete Hegseth’s struggling nomination and the escalating scandals involving sexual abuse allegations. These topics arguably warrant closer scrutiny and discussion.
Turley also raises the issue of influence peddling, implying that it constitutes a criminal offense. However, this is not a universally accepted view, and he conveniently overlooks the fact that Jim Jordan and James Comer’s committee has yet to uncover any concrete evidence to support their claims. They have failed to provide proof of their allegations, which remain unsubstantiated.
As Turley sort of acknowledges, the Trump legal team may find it challenging to utilize evidence that implicates Biden in alleged wrongdoing, as Biden now enjoys the protections granted by the Supreme Court’s rulings on presidential immunity. This legal shield means that they would be unable to summon administration staffers as witnesses or utilize communications or other documentation that pertains to official acts. Ultimately, they are left with the same pool of witnesses they have already interviewed, many of whom have been assessed as lacking credibility, outright lying, or possessing no substantial proof of their assertions.
President Biden is entirely justified in granting a pardon to his son. The Republicans’ indignant outrage, including Turley’s, is nothing more than a distraction—a feigned morality that is desinged to draw attention away from more significant issues like Pete Hegseth and reveals his own political motivations.
Good lord man, you really are daft.
But Trump…….!
Lordy. If anyone has a vindictive nature it is all of the Biden’s as well as Killary.
Hunter and Flynn were not the same. Flynn pled guilty after being set up by the FBI (even though the original agents didn’t think he had lied). The DOJ tried to dismiss the case and the judge refused even after being ordered to do so by an appellate court. Also, I don’t recall Trump ever promising not to pardon Flynn. No one has said that Biden didn’t have the authority to pardon his son, just that he deceived (at least the media, as I don’t think most of the country ever believed it in the first place). The interesting part of all this will be when Joe pardons himself. Then we might get the question answered as to whether the Constitution allows it.
The people Trump pardoned for the most part never should have been prosecuted.
There is 10,000 times more evidence against Hunter Biden than Paul Manafort.
Idiots who still beleive the collusion delusion was real are the only ones who also beleive that Joe is not corrupt.
The good news is that he will be gone in 7 weeks.
If he and his family go quietly to delaware they will be left alone – except to the extent their testimony will be of value in firing or prosecuting those in the deep state that were obstructing justice.
The TARGET of the Trump house cleaning is NOT his political competitors per say – Hillary, Biden, Harris, Obama.
It is those within IRS, DOJ FBI and the rest of the Deep State that empowered their abuses of power.
It is those obstructing justice, it is those engaged in lawfare, it is those censoring political and other speech.
Politicians lie – that is all too normal. I would like otherwise, but my remedy for lying politicians is at the polls.
That California would elect Adam Schiff even if NO ONEran against him – is a damning indictment of the people of California.
But those that run with the lies of politicians – that use government power – not just against political enemies, but against ordinary people whose politics they do not like, is a serious problem.
I beleive it was Peter Theil on Joe Rogan recently exposing the efforts of the left to unbank those they disagree with.
The Obama admin – but even more so the Biden admin, started with the Porn industry, and the gun indistry, but them moved on to Alex Jones, and then to anyone whose politics did not suit them and they persuaded banks to cancel their accounts.
This was a HUGE factor getting Silicon Valley entrepeneurs behind Trump.
It is also a major reason why Trump has become Bitcoin freindly. Cryptio currencies have become one of the few ways arround weaponizing the financial system in the same way that the legal system has been weaponized.
“Clearly, he has not been entirely forthcoming about his intentions regarding the pardon;”
Biden lied and misused his office. Why should we be surprised that a person lacking morals is trying to make things look better than they are? The same people who cannot see Biden’s lack of morals cannot see their own when it comes to the placement of pornography in schools. We should not be surprised. Immoral people exist even on this blog. Immorality is very intimate with you.
This is a legal blog. The Hunter Biden pardon is the most important legal issue of the day.
If we were in the America of most of the past 250 years – it would be the most important legal issue of the year.
But we are not in normal times. The left stokes outrage moment by moment and some egregious new violation of the norms or the law is minutes away.
Few is any outside the left are even slightly surprised by this.
We KNEW that Biden was never keeping the promise not to pardon Hunter.
To the extent they or Turley are covering this it is more to say “I Told You So”
Biden has not just lied – he has made liars out of YOU.
Just as most of the country KNEW Biden was lying – either YOU did too but repeated the lie, or you are a moron.
The great angst being shown is by those on the left – the few that actually beleived this.
If like the rest of us you KNEW this was a lie – but repeated it anyway – you are not moral.
And the rest of us see that.
Your perfidity is exposed.
If you did not KNOW this was a lie – you should be asking yourself WHY you did not know, and what else the left has been lying to you about.
@John Say: This is a legal blog. The Hunter Biden pardon is the most important legal issue of the day.
I completely disagree and consider that opinion myopic. That is a constitutional “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin” issue?
If nothing else, the blatant and coordinated in-your-face criminality operating at the top levels of both the DoJ and FBI that begin under Obama/Biden is a far greater concern, along with all the accompanying lawfare flowing from it.
A brief reminder:
Two of Obama’s Attorney Generals repeatedly perjured themselves before FISA courts, uttering false documents at the same time. Both of which are serious felonies. All to obtain unlawful spy warrants to deprive hundreds, perhaps thousands of Americans of their civil rights under color of law due to the “Two Hop Rule” of such warrants. You would need a calculator to total all the victims of those felonies that were committed through that.
Two of Obama’s FBI Directors committed the same felonies by doing the exact same thing, for the exact same purpose.
[sidebar: do you believe that all of them did this of their own initiative, committing these felonies while attempting to conceal what they were doing from Obama in the Oval Office? For those not naive enough to buy that bridge, that means this wave of DoJ and FBI criminality has it’s roots in Obama himself]
Obama’s former FBI Director Robert Mueller, selected to be the “Russia Dossier” Special Counsel, committed the same felonies for the exact same purpose.
Robert Mueller’s Trump investigating/Clinton exonerating “bulldog” Andrew Weissmann, committed the same felonies for the exact same purpose.
That is just an extremely short list of the clear felonies that have become institutional within the leaders and the highest levels of the Attorney General’s office, the DoJ, and the FBI. And it is spreading to other leaders in other federal bureaucracies.
If that ongoing political bureaucratic crime wave isn’t the most important legal issue of the day, you’re going to have your work cut out for you changing my mind on that.
Turley is fully capitalizing on the ongoing discussion about the pardon issue.
Curious George is in an orgy of Marxist self-gratification today. An onslaught of storms of insults and lies directed at his and our host, Professor Turley.
George; you know you have ZERO credibility with readers here.
You know that every response you generate is to call you out as slimy pathological serial liar.
You have no followers here other than the single upvotes you occasionally leave yourself.
Which leaves the burning question; other than a desire to obtain personal sexual self-gratification through your posts, why you come here to drop your lying deuces here each day?
George
“You don’t matter anymore”
If Turley wants to address Hegseth – that is his business. But it is not a legal issue – Gaetz was, The Pardon is.
With respect to Hegseth – mostly no one cares. No one Trusts NYT or NBC or you.
Hegseth will be confirmed, or not, and if not, someone else will replace him.
Someone you will be equally unhappy with.
Peter Hegseth is NOT a significant issue.
At worst he is an alcoholic, and mysoginist. That makes him morally above Biden or Harris.
At best he is not faithful to the women he commits to, had some issues returning from Iraq, and gets drunk now and then with friends.
So far he does not seem to Drive Drunk – like Waltz, his sexual adventures are with women approximately his own age. He is not sniffing childrens hair or showering with his teenage daughters, raping babysitters, or sleeping with the boss to get ahead.
But should Hegseth prove unsupportable – I am sure there are dozens just like him to replace him.
You and those on the left do not seem to have gotten it yet.
“You Don’t matter anymore”
This is not 2016. When you cry wolf – no one is listening.
There will be no special counsel’s investigating Trump.
The lawfare is done.
The MSM has lost credibility – you have lost credibility.
I do not know if Hegseth will be confirmed and I pretty much don’t care – I am sure there is someone else to fix DoD.
Even Bernie Sander’s is on board.
But YOU, the MSM, democrats generally the left – DO NOT MATTER.
Hegseth will be judged based on investigations by REAL reporters, NOT left wing loons like MSNBC or NYT.
This is not even the Kanavanaugh confirmation.
Everyone KNOWS that you lie.
No one is paying attention to YOU.
YOU DON”T MATTER ANYMORE.
I am pretty well informed about Hegseth. Most of the allegations are laughable or overblown.
But I have no interest in YOUR oppinion, YOUR claims, or that of YOUR sources
YOU LIE
THEY LIE.
No ONE IS LISTENING
You the left, democrats, the MSM have burned their credibility
and that means you are powerless.
Ordinary people presume you are lying.
You are powerless.
I disagree with Turley’s comparison of the Biden Crime Family with the John Gotti organization. Gotti never did anything to harm America. The subpoenas are already in the hopper ready to go out in the afternoon of January 20, 2025. First, the parade of horribles will be subpoenaed: Jim Biden, Haile Biden, Jill Biden, and, possibly, Joe Biden. Each will take the Fifth unless Joe pardons himself and them beforehand. Then, the little people will, be called: the secretaries, clerks, aides, accountants, lawyers who formed the endless list of LLC companies, etc. And finally, when then grand jurors are ready, the main event will follow: Hunter Biden will be called to testify. When he refuses, he will be taken before a judge who will order him to testify. When he refuses, he will be sent to the DC jail for an indefinite period or until he relents. Old Joe is almost non compos mentis at this point and may pardon the whole family and their associates as well as 18 million unnamed illegfal aliens (just to make it look good) and then walk out the door. Should be a fun time to see how all this plays out. Like many conservatives, I’m not interested if anyone goes to prison but accountability is important and curative legislation necessary to prevent this form of corruption and misuse of our system of jurisprudence by tyrants like Biden in the future.
GOOD MORNING BOYS AND GIRLS 🌞
TRUMP STILL SUCKS
He will always SUCK. He’s interested in only his benefit.
Sorta like the crimminal enterprise called Biden Inc.?
The propaganda force is strong with you Grasshopper.
Everything George says is true because I wrote it for him. Just wait till this afternoon when I start posting after George write my posts!
Unlike that complete altruist Joe Biden.
Which makes him different from Biden in what way?
What if some of his deeds rise to treason or espionage. Can a president pardon such high crimes?
The Constitutional authority for presidential pardon authority cannot be limited except in cases of impeachment (“(H)e shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” Art. 2, Sect. 2, US Constitution)
JT’s narrative doesn’t jibe with the chronology. When Hunter was raking in all those foreign millions, dodging taxes, transporting prostitutes, and buying his gun, nobody knew that Joe Biden would do anything but fade into retirement. Joe was a 2nd term V.P. grieving over the loss of his favorite son, and bowing out as a successor to Barack Obama. At that point, nobody could have known that Joe would be tapped by Jim Clyburn to go up against Trump in 2020, survive a primary process that had defeated him in the past, and win the Presidency.
Hunter was rather operating under the assumption of his dad riding off into the sunset — in which case, who would care about the Bidens? The idea that Hunter misbehaved with hedonistic abandon at the time with foresight of receiving a Presidential pardon?….absurd….it doesn’t square with what he (or anybody else) could know at the time.
“JT’s narrative doesn’t jibe with the chronology.”
You’re right — if you dishonestly alter JT’s chronology (as you did).
Anonymous, That only Works AFTER 2016. Hunter was taking in money BEFORE 2017 and Jor Biden was delivering favors While VP.
I disagree with Turley that Joe is the Goat of influence peddling – the Clintons are orders of magitude worse.
They just more wisely launder billions through their faux charity. The Biden’s took in far less cash and could not afford to loose so much of it to the overhead of a fake charity so they played corporate shell games.
Regardless the Bidens are Corrupt as h311 but small potatoes.
Further they are mostly a dead end which is why they will be left alone.
The Goal of Trump is to CLEAN HOUSE.
They are NOT mostly after political opponents.
They are after their myriads of minions who drove the lawfare censorship, financial warfare and targeting or catholics, parents, prolifers, ….
The most nauseating aspect of this whole sordid affair is the Democrats and Mainstream Media who profess such surprise that he “Really did give his son a Pardon”. Please! That surprise is so despicable as to remove any sense of ethics’s in the Biden Family, Major parts of the Democratic Party and the media. Republicans have had their own share of scandals over the years but I would be severely pressed to find anything that rivals this. The only recent such action by a Republican was John McCain voting to keep the Affordable Care Act when he had campaigned for years to revoke it. Simply to spite Trump (and the voters who believed McCain). I sure McCain’s headstone is a hand gesture rather than a real headstone.
Hunter Biden! Well what can you say except if you never yank the dog collar or even practice ethics why are you surprised that you get an entitled, smirking s—t for a son. Joe better be careful because my experience with people and families like this is such that I would not be surprised if one day Ol Joe and Jill might find themselves out on the street with Hunter holding title to everything that they once owned. Children like that often do turn on their parents.
Lastly I blame Obama for this. He elevated a has been Senator with a dodgy past to the vice presidency and then seemed to be surprised that the dog he raised refused to answer to it’s own choke chain and then when Obama helped the coup his dog turned round and bit him in the ass by endorsing Kamala. Seems like some celestial settling of scores.
They all deserve each other. Strongest argument for term limits I have seen, of late.
Had Biden kept his word NOT to pardoned Hunter, his brethren would have protected his reputation post-presidency. He did not, embarrassing the MSM and the Democratic Party no end. The consequence is that Biden has been cast out alone. He will not get a decent biography. He will not be a venerated former president. He will not see future invitations. He may not even realize a Presidential library. Moreover, the MSM will gradually blame him solely for Harris’ election loss. This one rather stupid gesture is the final coup de grâce for a mediocre president. A play along the lines of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” may be written.
Pardons granted as a President goes out the door are often outrageous – admittedly this one absolutely pegs the outrageous meter. However, outrageous and corrupt pardons don’t seem to weigh that heavily on a legacy. This one will be (and already is being) defended as justified in view of Trump’s promise of vindictive retribution, with Hunter being an obvious and identified target. From Joe’s point of view, I get that. Joe’s legacy should be in the crapper for a lot of other reasons, particularly the corruption if it ever gets fully exposed.
“However, outrageous and corrupt pardons don’t seem to weigh that heavily on a legacy.”
Most of those pardons didn’t involve miscreants and events that were so much in the intense glare of the public spotlight for so long.
This one will be (and already is being) defended as justified in view of Trump’s promise of vindictive retribution
An actual promise of “vindictive” retribution? Trump actually said those exact words – you just forgot to provide the link so we could see it for ourselves?
Is that you posting, false flag pbinca??? Has the same California manner and style – and just sophomoric as to be equally transparent.
While you’re throwing out that one from the Soviet Democrat Parade Of Lies you’re copying and pasting from Whoopy Goldberg, Rachael Maddow, etc, why not throw in a few others for good measure?
How about including the “Trump’s promise to ban abortions” for starters as additions to sweeten your Soviet Democrat Bull Schiff? Gigi likes that one!
So, he keeps the money and that is all that matters to crooks.
Agree except for MSM and Team Blue being embarrassed. Neither has enough integrity to ever be embarrassed by their own kind.
The fix was in from day one and everyone knew it. My gut tells me this “loving” father-son relationship was a mirage. Hunter told Joe that unless he received a pardon, he would spill the beans on his dad and send everyone down the sh***er. They are cold and heartless, especially to their own family members. Think about it: he started a relationship with his brother’s widow, got her hooked on crack, fathered a child with whom he refuses to even speak with, and Joe does the same: refuses to acknowledge his own granddaughter and publicly disses her. What great human beings! And the MSM lauds them as a model parent/son duo. Excuse me while I vomit.
(OT)
Trump on the hostages kidnapped by Hamas/Iran:
“If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
That is how an *American* president protects *Americans* from international criminals. He does not mouth empty threats (“just don’t”) or, worse, fund those criminals. He does not betray our allies. He does not pour our wealth and military might into the sinkhole that is Ukraine.
He puts Americans first. And takes action to protect them.
Welcome back, Mr. President.
GOP self bound by every rule in the book
Democrats unbounded by what has been!
why wouldn’t Biden continue his corruption….DC Democrat and Republican have allowed in your face corruption for decades
Tony Bobulinski told us point blank that the Bidens were TAKING MONEY from China. and NO ONE did Anything!
Everyone KNEW Bidens were taking millions from Ukraine(a very Corrupt Country)…now we have spent $300 Billion(economic impact trillion+) BECAUSE the Bidens TOOK Bribes. There were other countries. Democrats OPENLY import Illegal…basic Treason…like MIC and Inner cities…just conduits for Centralized MONEY!
I prefer the Mafia over DC…at least if you pay them…they WILL Protect you.
The USA is a on the path to ruin! A child born today owes $130,000 of Federal Debt….and unless they go to NY or DC…they are bound for a poor life.
It was actually the Hunter Biden presidency.
Joe Biden came into office on the heels of the infamous, false letter from 51 intel professionals who lied when asserting that the contents of the Hunter Biden laptop had the halmarks of “classic Russian disinformation.” All of those shameful liars should be reprimanded and lose their security clearances.
Of course at that instant, the FBI knew full well it was not “classic Russian disinformation” and would later be forced to testify to that fact. At every instant, the FBI could have stepped in and said, “Uhhh, wait a minute, fellas, before you destroy your own reputations and veracity, the laptop is real.”
Joe Biden exits office with yet another lie — his breach of his own assertion he would not pardon his felon son. This is a lie he told countless times and now dismisses with another set of gross lies — his own DOJ persecuted Hunter?
What is funny is that his words relate perfectly to the lawfare visited upon his rival, Donald Trump. What a putz.
The Biden family is outrageous in their unashamed and brash corruption and the use of Joe Biden’s offices to shakedown others for profit. WTF were they selling other than influence?
JLM
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
In the Judges response to the “Pardon” Executive Order, she clearly states that the President lacks the Constitutional Authority to Pardon for “unknown” or unprosecuted acts. Her scathing response to the Defense motion to dismiss is fascinating reading. At least this Judge gets it!