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Hunter Biden hearing is a blow to Democrats — and the media

Hunter Biden's plea deal has been put on hold. Credit: Getty

July 27, 2023 - 7:15am

Democrats hoped that a quiet plea agreement would put an end to media coverage of Hunter Biden’s misbehaviour. Instead, court proceedings confirmed Republicans’ claims that the underlying crimes were more extensive — and the deal more favourable — than anyone in the White House and the mainstream press was willing to admit.

The proceedings earlier today were supposed to reinforce the Biden argument that this was all a witch hunt, with Hunter scheduled to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanours and a felony gun charge. The routine plea agreement broke down in open court when District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to approve the DOJ’s generous terms (which involved no jail time for the President’s son). The sticking point, previously unreported, was that Hunter and his lawyers wanted not only these pending charges to disappear, but also the prosecutors’ promise that he would be immune from prosecution for all other potential charges, including those related to being an unregistered agent of foreign governments.

It would amount to a pardon in all but name.

It’s unclear whether this was a last-minute change or part of the deal all along but, whatever the case, it was too much for Judge Noreika. She asked prosecutor Leo Wise whether a deal of this scope had any precedent in federal practice. He admitted that it did not. A few hours later, a new deal came together, still favourable to Hunter but without the promise to ignore all other crimes he may have committed. 

Wise’s admission alone is concerning and should force Democrats to rethink their framing of the issue. If the case was as minor as they claimed, why would Hunter have required such lavish guarantees that he would not be prosecuted? If the DOJ’s treatment of Hunter was evenhanded and free of influence, why would the deal he struck be better than any in the annals of federal law? 

Clearly, the investigation into Hunter Biden is ongoing. Equally clear is that the DOJ hoped to make it go away. Their attempt to keep Hunter’s problems quiet and contained will now have the reverse effect, as the broken deal will surely show the need for greater scrutiny of the accused and prosecutors alike. 

It gives lie to the claims that House Republicans’ investigation into the Biden family was purely politically motivated and casts further doubt over the supposedly non-political Justice Department. If Hunter was just a ne’er-do-well with a drug problem, it might be fair to say that Republicans were “weaponising” his misdeeds to sully his father’s reputation. It’s a theory that the leading lights of mainstream media bought into wholeheartedly, at least until now.

Democrats and their friends in the press glided effortlessly from insisting that Hunter’s misplaced laptop was “Russian disinformation” to admitting (after the election) that yes, it was real, but it had nothing to do with his father. Biden senior himself has said often that he “never discussed” business with his son, but this week press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shifted that to say that Biden “was never in business with his son”.

There was a time when the press would call out Biden on his fabrications, as when media exposure of his frequent and blatant plagiarism brought down his 1988 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. But once he became the standard-bearer against Donald Trump in 2020, all pretence of objectivity ceased. Many Americans, used to hearing about Biden’s travails through the filter of a subservient press, will be shocked to hear the truth when it comes out — as it seems about to do.

Cracks were already developing in the façade. More in sorrow than in anger, Maureen Dowd of the New York Times savaged Joe and Hunter Biden’s mistreatment of the daughter Hunter conceived out of wedlock but refuses to acknowledge. Now this latest saga will force them once again to reframe the tattered Biden family portrait. When Hunter’s former friend and business partner Devon Archer testifies about just how closely the President was involved in their deals, will they spin that too? Will anyone still listen?

Whatever their opinions of Biden, Trump, and the 2024 race, eventually the people covering this story will have to decide whether they are journalists or hagiographers.


Kyle Sammin is the managing editor of Broad + Liberty. Follow him on Twitter at @KyleSammin.

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Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago

Trump may have his failings, but at least he has a functioning brain, and he actually has some love for his country. And ours…

I must say I would rather see a different two candidates, come the time, but if the contest is to be between these two, then it must surely be Trump that will win. And a good thing too.

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

From the other side it is not clear that Trump has any love for anything but his own ego. One episode says it all: Trump showing top secret military plans to random guests simply to brag about how important he is. Biden may be a fairly unimpressive president, but at lest he (or maybe his handlers) is unlikely to jump into a total disaster for a random reason. I can only wish one could say the same for Trump.

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

I have to disagree. Biden is vulnerable to two important things.

First, extortion. This kind of thing gives those foreign interests the ability to blackmail him.

Second, if true, the allegations mean that he has sold US foreign policy for personal gain and/or that he has used US foreign policy to extort money from foreign countries and businesses.

The risks that this pose to national security and to US foreign relations is astronomical.

If you have ever gone through the process for a security clearance, as I have multiple times as I work with DoD and hold a TS-SCI, you know the questions asked on the eQIP are designed to dig into EXACTLY the kinds of things that Joe Biden seems to have been/is engaged in. Joe would NEVER pass even a SECRET clearance, probably not even a Public Trust clearance, were it not for the fact that he is an elected official.

As for his patriotism, his actions and those of his son would appear to demonstrate that any patriotism they show is feigned and ultimately geared to do nothing but keep them in power long enough to get very wealthy and protected from prosecution. They are narcissists.

Trump may be a narcissist too, and an ahole to boot, but at least his policies were aligned with the best interests of the country. The difference between a liberal and a conservative is that the liberal will support the wrong policy if it is done for, what is in their opinion, the right reasons by a nice person, the conservative will support an ahole who pushes the right policies for the wrong reasons.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

You probably know more than I, but it does not sound convincing. Trump is on record threatening to withhold help from Ukraine (back before the war) unless they give him some dirt on his enemies. Biden sounds more like the (regrettably common and time-honored) practice of selling access to lobbyists. Arguably any politician taking donations from outside interests is corrupt – but by that standard that would include any US politician who depends on campaign donations. Which is all of them, bar the billionaires.

Last edited 1 year ago by Rasmus Fogh
Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Trump? What about Biden on TV cameras actually laughing about his withholding $1B in foreign aid until Ukrainians fired the prosecutor investigating Burisma, where his son was being paid $83k per month as a director? See if for yourself:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4820105/user-clip-biden-tells-story-ukraine-prosecutor-fired

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

To be fair, Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid if the prosecutor going after Burisma was not fired.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Cite your source

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Cite your source

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

It is interesting that Trump was asking about the EXACT stuff that is now coming out about Biden. In short, he was asking for the truth about another corrupt politician who used US foreign policy and tax dollars to extort money from a foreign company.

Biden DID precisely what everyone was afraid that Trump WOULD do.

Trump, as president, had every right and every reason to legitimately ask about crimes committed by a US government official. That he hoped to benefit from that is not really relevant. I would compare it to a racist cop that pulls over a black guy for doing 70 in a 50 zone. If he was really doing 70 then the cop was within his rights to pull him over regardless of whether or not he enjoyed it as a racist. It may be gross, but it is legal.

Now, if Trump had asked them to drum up fake stuff that would have been different, but that is NOT what he did.

I am convinced that that second impeachment was an attempt by the democrats to innoculate Biden from what has been known for years but is only now getting the attention it deserves. And I suspect that it would not be coming out even now were it not for the fact that the democrats would like Biden to step down for another candidate because he is losing in the polls to Trump and that the republicans have been forcing the issue in congress.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Would you not say that Biden, as president, has every right and reason to legitimately ask about crimes (such as trying to override the election result, fomenting insurrection, mishandling classified information, and financial crimes) committed by a former president? That he hopes to benefit is surely not relevant here either?

I am not saying that Trump is necessrily guilty, any more than Biden necessarily is, just that the your argument works just as well on the other side. I find it strange that you support Trumps legal actions so strongly at the same time as you blithely dismiss Bidens.

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

No insurrection was fomented…

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

No insurrection was fomented…

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Would you not say that Biden, as president, has every right and reason to legitimately ask about crimes (such as trying to override the election result, fomenting insurrection, mishandling classified information, and financial crimes) committed by a former president? That he hopes to benefit is surely not relevant here either?

I am not saying that Trump is necessrily guilty, any more than Biden necessarily is, just that the your argument works just as well on the other side. I find it strange that you support Trumps legal actions so strongly at the same time as you blithely dismiss Bidens.

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

The dirt on his enemy was Biden’s move to have Ukraine remove the prosecutor who was investigating the company that his son was on the board of; getting paid 50k a month having zero experience in the profession. Trump wanted that to be looked at.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Trump? What about Biden on TV cameras actually laughing about his withholding $1B in foreign aid until Ukrainians fired the prosecutor investigating Burisma, where his son was being paid $83k per month as a director? See if for yourself:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4820105/user-clip-biden-tells-story-ukraine-prosecutor-fired

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

To be fair, Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid if the prosecutor going after Burisma was not fired.

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

It is interesting that Trump was asking about the EXACT stuff that is now coming out about Biden. In short, he was asking for the truth about another corrupt politician who used US foreign policy and tax dollars to extort money from a foreign company.

Biden DID precisely what everyone was afraid that Trump WOULD do.

Trump, as president, had every right and every reason to legitimately ask about crimes committed by a US government official. That he hoped to benefit from that is not really relevant. I would compare it to a racist cop that pulls over a black guy for doing 70 in a 50 zone. If he was really doing 70 then the cop was within his rights to pull him over regardless of whether or not he enjoyed it as a racist. It may be gross, but it is legal.

Now, if Trump had asked them to drum up fake stuff that would have been different, but that is NOT what he did.

I am convinced that that second impeachment was an attempt by the democrats to innoculate Biden from what has been known for years but is only now getting the attention it deserves. And I suspect that it would not be coming out even now were it not for the fact that the democrats would like Biden to step down for another candidate because he is losing in the polls to Trump and that the republicans have been forcing the issue in congress.

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

The dirt on his enemy was Biden’s move to have Ukraine remove the prosecutor who was investigating the company that his son was on the board of; getting paid 50k a month having zero experience in the profession. Trump wanted that to be looked at.

Simon S
Simon S
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Excellent post but probably would have been even better without the last par!

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

So what kind of things foreign things make him vulnerable to extortion? Does he owe huge debts to foreign banks like Trump. Has paraded around secret docs like Trump? Does he consider dictators his friends like Trump? Has he paid off hookers like Trump? Has he filed for bankrupcies like Trump. Your second point is meaningless unless there is evidence, which there isnt like Barisma, false birth certificates and Benghazi.

joe hardy
joe hardy
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Comment of the day.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

You probably know more than I, but it does not sound convincing. Trump is on record threatening to withhold help from Ukraine (back before the war) unless they give him some dirt on his enemies. Biden sounds more like the (regrettably common and time-honored) practice of selling access to lobbyists. Arguably any politician taking donations from outside interests is corrupt – but by that standard that would include any US politician who depends on campaign donations. Which is all of them, bar the billionaires.

Last edited 1 year ago by Rasmus Fogh
Simon S
Simon S
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Excellent post but probably would have been even better without the last par!

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

So what kind of things foreign things make him vulnerable to extortion? Does he owe huge debts to foreign banks like Trump. Has paraded around secret docs like Trump? Does he consider dictators his friends like Trump? Has he paid off hookers like Trump? Has he filed for bankrupcies like Trump. Your second point is meaningless unless there is evidence, which there isnt like Barisma, false birth certificates and Benghazi.

joe hardy
joe hardy
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Comment of the day.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Are you aware of how a piece of information becomes “top secret” in the first place? And if the duly elected President of the United States is not in a position to declare this information as not “top secret”, who on earth would be?
For all we know, this “top secret” information that was so recklessly shared could have been the plumbers bill for fixing toilets at an army base somewhere. Keep watching CNN for more on how wonderful and honest Joe Biden is and how orange man is bad.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Trees

Are you aware that he didn’t declassify them? And are you aware that there is a process in place to do so? No President can just say the words and its done. His own adminstation has stated that. What I stated has nothing to do with CNN. Stop deflecting. Facts: He was indicted for his obvisious crimes, and the evidence is overwhelming. To compare that loser who lost the popular vote twice, impreached twice, multple bankruptcies, raped charge, prostitution payoffs, failed business, insurrectionist to ANY president is laughable.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Trees

Are you aware that he didn’t declassify them? And are you aware that there is a process in place to do so? No President can just say the words and its done. His own adminstation has stated that. What I stated has nothing to do with CNN. Stop deflecting. Facts: He was indicted for his obvisious crimes, and the evidence is overwhelming. To compare that loser who lost the popular vote twice, impreached twice, multple bankruptcies, raped charge, prostitution payoffs, failed business, insurrectionist to ANY president is laughable.

James S.
James S.
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Joe Biden IS a total disaster, as has been abundantly confirmed by his administration’s policy missteps (energy policy, Afghanistan debacle), his cabinet appointments, and his long history of grifting, which is finally being exposed.

Trump is egotistical and polarizing but he’s not been up to his eyeballs in influence peddling, as this unfolding scandal clearly points to.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  James S.

The economy is doing great. Afghanistan was painful but had to pull that band aid off. Energy is doing greate(you are very wrong on that one) Manufacturing is great. Inflation is down, GDP growth is awesome. Stock Market Up 8% ytd. So yeah! pretty good. .

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  James S.

The economy is doing great. Afghanistan was painful but had to pull that band aid off. Energy is doing greate(you are very wrong on that one) Manufacturing is great. Inflation is down, GDP growth is awesome. Stock Market Up 8% ytd. So yeah! pretty good. .

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

They are both deeply flawed for many reasons. It’s a sad state of affairs when these are the candidates presented to Americans.

I would likely vote GOP regardless, not that I have any love for Republicans. The Dems have somehow created this dangerous stranglehold on all the institutions – the media, the bureaucracy, academia, the security state, arts, culture, corporations – and this is truly dangerous to democracy.

Healthy democracy requires divergent thought amongst the institutions.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

You trying to equivocate Trump with ANY president is silly. And of course you would vote Republican. There is ZERO data that support the claim Rs are better than Ds. D states on avg are safer, more financially balanced, healthier, more educated than R states. On a POTUS level Ds have outperformed Rs on every economic/ quality of life metric for the last 50 yrs. But hey hang on to your identity politics.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

You trying to equivocate Trump with ANY president is silly. And of course you would vote Republican. There is ZERO data that support the claim Rs are better than Ds. D states on avg are safer, more financially balanced, healthier, more educated than R states. On a POTUS level Ds have outperformed Rs on every economic/ quality of life metric for the last 50 yrs. But hey hang on to your identity politics.

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

I have to disagree. Biden is vulnerable to two important things.

First, extortion. This kind of thing gives those foreign interests the ability to blackmail him.

Second, if true, the allegations mean that he has sold US foreign policy for personal gain and/or that he has used US foreign policy to extort money from foreign countries and businesses.

The risks that this pose to national security and to US foreign relations is astronomical.

If you have ever gone through the process for a security clearance, as I have multiple times as I work with DoD and hold a TS-SCI, you know the questions asked on the eQIP are designed to dig into EXACTLY the kinds of things that Joe Biden seems to have been/is engaged in. Joe would NEVER pass even a SECRET clearance, probably not even a Public Trust clearance, were it not for the fact that he is an elected official.

As for his patriotism, his actions and those of his son would appear to demonstrate that any patriotism they show is feigned and ultimately geared to do nothing but keep them in power long enough to get very wealthy and protected from prosecution. They are narcissists.

Trump may be a narcissist too, and an ahole to boot, but at least his policies were aligned with the best interests of the country. The difference between a liberal and a conservative is that the liberal will support the wrong policy if it is done for, what is in their opinion, the right reasons by a nice person, the conservative will support an ahole who pushes the right policies for the wrong reasons.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Are you aware of how a piece of information becomes “top secret” in the first place? And if the duly elected President of the United States is not in a position to declare this information as not “top secret”, who on earth would be?
For all we know, this “top secret” information that was so recklessly shared could have been the plumbers bill for fixing toilets at an army base somewhere. Keep watching CNN for more on how wonderful and honest Joe Biden is and how orange man is bad.

James S.
James S.
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Joe Biden IS a total disaster, as has been abundantly confirmed by his administration’s policy missteps (energy policy, Afghanistan debacle), his cabinet appointments, and his long history of grifting, which is finally being exposed.

Trump is egotistical and polarizing but he’s not been up to his eyeballs in influence peddling, as this unfolding scandal clearly points to.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

They are both deeply flawed for many reasons. It’s a sad state of affairs when these are the candidates presented to Americans.

I would likely vote GOP regardless, not that I have any love for Republicans. The Dems have somehow created this dangerous stranglehold on all the institutions – the media, the bureaucracy, academia, the security state, arts, culture, corporations – and this is truly dangerous to democracy.

Healthy democracy requires divergent thought amongst the institutions.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

From the other side it is not clear that Trump has any love for anything but his own ego. One episode says it all: Trump showing top secret military plans to random guests simply to brag about how important he is. Biden may be a fairly unimpressive president, but at lest he (or maybe his handlers) is unlikely to jump into a total disaster for a random reason. I can only wish one could say the same for Trump.

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago

Trump may have his failings, but at least he has a functioning brain, and he actually has some love for his country. And ours…

I must say I would rather see a different two candidates, come the time, but if the contest is to be between these two, then it must surely be Trump that will win. And a good thing too.

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Samuel Ross
Samuel Ross
1 year ago

Truth Matters. ‘Nuff said.

Cathy Carron
Cathy Carron
1 year ago
Reply to  Samuel Ross

The truth shall set you free. John 8:32

Peter Johnson
Peter Johnson
1 year ago
Reply to  Samuel Ross

Suppressing the truth is like holding a cork underwater – a moment of inattention and it just pops back up. Legacy media just don’t seem to understand that.

Cathy Carron
Cathy Carron
1 year ago
Reply to  Samuel Ross

The truth shall set you free. John 8:32

Peter Johnson
Peter Johnson
1 year ago
Reply to  Samuel Ross

Suppressing the truth is like holding a cork underwater – a moment of inattention and it just pops back up. Legacy media just don’t seem to understand that.

Samuel Ross
Samuel Ross
1 year ago

Truth Matters. ‘Nuff said.

AC Harper
AC Harper
1 year ago

Hagiographers for their own side and demonisers for the the other side. A polarisation that damages democracy but sells newspapers and broadcasts.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  AC Harper

Agreed. Journalism completely went out the window over a decade ago. There are no objective journalists left.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Trees

There are plenty of great journalists still out there. Unfortunately, they won’t be found in the regime media. Taibbi, Greenwald and Weiss are just a few of the names.

What’s frightening is that everyone on the left has never heard of these people. People on the left, and most independents, still rely on the regime media for their news consumption – not understanding these media outlets are there to serve the establishment, not their customers.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Taibbi a great journalist? LOL! Watch this clown back track on what he said and studder when he is confronted. Just another example of what a joke and the hypocrisy going around here. Dont take my word for it watch it:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1644066353760948244

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Taibbi a great journalist? LOL! Watch this clown back track on what he said and studder when he is confronted. Just another example of what a joke and the hypocrisy going around here. Dont take my word for it watch it:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1644066353760948244

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Trees

There are plenty of great journalists still out there. Unfortunately, they won’t be found in the regime media. Taibbi, Greenwald and Weiss are just a few of the names.

What’s frightening is that everyone on the left has never heard of these people. People on the left, and most independents, still rely on the regime media for their news consumption – not understanding these media outlets are there to serve the establishment, not their customers.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago
Reply to  AC Harper

Agreed. Journalism completely went out the window over a decade ago. There are no objective journalists left.

AC Harper
AC Harper
1 year ago

Hagiographers for their own side and demonisers for the the other side. A polarisation that damages democracy but sells newspapers and broadcasts.

Catherine Conroy
Catherine Conroy
1 year ago

The Democrats have been very happy to throw the first stone at Trump. What goes round comes around.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Trump screwed himself. Hes on tape asking for vote. Hes on tape asking a foreign county to find dirt on his opponent for a favor. Hes on tape asking for 11870 votes He’s on tape parading around classified document that he certified he already returned.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Trump screwed himself. Hes on tape asking for vote. Hes on tape asking a foreign county to find dirt on his opponent for a favor. Hes on tape asking for 11870 votes He’s on tape parading around classified document that he certified he already returned.

Catherine Conroy
Catherine Conroy
1 year ago

The Democrats have been very happy to throw the first stone at Trump. What goes round comes around.

Carol Calhoun
Carol Calhoun
1 year ago

why did Hunter have a trail of secret service (counted 6 autos) as if he were the president. Tax dollars at work! Justice? I won’t hold my breath!

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Carol Calhoun

Cite your source.

Ray Zacek
Ray Zacek
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Give your name or f**k off, anonymous troll.

Ray Zacek
Ray Zacek
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Give your name or f**k off, anonymous troll.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Carol Calhoun

Cite your source.

Carol Calhoun
Carol Calhoun
1 year ago

why did Hunter have a trail of secret service (counted 6 autos) as if he were the president. Tax dollars at work! Justice? I won’t hold my breath!

Benedict Waterson
Benedict Waterson
1 year ago

yes we already know that the American mainstream media has become intensely partisan.
That’s why outlets like Unherd are good

Benedict Waterson
Benedict Waterson
1 year ago

yes we already know that the American mainstream media has become intensely partisan.
That’s why outlets like Unherd are good

Steven Carr
Steven Carr
1 year ago

Somebody forgot to tell the judge that this was a work.

‘Prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s attorneys also clashed over whether the agreement would protect the president’s son from additional charges in the future.’

Tell the judge to sign Hunter Biden’s ‘Get out of jail free cards’ and we can all go home.

Steven Carr
Steven Carr
1 year ago

Somebody forgot to tell the judge that this was a work.

‘Prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s attorneys also clashed over whether the agreement would protect the president’s son from additional charges in the future.’

Tell the judge to sign Hunter Biden’s ‘Get out of jail free cards’ and we can all go home.

Christopher Darlington
Christopher Darlington
1 year ago

Neither party is deserving of power. The two party system has to be abolished.

Benedict Waterson
Benedict Waterson
1 year ago

It’s time for PR in the UK, I would say

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

False Equivalency

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Stop trying to equate the repugnate party with the Ds. There is no comparison.

Benedict Waterson
Benedict Waterson
1 year ago

It’s time for PR in the UK, I would say

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

False Equivalency

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Stop trying to equate the repugnate party with the Ds. There is no comparison.

Christopher Darlington
Christopher Darlington
1 year ago

Neither party is deserving of power. The two party system has to be abolished.

JR Stoker
JR Stoker
1 year ago

Young Biden goes to jail. Okd Trump.goes to jail. Then we can move on

Courtney Maloney
Courtney Maloney
1 year ago
Reply to  JR Stoker

And what is to become of at-death’s-door Biden, may I ask?

Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey
1 year ago

He goes to Hell?

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Bill Bailey

So do you

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Bill Bailey

So do you

Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey
1 year ago

He goes to Hell?

Courtney Maloney
Courtney Maloney
1 year ago
Reply to  JR Stoker

And what is to become of at-death’s-door Biden, may I ask?

JR Stoker
JR Stoker
1 year ago

Young Biden goes to jail. Okd Trump.goes to jail. Then we can move on

Gerald Arcuri
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago

Thank God that the U.S. still has an independent judiciary, one in which judges can smell a rat in the plea bargains designed by clever lawyers for their rich and famous clients. We are a nation of laws, and however flawed those laws or their application may be, they are a bulwark against the kind of legal thuggery running countries like Russia and Belarus.
Sir Thomas More said it best:
https://youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk

Gerald Arcuri
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago

Thank God that the U.S. still has an independent judiciary, one in which judges can smell a rat in the plea bargains designed by clever lawyers for their rich and famous clients. We are a nation of laws, and however flawed those laws or their application may be, they are a bulwark against the kind of legal thuggery running countries like Russia and Belarus.
Sir Thomas More said it best:
https://youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago

The only ones listening are conservatives. The rest trust legacy media and will remain blissfully ignorant.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Well dang it. When did he win an election? I missed that!

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

You know it’s possible to hate trump and the republicans and still think Biden is a cleptocrat.

Simon Tavanyar
Simon Tavanyar
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Jim, do you think Biden did all this by himself? What power or group is actually running his Administration? Will this hidden mysterious cabal oversee free and fair elections?

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Simon Tavanyar

Speaking of “free and fair elections”….you see your boy Rudy Giuliani admitted he lied about the 2 election officials? That’s what you call fair?….Maybe you just upset they couldn’t find 11870 votes o
in GA as Trump asked for, which he will be in front of a judge for soon.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Geez. Typical Dem talking points. He didn’t admit to anything. It was a legal procedure. And I’m not making judgement on his guilt or innocence. But he didn’t admit guilt to anything.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Jeez…ok…here’s the statement…

“[Giuliani] does not contest that … such actionable factual statements are false,” his lawyers wrote in the signed filing. Despite the admission, Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements “did not carry meaning that is defamatory, per se” and that they are “constitutionally protected statements or opinions”.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

You missed some key text where the … are located;

“…does not dispute for purposes of this litigation…”

Again, I’m not passing judgement on his guilt or innocence. He probably is guilty. I really don’t care. But this is a legal maneuver, not an admission of guilt.

That the regime media decides to pass over key text in the filing says everything we need to know.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

He did…Again “Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements “did not carry meaning that is defamatory ” thats admission. And you are passive aggressively defending him. The fact you did so twice clearly shows you do care

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

What I care about is the regime media spitting in our face and lying to us. There’s a reason the media chose to omit those eight words. They wouldn’t do it otherwise. Fox News lies to us about the Republicans. CNN, NBC, the New York Times and Washington Post do it for the Democrats. You’re free to believe whatever you like, about me and Giuliani, but please remember what little regard they have for you when they omit those eight words.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

You talking about the “media” that had to pay almost a BILLION dollars for lying? That media? LOL..smh

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

You talking about the “media” that had to pay almost a BILLION dollars for lying? That media? LOL..smh

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

What I care about is the regime media spitting in our face and lying to us. There’s a reason the media chose to omit those eight words. They wouldn’t do it otherwise. Fox News lies to us about the Republicans. CNN, NBC, the New York Times and Washington Post do it for the Democrats. You’re free to believe whatever you like, about me and Giuliani, but please remember what little regard they have for you when they omit those eight words.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

He did…Again “Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements “did not carry meaning that is defamatory ” thats admission. And you are passive aggressively defending him. The fact you did so twice clearly shows you do care

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

You missed some key text where the … are located;

“…does not dispute for purposes of this litigation…”

Again, I’m not passing judgement on his guilt or innocence. He probably is guilty. I really don’t care. But this is a legal maneuver, not an admission of guilt.

That the regime media decides to pass over key text in the filing says everything we need to know.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Jeez…ok…here’s the statement…

“[Giuliani] does not contest that … such actionable factual statements are false,” his lawyers wrote in the signed filing. Despite the admission, Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements “did not carry meaning that is defamatory, per se” and that they are “constitutionally protected statements or opinions”.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Geez. Typical Dem talking points. He didn’t admit to anything. It was a legal procedure. And I’m not making judgement on his guilt or innocence. But he didn’t admit guilt to anything.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Simon Tavanyar

Speaking of “free and fair elections”….you see your boy Rudy Giuliani admitted he lied about the 2 election officials? That’s what you call fair?….Maybe you just upset they couldn’t find 11870 votes o
in GA as Trump asked for, which he will be in front of a judge for soon.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Did I mention Trump? NO! Speaking of “cleptocrat” and Trump.How much you think Trump made for forcing government officials to stay at his hotels while he was in office? Which is easily confirmed and against the law? One of many of his crimes!

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

If you think Hunter isn’t selling access to his father, you’re delusional.

Trump is awful too. Almost all of them are corrupt, from both parties. None of them will vote to stop stock purchases. Corruption is endemic to the American political system. What’s your point?

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

What facts do you have to support your claim? NONE. But hey you “don’t care” as you stated, but you clearly do AND deny facts and rely on your bias as proof. You want to see Biden as guilty , but somehow Trump and his cronies are presumed innocent even when they say they are not. Simply delusional…smh

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Sure I want to see Biden found guilty – because he’s a dirty, corrupt, kleptocrat. Trump is too. Trump is also a narcissistic sociopath. The big difference is Biden has the DOJ and the regime media to protect him. Trump doesn’t. You’re free to project some bias on my part, but I would have considered myself a Democrat 10 years ago.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Ah so now you have a lttle steel to tell the truth. Tell me again what facts do you have to show Biden is dirty and currupt? Name them?

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

There are a few drips – and I’d love to hear how someone clearly on the Democratic side explains them:

Hunter Biden clearly got those well-paid board posts because someone at least thought that it would get them credit or access with Biden.
I seem to remember seeing that a number of other Bidens, Beau’s widow, uncles (but not Joe) were involved in the companies of Hunter. That makes it harder to explain away as a completely isolated effort by a single troubled man. Is that correct?
If the plea deal did indeed give blanket immunity for unspecified other crimes, that does sound a bit like there is something to hide. I do not know how that explanation fits with the US justice system (and, of course, the judge was a Trump appointee). Do you have a take on that?

The outside impression would be that Biden is no more corrupt than is usual for a US senator who has to rely on huge campaign contributions, so that the republican outrage is somewhat manufactured, one might say. But what is your take?

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

There are a few drips – and I’d love to hear how someone clearly on the Democratic side explains them:

Hunter Biden clearly got those well-paid board posts because someone at least thought that it would get them credit or access with Biden.
I seem to remember seeing that a number of other Bidens, Beau’s widow, uncles (but not Joe) were involved in the companies of Hunter. That makes it harder to explain away as a completely isolated effort by a single troubled man. Is that correct?
If the plea deal did indeed give blanket immunity for unspecified other crimes, that does sound a bit like there is something to hide. I do not know how that explanation fits with the US justice system (and, of course, the judge was a Trump appointee). Do you have a take on that?

The outside impression would be that Biden is no more corrupt than is usual for a US senator who has to rely on huge campaign contributions, so that the republican outrage is somewhat manufactured, one might say. But what is your take?

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

This is not my fight. But one might argue that the most important difference between them is that Biden is *not* a narcissistic sociopath – by your own account – and therefore less likely to do enormous damage.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Trump might be deranged, but the Dems are much more dangerous. Trump has zero institutional power. The Dems have captured all the institutions, which no longer represent 50% of the population. Media, academia, arts, culture, corporations, bureaucrats, NGOs, all swing left, even though half the population is right. That’s not healthy for democracy.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

On institutional capture you very much have a point. But Trump and his people are preparing for a second presidency where every federal appointee is known to be in favour of the invasion of Congress, and every federal employee can be fired if not sufficiently obedient (source: The Economist). If the entire Federal administration is personally loyal to the President – even if he is deranged, denying the facts, or saying without evidence that he won the election – Trump would have 100% institutional power. In fact you could argue that you would have a lack of transparency, feedback and control mechanisms like in Turkey or China, without even the the advantages of autocracy. Could you really accept to live under a president like Buttigieg or AOC with unlimited powers and complete personal control of the Federal adminstration? And if not , what would you have to do to make sure that the Demcrats never, ever, got back in power? The characteristics of a democratic system is that there are rules that both sides are willing to submit to. Which set do you propose?

Last edited 1 year ago by Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

On institutional capture you very much have a point. But Trump and his people are preparing for a second presidency where every federal appointee is known to be in favour of the invasion of Congress, and every federal employee can be fired if not sufficiently obedient (source: The Economist). If the entire Federal administration is personally loyal to the President – even if he is deranged, denying the facts, or saying without evidence that he won the election – Trump would have 100% institutional power. In fact you could argue that you would have a lack of transparency, feedback and control mechanisms like in Turkey or China, without even the the advantages of autocracy. Could you really accept to live under a president like Buttigieg or AOC with unlimited powers and complete personal control of the Federal adminstration? And if not , what would you have to do to make sure that the Demcrats never, ever, got back in power? The characteristics of a democratic system is that there are rules that both sides are willing to submit to. Which set do you propose?

Last edited 1 year ago by Rasmus Fogh
Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Trump might be deranged, but the Dems are much more dangerous. Trump has zero institutional power. The Dems have captured all the institutions, which no longer represent 50% of the population. Media, academia, arts, culture, corporations, bureaucrats, NGOs, all swing left, even though half the population is right. That’s not healthy for democracy.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Ah so now you have a lttle steel to tell the truth. Tell me again what facts do you have to show Biden is dirty and currupt? Name them?

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

This is not my fight. But one might argue that the most important difference between them is that Biden is *not* a narcissistic sociopath – by your own account – and therefore less likely to do enormous damage.

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

Sure I want to see Biden found guilty – because he’s a dirty, corrupt, kleptocrat. Trump is too. Trump is also a narcissistic sociopath. The big difference is Biden has the DOJ and the regime media to protect him. Trump doesn’t. You’re free to project some bias on my part, but I would have considered myself a Democrat 10 years ago.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

What facts do you have to support your claim? NONE. But hey you “don’t care” as you stated, but you clearly do AND deny facts and rely on your bias as proof. You want to see Biden as guilty , but somehow Trump and his cronies are presumed innocent even when they say they are not. Simply delusional…smh

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

If you think Hunter isn’t selling access to his father, you’re delusional.

Trump is awful too. Almost all of them are corrupt, from both parties. None of them will vote to stop stock purchases. Corruption is endemic to the American political system. What’s your point?

Simon Tavanyar
Simon Tavanyar
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Jim, do you think Biden did all this by himself? What power or group is actually running his Administration? Will this hidden mysterious cabal oversee free and fair elections?

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Did I mention Trump? NO! Speaking of “cleptocrat” and Trump.How much you think Trump made for forcing government officials to stay at his hotels while he was in office? Which is easily confirmed and against the law? One of many of his crimes!

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
Reply to  UnHerd Reader

You know it’s possible to hate trump and the republicans and still think Biden is a cleptocrat.

UnHerd Reader
UnHerd Reader
1 year ago

Well dang it. When did he win an election? I missed that!