Hunter Biden is indicted on federal gun charges
Well, this is interesting:
Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal gun charges out of Special Counsel David Weiss’ investigation.
Biden was charged with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
These are felony charges. But previously, Weiss was ready to make a deal that wrote them off. The only reason that deal didn’t go through seems to have been that the judge asked a few questions and the answers were highly unsatisfactory.
But one wonders whether this is also related to something I wrote about a few minutes ago – the deep desire of the Democrats to rid themselves of Joe Biden, whose candidacy has become a possible liability. Otherwise, I can’t imagine they’d let this indictment go forward – unless, of course, the plan is to provide cover for legal “fairness” by indicting Hunter and then merely slapping him on the wrist. That’s certainly a possibility.
One more idea is that these charges are meant to deflect from the much larger issue of the influence-peddling financial scheme in which Joe is highly implicated. It may be a case of introducing the narrative: “haven’t Hunter and Joe suffered enough?” “Do those cruel pouncing Republicans want a pound of flesh?”
The present charges carry a maximum of five to ten years, but I can’t imagine that Hunter, if found guilty, would serve anything like that amount of time (or any time at all).
There’s also this:
Weiss also withdrew the two misdemeanor tax charges in Delaware with the intention of bringing them in California and Washington, D.C. — the venues where the alleged misconduct occurred. Prosecutors have not offered a timeline for those charges.
If Hunter is charged at all with those things, I predict the timeline will be whatever it needs to be to most benefit whatever the Democrats want to happen with Joe.
Hunter’s defense appears to be that the plea agreement that got him off so very easy is still in effect.
Interesting times, interesting times.
So somewhere between ten minutes from now and the half life of a proton. I guess it depends on a fearful they are of being able to drag Joe over the finish line one last time. The prospect of any Republican winning next year, let alone Trump, is very much an existential threat to these people. They’ll do what they feel they need to do if it comes down to it. If Biden needs to be thrown under the bus, so be it.
nonapod
It remains to be seen who the dems have to beat Trump in what might be obsolete elections of the old sort. If we have one.
It would have to be somebody who combines name recognition with no particular baggage. Newsom might qualify except his baggage is California, of which much might be said.
Anybody else?
So the dems have to beat Trump in the republican primary, somehow. But, then, who and what kind of trampish actions would the republican candidate take wrt the Deep State if elected? And you can’t beat somebody with nobody. Do the dems have anybody who can be somebody?
I mentioned elsewhere; Suppose you’re a big shot in the Deep State. And you contemplate Trump taking the Oath of Office, bearing the mug shot face. Is there anything you wouldn’t do to prevent that?
Richard Aubrey at 4:33 p.m.: “Newsom might qualify except his baggage is California, of which much might be said.”
I commented in the David Ignatius: Biden is wonderful, great, fab – but shouldn’t run in 2024 thread that Newsom is eminently electable. There is no Democrat in any of the “blue” or “battle ground” states that would hold back from voting for him.
“Wheels within wheels within wheels.” — Frank Herbert, Dune
Suspicious me. I suspect that the gun charges are a diversionary alternative to money laundering, bribery and whatever else could drag the Big Guy in.
As the saying goes, the Democrat bench is thin. There is Newsom. What is possibly not well known outside of California, but would surely become known, is that Newsom was completely financed in business and politics by Getty Oil money. (One of the Getty’s was a partner in nine of Newsom’s business ventures.) Never mind that the Getty family sold the oil company, and are inclined to say, “Oil company? What oil company. We are just your everyday filthy rich family of Philanthropists”. Once his career was established, San Francisco money, and later Silicon Valley money poured in. He is bought and paid for.
Beyond Newsom, or like Newsom, nearly every potential Democrat candidate with any governing experience, presides over a failed State or City. That is unless someone knows of a Senator or Congressman who could make the grade. Adam Schiff? Chuckie Schumer? Oh, there is Michelle. Her credentials are—-well, they are what they are.
The Republicans have a deep bench if Trump’s ego ever allows him to do the right thing and step aside. Surely, deep down inside he realizes that even if he wins he will never be able to govern a deeply divided country–a division he has contributed to in his own way.
Well, as to that pound of flesh, provided the bond is written a little more carefully than the one that Shylock got Antonio to sign, there might be a chance….
Otherwise, I can’t imagine they’d let this indictment go forward…
neo:
Could the Dems have stopped the indictment, if they really wanted to?
I don’t know the ins and outs of the legal stuff. My impression is they thought they were in like Flynn until Judge Norieka declined the plea deal. Now the Dems are scrambling to keep the toothpaste in the tube.
My gut feeling is somehow the gun charge will go away, probably due to the plea deal. This is just a distraction from the fara and other charges.
I was having breakfast at my favorite cafe today with a liberal (as that term is used today) friend, and he started a political conversation. He was absolutely shocked that a stand-up guy like Pence was only getting about 5% support in polling for the Republican presidential nomination. I explained that a huge factor was simple math. Trump gets at least 50% of the support regardless of which candidate is running against him and Pence is among 9 folks dividing up the remaining 50%.
At this point, a guy sitting to my right butts in (and I mean that in a good way – I enjoy the give and take in settings like cafes) and says, “Did you hear that Hunter Biden was indicted on the gun charge.” After some discussion he added that Hunter was not indicted on any tax charges and that he suspects the fix is in on all of these charges. He then said words to this effect: “Damn, this administration is the most corrupt I’ve ever seen.”
At this point, a guy sitting to my left butts in, saying, “Really? What about Jared Kushner’s getting $2 billion from the Saudis.”
I was then interrupted by a business call. With me in the geographic middle of the cafe conversation, and no longer participating, it ended.
Having no recollection of a Kushner – Saudi Arabia deal, I later looked it up. Damn! The guy on my left was sort of correct. See, https://www.newsweek.com/jared-kushners-massive-saudi-earnings-few-investments-raise-questions-1821065.
While the $2 billion is an investment into a Kushner-run investment firm which presumably could be withdrawn by the Saudis, apparently Kushner has collected “tens of millions in management fees each year” while not making any investments.
Mitigating facts: The Kushner investment firm was founded in 2021 after Trump left office, and the Saudi investment was made after the firm was started.
However, was the investment made (with the annual multi-millions of dollars in fees) for past services rendered by Kushner as part of the Trump administration, and/or to curry favor with Trump’s family in case the former president retakes the White House in the 2024 election?
I write this as a guy who would be thrilled if either Trump or DeSantis is POTUS 47.
huxley:
Weiss originally did not bring the indictment. Now, Weiss is bringing the indictment. Same person. He’s a Delaware guy. I think he’s not acting independently at all, although that’s what he’s supposed to be doing.
IRA
There are democrats and there are democrat-leaning independents. The latter might see some issues with California and, at least, stay home.
There are dems whose attachment is almost religious and for whom issues and events are irrelevant. There are those for whom issues and events are important and prefer the democratic approach. But the latter might be affected by results. Not the former, surely, but the latter, possibly.
At this point, all the TDS, Orangemanbad you hear is the former covering up the concern about results, both to convince themselves and keep others from making actual arguments. It is possible that some think, for example, the economy is going great. But the latter might, experiencing it, see reality.
From what I’ve heard, the more serious charges were lying on his applications for the gun permits, and those charges were not brought. So there will be a slap on the wrist.
My take is that Weiss felt that he had to indict Hunter for something, so as not to appear biased to the average low information voter and MSM. The gun charges are the only ones that don’t involve “The Big Guy”.
Speculation on the fate of hunter reminds me of stalin era thinking. Everyone knows that they system is corrupt and incompetent, so the outcome is what ever the elite in charge desire. Justice has nothing at all to do with it. totalitarianism doesn’t need legal reasons to do anything, but it’s nice to have the legal cover provided by corrupt juries, DAs and judges.
Trump is the new Trotsky or Goldstein. 7 years of propaganda and even his supporters doubt his chances now. Sad
both parties are trying to hold onto power and money, so I doubt that much will change.
The uniparty has sanctioned Jan 6 people to long years of imprisonment, and no cares.
The ball has already dropped, and everyone is worried about what such and such pop star dated what star.
Orwell wrote about all this, and the way it happens. apparently no one read any of it.
Why would I trust that the jury selection will be fair.
I have lost most of my trust in the institutions in this country especially when any Democrat is near the operation of said institution.
Ira
The big difference I see between Hunter Biden and Jared Kushner is that Kushner appears to be a successful man in his own right prior to any involvement with his wife’s family. Hunter appears to be a derelict drug addict son of a high ranking politician who’s mainly skilled in picking up bags of cash from companies that need his expertise at being the son of Joe Biden and giving 10% to the big guy.
Then again any movement of that kind of money in a family like that can be seen as suspicious.
What Martin said at 9:13 p.m.
Exactly!
I can’t see Hunter getting jail time until Sundowner is gone at least if ever.
Neo,
Good theorizing on Democrats’ possible use of Hunter’s liability for a run-of-the-mill felony to control Biden. Many ways to turn the paternal pain knobs up or down without putting Joe in legal peril, and tarnishing the Democrat brand in 2024. I also like the “Hasn’t Joe suffered enough” impeachment defense theory, so capably used by Bill (and Hillary)
Other questions arise. Garland must have impeachment concerns. If he allows Weiss to be too rough with Hunter, Joe may forget to provide Garland support in his hour of need.
There’s also the question of timing and pardons. If Weiss gets a conviction ASAP and Joe agrees to step down in the next few months, he can pardon Hunter early enough that Hunter will be a non-issue by November.
This gun charge is bullshit.
It’s like indicting someone for trespassing who had just committed first degree murder.
One does not have to be a Sherlock Holmes to ask a very simple question; why would any company, organization, government enterprise or individual pay someone a few million $$$$, if the recipient of that largess have zero experience, zero expertise, zero talent, zero qualifications in anything (except smoking crack)?
Further, “Le Biden Fils,” has paid ZERO income tax on any of the $$$$ he has received.
How come there is no indictment for that ??
And why have the stupid dumbpublicans not revealed the information they have so far obtained showing exactly where all that money went and to whom??
How is it that nobody questions why he was allowed to accompany his father numerous times on a govt. plane carrying joke bidet on official business overseas?
Un F’n believable.
It’s safe to say that the absolute worse thing that will eventually happen to any of the Bidens is a slap on the wrist to Hunter; and that will be the end of it.
Look, squirrel.
Maybe they are trying to squeeze Hunter for some reason.
A straight forward diversionary tactic to eliminate any focus on Biden family corruption.
The indictment is to provide legal cover during the impeachment investigation: Hunter can exercise his 5th amendment rights and not be questioned in the course of that investigation.
And if Papa Joe leaves office on 20 Jan 2025, before departing issue a presidential pardon.
I lean towards the idea that the DOJ and other Deep Staters realized that they had to do SOMETHING to deflect from the Biden Family crimes. Hunter is the sacrificial ‘lamb’.
Neo,
I disagree these are “interesting times”; they are catastrophic.
Cicero:
That’s what the phrase “interesting times” means. It’s a reference to this.