Day of the Hunter

The Department of Justice yesterday released details of its plea deal with Hunter, son of the President of the United States.

Okay, I got pretty much nothing.

This has been a pathetic issue from the first, investigated for the past five years.  Many legal experts say that if the person at the center was not the son of the U.S. President, it’s likely he never would have faced any penalties for what amounted to two misdemeanors for paying his taxes too late (because he did pay them) and probation for lying on a gun application, but that all would have been dropped.

And that took five years to investigate.

The official response from Republicans has been –

“Wah wah wah.  Wah waaaaaahhh wah waaaaaaaah!  Wah.  Wah wah waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!  Wah Wah.  Two-tier justice system.  Wah wah wah wah wah.  Waaahh!  Wah!!!”

It should be added that the U.S. Attorney in charge of the case – who had total autonomy, something made clear in a letter released between him and Attorney General Merrick Garland, was appointed by Trump.  And while President Biden had every right to replace the Trump-appointee investigating his son – he didn’t.

The best that Republicans can do about this reality is try to point out that the two Delaware senators who had to approve U.S Attorney David Weiss, since that’s where the investigation took place, are both Democrats.  The problem with that “argument” is that Weiss was appointed by Trump.  With Trump’s total approval.  That this is who he wanted.

By the way, the funniest thing in this entire result is probably hearing Republicans crying about a “two-tiered judicial system.”  I would dearly love to see Black leaders and Black members of Congress say, “Finally, something we agree with Republicans about, and if you really, truly want to investigate the ‘two-tier system of justice,’ let’s meet and talk…because we have a long list for you.”

While the DOJ did say that, despite the plea deal yesterday, the case was ongoing and it’s possible that they could still be investigating any corruption, most attorneys I heard said that it’s common to say a case in ongoing until it’s finally entered in court.  And that pleas are almost never taken until a case is finished because that gives away your own bargaining chip.  And Hunter Biden’s attorney said his understanding was that the case was over.

It should be noted, as well, that today Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer told reporters after the plea deal was announced that his committee would still go forward with his investigation of President Biden because “This is about Joe Biden.”  It’s always so nice when people say the quiet part out loud.  Though less nice for dragging a private citizen and his drug problem through the public mud, just to try – unsuccessfully – to “get” his father.  All because you’re supporting a fascist criminal who got impeached twice, was defeated by Hunter Biden’s father, has two indictments so far and was sued and found liable for sexual assault, and so you’re pissed off.

(It should be mentioned, as well, that for all the GOP weeping over Hunter Biden's plea deal, they are silent about Trump operative Roger Stone owing $2.1 million in back taxes that he hid from the IRS for 15 years with shell companies, only finally reaching a settlement last year -- with no jail time, but only repayment and penalties.)

And for all the offensive stupidity of this five-year investigation of the President’s son who’s a private citizen and accepted a plea deal for two misdemeanors about not paying his taxes on time, if Republicans were actually, really, truly serious about such faux-outrages (which of course they aren’t even close to), they can always look a lot closer and spot Ivanka Trump getting 31 trademarks from China and Jared Kushner getting $2 BILLION from Saudi Arabia – while both were actually, really, truly working in the White House.

Republicans are in control of the House. There's a national election next year.  This is when they could be passing bills to show what the GOP stands for and wants to do for the American people.  Because they are in charge of the agenda of the House.  And what they're showing they believe is important is Hunter Biden.  And two misdemeanors for not paying his taxes in time.  And "Wah wah waaahhhh" is their response.

I'd write more, but even writing that was difficult because this is the stupidest, most galling investigation around.