The final corruption of Joe Biden
Category: Op/Ed
Via: vic-eldred • 19 hours ago • 22 commentsBy: Jonathan Turley, Opinion Contributor (The Hill)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
With only 15 minutes to go as president, Joe Biden snatched infamy from the jaws of obscurity.
With record-low polling and widely viewed as a "failed" president, Biden completed his one-man race to the bottom of ethics by issuing preemptive pardons to members of his own family.
The pardons were timed to guarantee that the media would not focus on yet another unethical act by this president. He need not have worried. For four years, the media worked tirelessly to deny or deflect the corruption scandal surrounding the Biden family.
The pardoning of James Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John Owens and Francis Biden brought an inescapable clarity to the corruption of what is known in Washington as Biden Inc.
I have written about the Biden family's corruption for decades. Influence-peddling has always been the favorite form of corruption in Washington, but this city has never seen the likes of the Biden family. Millions of dollars were secured from foreign sources and distributed to various Biden family members.
Biden repeatedly lied about the influence peddling. He long denied knowing about his son's foreign clients or business. He denied ever meeting Hunter's clients. Later, photos and emails showed that Biden had clearly met these clients and knew about the business deals. He was fully aware that his family was cashing in on his name and various offices.
Even Biden's claims about handling the Trump cases were recently contradicted. While long claiming that he left these cases to the Justice Department and took no position on the merits, the Washington Post recently reported that Biden was irate over the failure to prosecute Trump before the election. He also reportedly lashed out at Attorney General Merrick Garland and said he regretted his appointment in light of the failure to nail Trump.
One of the most glaring lies was that he would never pardon his son. Few people believed him. Indeed, Hunter Biden's bizarre criminal defense made no sense unless he knew that he had a pocket pardon if all else failed.
Once he was forced out of the presidential race, Biden was freed up to sign a pardon for any and all crimes committed over a ten-year period by his son. He insisted that he really hadn't been lying. He claimed that no ordinary person would have been tried for his son's crimes — a manifestly untrue statement. He also emphasized that he had to take this step as a father of a son who was a hopeless addict and has now been clean for years.
However, the latest family pardon shatters even that rationalization. These Bidens are not even charged with any crimes, but Biden wanted to give them cover from any possible prosecution for anything. It was the ultimate sign of contempt for the intelligence of the American public and the integrity of his office.
Biden has long exercised situational ethics and, with his powers coming to an end, the situation demanded that he cash out before his credit ended. In granting these pardons, Biden was seeking to protect not just his family but also himself. He was the object of the influence peddling and repeatedly lied to bury the scandal. This insulation of his family serves to move the threat farther from himself.
Biden, however, may have been too clever by half this time. In the final moments of his presidency, He broke into the open and exposed not just himself but his allies in the media. Reporters are now fully visible as willing dupes in one of the greatest corruption scandals in the history of this country.
In his pardon statement, Biden insisted that "the issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense." Of course, that is the very opposite of what most people will conclude. More importantly, the pardons will not end the threat to his family.
Figures such as James Biden have been accused of lying to Congress about the influence-peddling operation. He can still be subpoenaed and, if he lies, he can be charged with a new crime.
Indeed, after James Biden's pardon, it will be argued that he has less basis to claim the right to remain silent about any alleged crimes committed during the period for which the pardon applies. (He could argue that there is a danger of state charges, but that is less credible due to the running of statutes of limitation and other factors.)
The pardons, if anything, make such an investigation even more compelling for those who want answers to longstanding questions of corruption.
Biden sealed his legacy with a finality that escapes most presidents. While his diminished mental capacity will remain an issue for historians, his longstanding lack of ethics was conclusively established with these pardons. It was Biden's final act of corruption.
For a president who liked to call others "lying dog-faced pony soldiers," Biden proved that, in the world of political corruption, the ponies are entirely optional.
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."
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All those who have been pre-pardoned by Joe Biden can still be exposed if they broke laws or peddled influence or misused the law. Let Patel and Bondi expose what went on and let historians take care of the rest.
Although many of us already understood it, yesterday proved that Trump is a menace to the viability of the nation as we have known it.
Any hopes of "unity" were dashed completely and the next four years will be an endless battle. The resistance needs to organize.
Toadies like Jonathan Turley are irrelevant.
The country is more unified, and optimistic, than pretty much at any point in the last decade. The lack of stupid protests from the left over Trump is a good indication.
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Yeah, didn't a SCOTUS ruling says otherwise?
Biden did a ton of damage to the norms that allow a republic to function. The damage is multiplied by his supporters who refuse to recognize any of it,
Why would Biden pardon his "family" ?
Trump Calls The Bidens An ‘Organized Crime Family’
Trump calls the Bidens a 'crime family ' that is …
Apr 26, 2023 · Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed investigations into the 'Biden crime family' were 'Watergate times 10,' after the Republican chair of the Oversight Committee, said up to 12 members of the Bidens ...
House Republicans Lay Out ' Biden Crime Family ' Timeline
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The Biden Crime Family Is Above the Law | RealClearPolitics
etc.
In the submental world of Trumpian inspired thought the Bidens were tried and convicted without proof. A lot of unsupported speculation, yes, but proof that amounts to actual evidence, no.
As of Jan 20 Trump and his lackeys in the new DOJ would be free to indict or harrass members of the Biden "crime family", key word for the present purposes being "family".
MAGA world has all but announced , for years, that they would go after Bidens family if given the chance. Preventative actions needed to be taken against such lunatics.
Because, they are admittedly broke the law and faced prosecution. But of course, as classic oligarchs, they were able to escape any repercussions for their action because Biden made sure the rules don't apply to his family, or cronies.
Your hero Trump is insane, and if they can people should protect themselves against him.
That's one person's opinion.
So much for the innocent have nothing to fear because the system will protect them from an unjust or investigation or prosecutor flip, flop.
Donald Trump is a lunatic and he has endless toadies and lackeys who want nothing more than to please him. I dont blame anyone who would try and protect themselves and their families against him. I wish Biden had given Vindman and Cassidy Hutchinson and probably some others a pardon too. Patriotic people like Vindman and Hutchinson should not have to worry if the madman in charge is going to sic the justice system on them, and his release of hundreds of deluded traitors last night only shows the wisdom of the Biden pardons.
And now, thanks to Biden's disgraceful example, Presidents will feel free to simply pardon everyone in their orbit when the leave office. Biden's done everything he could in four years to create an oligarchy where some people are above the law. Yesterday, was his masterpiece.
It's the Democratic way. You've seen it your whole life in Chicago but we've mainly avoided it nationally. Per Biden, laws are for the little people. If someone has the right blood, or served the party faithfully and kept secrets (the President is mentally incompetent, say) than federal law literally doesn't apply to them.
It has been noticed that this seed is about Biden but every single post you made so far deflects to Trump.
Maybe the owner of the seed will pull a JR and delete your posts for trolling.
Wouldn’t be wrong for doing it.
Your opinion is meaningless to me. Are you proud that Trump released hundreds of traitors last night? Not only traitors but deluded traitors, some of them who attacked police in order to try and help Trump illegally retain office.
People who were stupid enough to believe Trumps lies about the election and then climb up 30 ft walls and bash their way into offices at the national legislature, and then beat up police, deserve what they got.
When Trump told the Proud Boys ( a domestic terrorist group) to "stand by" I guess he meant he was coming to save them some day.
And ANOTHER promise kept...............
I take that comment to mean that you are proud Trump released hundreds of deluded traitors.
No. I'll say it again. I don't support Trump releasing rioters who attacked police. Since I don't cater my beliefs to a political party's needs of the moment, I can maintain consistent opinions.
Accordingly, I don't feel compelled to go from cheering the release of a violent criminal who murdered LEO's or interventions on behalf of other murderers on one thread to claiming the republic is doomed because Trump pardoned or commuted the sentence of some people who assaulted, but did not kill, LEOs.
With Biden issuing a pardon for the partisan hacks that made up the J6 committee, it only makes sense that those charged are pardoned as well.
A pardon indicates a crime was committed. Not only against the current POTUS against the people. The J6 committee failed to do what they were supposed to do and went off on their own little crusade.
In a nutshell, Biden just admitted the Democrats did some illegal shit.
That seems to be a growing list of kept promises:
Would not the 25th Amendment, Section 4 still be applicable in that Biden "conducted" the "pardons" while in office acting as President?