Column By Mike Bibb
As expected, Hunter Biden will get a second bite of the apple.
Since he willfully thumbed his nose to appear for a Congressional deposition, Congress thought it over and decided to get tough – give Hunter another chance.
Would anyone else be granted a similar opportunity?
Unlikely. Unless their daddy is the President of the United States.
Let’s face it, Hunter hasn’t been a model citizen. His escapades in the drug-fueled environments of society’s alternate lifestyles – as documented in his laptop computer (how smart was that?) – illustrated the second son of Joe and Jill Biden has repeatedly been involved in various schemes and scams.
Legal and otherwise.
For several years, the FBI has known about the shenanigans revealed in the laptop but, for whatever reasons, has neglected to pursue the matter.
Unpleasant stuff sometimes happens in families. That’s life. However, the leniency of law enforcement towards Hunter’s dubious exploits seems out of the ordinary.
Could it be because his dad is a prominent Democrat politician, well connected to Washington’s inner circles for nearly 50 years? With Joe being a U.S. Senator, then Vice President, then President would indicate Hunter has probably been exempted from most criminal penalties imposed upon less fortunate suspects involved in similar nefarious activities.
When Hunter is exposed for an alleged crime, his wealthy friends provide the best lawyers money can buy – not an ordinary court-appointed defense attorney.
Current federal income tax and firearms violations cases are pending. Previous tax issues were dismissed because of the expiration of time mandated by the statute of limitations.
In other words, due to the government’s bumbling to bring charges within the required period, Hunter avoided tax payments on millions of dollars of earned income.
Not many can brag they’ve accomplished this trick. Then again, not many in Washington are directly related to #46.
All of this nonsense could be better tolerated – even somewhat excused — by the public if it wasn’t so obviously contradictory to the way Joe’s Department of Justice is treating former President Donald J. Trump.
Nearly three years after leaving office, and one year before the General Election in 2024, Trump was suddenly slammed with four federal and state indictments, amounting to 91 separate charges. Should he be convicted on all counts, Trump could face over 700 years in prison.
Putting that number into perspective, if Trump had come to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620, and immediately imprisoned for inciting a mutiny, he wouldn’t be released until 2320 – 296 years from now.
Then, he’d probably have to register as a “ship offender” for another 150 years.
In the meantime, Congress is still waiting for Hunter to show up for a required hearing to discuss his, and his father’s alleged involvement in shady overseas business dealings.
In defiance, instead of appearing for the subpoenaed hearing, Hunter presented his press conference outside the steps of Congress, complaining how mistreated and disrespected he and his dad had been.
Since those were his feelings, all he had to do was walk back inside the building, pull up a chair and discuss his grievances, answer a few questions, offer explanations, and try to work out an amicable agreement with several members of Congress. A special time and date had been set aside for that very purpose.
Hunter didn’t do this.
Consequently, the Congressional House Committee conducting the hearing was faced with three options: 1. Physically bring Hunter in. 2. Cancel the meeting. 3. Reschedule the hearing.
They chose the latter. His second Congressional meeting is scheduled for Feb. 28.
Why it takes over a month to reschedule a hearing with a guy who ignored the first subpoena is a mystery to me. Can’t the DOJ simply dispatch a few U.S. Marshalls or FBI agents to go get Hunter?
Similar to what they did when two of Trump’s Republican staff members were arrested at gunpoint, cuffed, and hauled off for failing to appear at a comparable hearing.
One of the individuals was recently sentenced to four months in prison.
Why should Hunter be treated otherwise? Oh, that’s right, he’s the Democrat son of the Democrat president. Different strokes for different folks.
What happens if Hunter flips off Congress again or responds to Congressional inquiries with “I don’t know,” “I don’t recall,” or “On the advice of counsel, I decline to answer the question”?
Congress is sitting on shopping carts full of documents, bank statements, records, and witness testimony indicating Biden’s involvement in foreign transactions amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
Alleged RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) violations have been bantered about.
On the surface, it’s not a good look. Something appears irregular when the president and his son are having secretive discussions with foreign individuals, using aliases, and being wired substantial sums of money for some unknown purpose.
Making the situation more unbelievable, Joe has repeatedly said he is not involved in his son’s business when the evidence — to all appearances — indicates differently.
Also, if Joe loses the election (or, drops out) his term in office ends at noon on Jan. 20, 2025. As does his “presidential immunity” from being civilly and criminally prosecuted. At 12:01 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2025 (Washington time), Joe becomes just another regular citizen (with Secret Service protection), subject to the same laws, rules, and regulations as anyone else. Supposedly.
Like Trump is presently going through. Except, if Trump wins, the shoe will be on the other foot and old Uncle Joe may have his chance to experience what “payback” feels like.
A year from now, the legal loophole could be “Joe’s too mentally confused to stand trial,” brushing aside the sad reality he probably won’t be any more confused then than he is now.
This is exactly what happened when Joe was reported by Special Counsel Robert Hur as “Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview with him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” – NBC News, Feb. 8, 2024.
Sort of an updated version of the “Hillary Defense,” when the Director of the FBI excused Hillary from prosecution for destroying thousands of pieces of evidence, saying no prosecutor would bring such a case.
Not totally unexpected – Hillary’s a lifelong Democrat.
In Joe’s case, the basic excuse is “He’s just too old, frail, and forgetful to criminally prosecute. He didn’t know what he was doing. Let’s just go home and pretend none of this ever happened. Besides, it was a victimless crime. No one got hurt.”
Let me see if I’ve got this straight — a Special Counsel has determined Joe’s advancing age and deteriorating mental condition are reasons to avoid prosecution, but he’s competent enough to remain, President of the United States, fly around on Air Force One, and run for office again?
Hmm. . . Undoubtedly, I’m missing an important piece of the puzzle. Or, as usual, being intentionally lied to. Again.
Regardless of the DOJ’s continued lingering in resolving Hunter’s and Joe’s suspicious activities, the longer it takes to sort out this sordid mess the fishier it smells.
Most importantly, if we are to maintain the perception of “Equal justice under the law,” then the “Rules for thee, but not for me” attitude immediately needs to be corrected by an unbiased Department of Justice, enforced by a fair and impartial judiciary.
Depending upon who is involved and their social and political standing in society, a two- or three-tiered legal system will ultimately destroy any semblance of honesty and integrity remaining in our government and courts.
The opinions in this editorial are those of the author.
