Hunter’s plea deal

[Anonymous]

The 'Big Guy' doesnt want this FARA charge to be raised as it exposes his own influence peddling. Now that the DoJ is stuck, I see a blanket pardon by Joe towards his son and a LBJ second term moment forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 'Big Guy' doesnt want this FARA charge to be raised as it exposes his own influence peddling. Now that the DoJ is stuck, I see a blanket pardon by Joe towards his son and a LBJ second term moment forthcoming.

Bingo! The whole world knows the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Look at decisions Joe made and influenced. Goes far beyond firing the prosecutor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

The answer to that depends on how much longer the DOJ will be stonewalling a proper and honest investigation. It's clear the Hunter stuff isn't going away any time soon, and that becomes an accruing liability for the Biden campaign each and every day.

I still stand by my prediction this will lead to President Biden not seeking a 2nd term. We shall see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

The answer to that depends on how much longer the DOJ will be stonewalling a proper and honest investigation. It's clear the Hunter stuff isn't going away any time soon, and that becomes an accruing liability for the Biden campaign each and every day.

I still stand by my prediction this will lead to President Biden not seeking a 2nd term. We shall see.

Reminder: Trump's own DOJ, FBI, and appointed USA in Delaware all "investigated" this and found nothing actionable. You're waiting for Godot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

The answer to that depends on how much longer the DOJ will be stonewalling a proper and honest investigation. It's clear the Hunter stuff isn't going away any time soon, and that becomes an accruing liability for the Biden campaign each and every day.

I still stand by my prediction this will lead to President Biden not seeking a 2nd term. We shall see.

FWIW Bill Clinton was easily re-elected in 1996 with Whitewater hanging over his head. Does anyone outside the Republican base care about this story?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

What makes you leap to that utterly bizarre conclusion that it was somehow about oil and gas reserves and that Burisma somehow didn't already have plenty of that expertise on their board?

Hunter Biden has a Yale law degree and had a long history and a lot of experience in international investment banking to include 10 years at MBNA Bank where he worked his way up from being an attorney to being an executive VP.

Burisma didn't need help with understanding oil and gas reserves. Burisma needed help with investments, banking, mergers and acquisitions, managing and structuring their portfolio including international efforts in Kazakhstan, Italy et cetera.

Hunter Biden had vastly more experience and qualifications to do that than Jared Kushner did to manage the $2 billion given to him by the Saudis. The only experience Kushner ever had was in real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

The answer to that depends on how much longer the DOJ will be stonewalling a proper and honest investigation. It's clear the Hunter stuff isn't going away any time soon, and that becomes an accruing liability for the Biden campaign each and every day.

I still stand by my prediction this will lead to President Biden not seeking a 2nd term. We shall see.

FWIW Bill Clinton was easily re-elected in 1996 with Whitewater hanging over his head. Does anyone outside the Republican base care about this story?

Bill Clinton was 50 years old and campaigning against a 73 year-old disabled man. Clinton crushed the debates. He was a popular president and I had no problem voting for him. Joe Biden doesn't have one tenth of Bill Clinton's personality, speaking ability or energy at this point. Without Trump as a candidate, he will lose.

I do think people outside the Republican base care about this story, especially now that some of the major networks are starting to discuss it a bit. For months, all we've heard was that this was a nothingburger and that's why yesterday was so shocking.

And why would you all be spending so much time on here defending the Biden's position if you weren't at least a little worried about it becoming a major liability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate boards. Still not a FARA violation.

Well apparently that is still being investigated. So we might just want to pump the brakes on the whole "Hunter did nothing wrong" sermonizing you're doing.

The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial was shorter. Criminy, how many more years of "investigation" are we in for?

The answer to that depends on how much longer the DOJ will be stonewalling a proper and honest investigation. It's clear the Hunter stuff isn't going away any time soon, and that becomes an accruing liability for the Biden campaign each and every day.

I still stand by my prediction this will lead to President Biden not seeking a 2nd term. We shall see.

FWIW Bill Clinton was easily re-elected in 1996 with Whitewater hanging over his head. Does anyone outside the Republican base care about this story?

Bill Clinton was 50 years old and campaigning against a 73 year-old disabled man. Clinton crushed the debates. He was a popular president and I had no problem voting for him. Joe Biden doesn't have one tenth of Bill Clinton's personality, speaking ability or energy at this point. Without Trump as a candidate, he will lose.

I do think people outside the Republican base care about this story, especially now that some of the major networks are starting to discuss it a bit. For months, all we've heard was that this was a nothingburger and that's why yesterday was so shocking.

And why would you all be spending so much time on here defending the Biden's position if you weren't at least a little worried about it becoming a major liability?

DP. I'm here "defending" the rule of law - or at least consistent law. None of this should have happened and the plea deal was suppose to fix the problem. The judge "saw through" the plea deal because the judge was operating in the world of normal law instead of silly (which is the word that we use to my kids as a substitute for stupid) law, which was where everything started. The "former federal prosecutor" upthread who is upset that proper plea deal procedures weren't followed doesn't seem to be upset that proper charging procedures weren't followed - and none of this should have gotten this far.

I don't really want to know anything about Hunter Biden. He is not the golden son - but families have black sheep too. That's all I want to know. Making up crimes to charge him with, because Ukraine didn't destroy Joe Biden's career when Trump tried to bully Zelensky, is ugly. And a lot of people should know better. And do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Exactly. Hunter was hired and paid millions because of his specialized knowledge of Ukrainian oil and gas reserves. His work history is littered with experience extracting valuable fossil fuels efficiently.

Why else would Burisma pay him millions?

He was asked to join the board because of his knowledge of American and specifically Delaware corporate law, where Burisma was incorporated. Are you suggesting that all Board members of all corporate entities have discrete knowledge of only the primary business of said corporation and not have other knowledge to contribute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a private company or citizen doing business overseas without FARA registration is a major crime then that means thousands and thousands of Americans and American companies are criminals.

If lying about whether you ever did drugs on your 4473 is a major felony then millions of gun owners are major felons.

If filing your taxes a few months late is a major crime requiring you go to prison then millions of Americans need to go to prison.

So... When are we going to prosecute the rest of America for these crimes, and if not, why not?

Do you know what FARA is about?

FARA is to identify yourself if you are and American working on influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Not for doing business with a foreign company.

Tell me what work Hunter did in influencing American public opinion, policy, and laws on behalf of a foreign government.

Look at decisions Joe made and influenced. Goes far beyond firing the prosecutor.

The Vice President does not make said decisions. And in this case, it was a global consensus including the GOP controlled Senate at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weiss is not incompetent. One has to wonder why he did this.......

Based on conversations with people who were in the courtroom today, and my experience as a former federal prosecutor, I think I know the full story of what happened with the Hunter Biden plea agreement blow-up this morning.

Bear with me, because this is a little complicated:

Typically, if the Government is offering to a defendant that it will either drop charges or decline to bring new charges in return for the defendant's guilty plea, the plea is structured under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(A). An agreement not to prosecute Hunter for FARA violations or other crimes in return for his pleading guilty to the tax misdemeanors, for example, would usually be a (c)(1)(A) plea. This is open, transparent, subject to judicial approval, etc.

In Hunter's case, according to what folks in the courtroom have told me, Hunter's plea was structured under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(B), which is usually just a plea in return for a joint sentencing recommendation only, and contained no information on its face about other potential charges, and contained no clear agreement by DOJ to forego prosecution of other charges.

Instead, DOJ and Hunter's lawyers effectively hid that part of the agreement in what was publicly described as a pretrial diversion agreement relating to a § 922(g)(3) gun charge against Hunter for being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

That pretrial diversion agreement as written was actually MUCH broader than just the gun charge. If Hunter were to complete probation, the pretrial diversion agreement prevented DOJ from ever bringing charges against Hunter for any crimes relating to the offense conduct discussed in the plea agreement, which was purposely written to include his foreign influence peddling operations in China and elsewhere.

So they put the facts in the plea agreement, but put their non-prosecution agreement in the pretrial diversion agreement, effectively hiding the full scope of what DOJ was offering and Hunter was obtaining through these proceedings. Hunter's upside from this deal was vast immunity from further prosecution if he finished a couple years of probation, and the public wouldn't be any the wiser because none of this was clearly stated on the face of the plea agreement, as would normally be the case.

Judge Noreika smelled a rat. She understood that the lawyers were trying to paint her into a corner and hide the ball. Instead, she backed DOJ and Hunter's lawyers into a corner by pulling all the details out into the open and then indicating that she wasn't going to approve a deal as broad as what she had discovered.

DOJ, attempting to save face and save its case, then stated on the record that the investigation into Hunter was ongoing and that Hunter remained susceptible to prosecution under FARA. Hunter's lawyers exploded. They clearly believed that FARA was covered under the deal, because as written, the pretrial diversion agreement language was broad enough to cover it. They blew up the deal, Hunter pled not guilty, and that's the current state of play.

And so here we are. Hunter's lawyers and DOJ are going to go off and try to pull together a new set of agreements, likely narrower, to satisfy Judge Noreika. Fortunately, I doubt if FARA or any charges related to Hunter's foreign influence peddling will be included, which leaves open the possibility of further investigations leading to further prosecutions.

I’m pretty sure that if that were true it would be front-page news, maybe internationally. So I don’t think you actually know what you’re talking about. Thank you, next!