Judge Tanya Chutkan and ex-president Donald Trump. Photos courtesy of MSBNC. Multiple stories in the news right now are political with legal ramifications, or legal with political ramifications. So for this Friday, let’s play a Political/Legal (or Legal/Political) Lightning Round: Set your timers…and go!
Re: Judge Shutkan: SC Smith and his team did a quite marvelous effort in opposing the recusal motion by citing the sentencing of multiple Jan6 defendants who invoked the "He made me do it!" pleas, and Judge Shutkan's very reasonable comments about "highers-up" who promoted the violence in line with defendants' claims.
Re: Hunter Biden: The recent decision by the 5th CA, Daniels v United States, could bear heavily on the Biden case, as a three-judge panel vacated the conviction of Patrick Daniels on firearms possession by a drug user by citing the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, which greatly broadened 2nd Amendment protection for gun possession. Daniels was charged under circumstances nearly identical to those of Hunter Biden, and in fact in another case, Rahimi v United States, where a person convicted of domestic violence was later found guilty in federal court of illegal firearms possession based upon the earlier verdict, the 5th CA also threw out the possession charge, citing Bruen. Both appellate decisions are headed to SCOTUS to test the expansive limits of Bruen, but there is a decent chance that the Biden charge might be tossed, if there is a motion to dismiss at the time of Hunter Biden's arraignment.
All those Repubs who hold to the "sacredness" of the 2nd Amendment may be disappointed to find that a political target of theirs could successfully beat a charge by invoking that self-same Amendment.
Trump claims ELECTION INTERFERENCE!! for "Biden’s DoJ weaponization" against his alleged wrongdoings, which are, (checks notes,) in fact well documented.
Trump also claims the "Biden Crime Family's" corrupt actions, which are, (checks notes,) literally non-existant, justify opening an impeachment inquiry.
Thank you. I've been waiting all day for the NRA to come to Hunter's defense. After all, he's the epitome of what they want. A white guy who can get a gun whenever he wants, no matter what. Jeez. The media, on the other hand can't get enough of this. They're practically drooling when the report that the son of the President of the United States has been indicted on gun charges. This is a first... Ugh. Sadly, we should be talking about Ivanka and Jared along with cokehead Jr and all the weapons he loves showing off, mostly by killing defenseless animals, being charged with something, but on and on they ramble about Hunter and his father's age. Oy.
Jay, can you point to a time when this gun charge has EVER been adjudicated in court as a stand alone charge?
It will be fun to see the heads of the MAGA cult explode if he gets off because of the case in federal court. I think he will get off anyway, it's clear he would not have been prosecuted for his taxes or the gun charge if his last name wasn't Biden.
If accomplishing recusal of a judge is so difficult, does that mean getting Judge Cannon off the documents case will be difficult, or more or less impossible? Or is Smith waiting because he expects her to say or do something so egregious it will be a slam-dunk?
I do think that, selective as the indictment of Hunter may be, what it does NOT include any charges that his business dealings were illegal--much less that President Biden was involved. Gaetz is going on about all the evidence--the laptop, the bank records, etc etc. But Weiss HAD all that, ever since the trump years. And clearly doesn't consider it to be evidence worthy of prosecuting.
Gaetz, in turn, hasn't even SEEN the actual laptop or what might be on it. And the bank records Comer found turned out to be a nothingburger.
Once again, *rump proves that while he may have the *right* to remain silent, he totally lacks the ability.
“People think you have to go through a ritual. You don’t — at least in my opinion, you don’t.”
I mean, who would know more about the classification process than a game show host? That’s definitely the opinion I trust.
Re: Judge Shutkan: SC Smith and his team did a quite marvelous effort in opposing the recusal motion by citing the sentencing of multiple Jan6 defendants who invoked the "He made me do it!" pleas, and Judge Shutkan's very reasonable comments about "highers-up" who promoted the violence in line with defendants' claims.
Re: Hunter Biden: The recent decision by the 5th CA, Daniels v United States, could bear heavily on the Biden case, as a three-judge panel vacated the conviction of Patrick Daniels on firearms possession by a drug user by citing the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, which greatly broadened 2nd Amendment protection for gun possession. Daniels was charged under circumstances nearly identical to those of Hunter Biden, and in fact in another case, Rahimi v United States, where a person convicted of domestic violence was later found guilty in federal court of illegal firearms possession based upon the earlier verdict, the 5th CA also threw out the possession charge, citing Bruen. Both appellate decisions are headed to SCOTUS to test the expansive limits of Bruen, but there is a decent chance that the Biden charge might be tossed, if there is a motion to dismiss at the time of Hunter Biden's arraignment.
All those Repubs who hold to the "sacredness" of the 2nd Amendment may be disappointed to find that a political target of theirs could successfully beat a charge by invoking that self-same Amendment.
Another gem from that interview, thanks to Jim Wright for picking it up.
"In an interview with Megyn Kelly today on Kelly's podcast, Donald Trump said he didn't know who gave Dr. Anthony Fauci a presidential commendation.
He did.
It was him."
HUNTER BIDEN IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!
He was and always will be an idiot. He uses magical thinking like a child, which is what he is
Trump claims ELECTION INTERFERENCE!! for "Biden’s DoJ weaponization" against his alleged wrongdoings, which are, (checks notes,) in fact well documented.
Trump also claims the "Biden Crime Family's" corrupt actions, which are, (checks notes,) literally non-existant, justify opening an impeachment inquiry.
Who is truly engaged in Election Interference??
Ding!
How people still support this man is beyond my comprehension!
My God. To think this egotistical maniac at one time had the nuclear codes. 🤦♀️. “A ritual”. JFC!!!
the hypocrisy of the pro gun GOP pushing for gun charges. But hypocrisy is their specialty
Trump's lawyers really should know better than ask him to sit quietly. Not going to happen. I mean.... have they MET the guy?
Thank you. I've been waiting all day for the NRA to come to Hunter's defense. After all, he's the epitome of what they want. A white guy who can get a gun whenever he wants, no matter what. Jeez. The media, on the other hand can't get enough of this. They're practically drooling when the report that the son of the President of the United States has been indicted on gun charges. This is a first... Ugh. Sadly, we should be talking about Ivanka and Jared along with cokehead Jr and all the weapons he loves showing off, mostly by killing defenseless animals, being charged with something, but on and on they ramble about Hunter and his father's age. Oy.
Jay, can you point to a time when this gun charge has EVER been adjudicated in court as a stand alone charge?
It will be fun to see the heads of the MAGA cult explode if he gets off because of the case in federal court. I think he will get off anyway, it's clear he would not have been prosecuted for his taxes or the gun charge if his last name wasn't Biden.
Thanks Jay! Let’s play again soon.😁
If accomplishing recusal of a judge is so difficult, does that mean getting Judge Cannon off the documents case will be difficult, or more or less impossible? Or is Smith waiting because he expects her to say or do something so egregious it will be a slam-dunk?
I do think that, selective as the indictment of Hunter may be, what it does NOT include any charges that his business dealings were illegal--much less that President Biden was involved. Gaetz is going on about all the evidence--the laptop, the bank records, etc etc. But Weiss HAD all that, ever since the trump years. And clearly doesn't consider it to be evidence worthy of prosecuting.
Gaetz, in turn, hasn't even SEEN the actual laptop or what might be on it. And the bank records Comer found turned out to be a nothingburger.