It’s truly an extraordinary moment in our nation’s legal and political history: two prosecutions resulting in two guilty verdicts by separate juries, one against an ex-president, and another against a sitting president’s son.
I haven't been able to find any information about anyone else being convicted of this crime as a stand alone prosecution. And, while all the lawyers I follow say it's RARELY prosecuted, none of them have shown me a case. They all say THEY have never prosecuted such a case, but still say it's RARELY prosecuted. Show. Me. A. Case. Just one. Was Hunter Biden guilty, yes he was. Yet one of the members of the jury said this case was a waste of taxpayer dollars. Nothing more needs to be said.
People are regularly prosecuted for Trump’s type of crime, while Biden’s goes unnoticed when no crime is committed after gun purchases. None-the-less, each was found guilty of real crimes by a jury. To respect the justice system is to accept both decisions.
I agree, to some extent, but there are other factors I discuss that give me a bit of pause over the fundamental fairness of the Hunter Biden prosecution.
I’d love to see the Republican pursuit of Biden come back to haunt them when more illegal gun purchases are prosecuted. My complaint is not the prosecution of Biden but rather how other drug users buy guns so easily. They need to keep us safe by going after everyone doing this!
Biden appears to be the sacrificial lamb, the fall guy. "The right makes such a big deal about Hunter Biden & his laptop. We'd better charge him on something."
The Biden verdict FEELS wrong because all too many of us know people who have lied on their gun applications and gotten away with it - especially in a small rural town where everyone knows that Big Daddy has a serious alcohol /addiction problem but he needs that gun to prove his manhood. We just had 3 people shot and killed by an ex-mayor of Centerville, SD, with just that problem.
I was sad and angry when I heard the Hunter verdict. And proud when I heard President Biden's response. And very touched by the photo of him hugging his son.
Something so sorrowful as addiction in a family must be met respectfully and with compassion.
The Biden family is showing those of us who have also lost loved ones to addiction are not alone. We are the many.
No matter what family members or don't do, be kind to yourselves. It is possible to rework pain, shame, loss, and regret in such a way as to make us more deeply human. That's what adaptive grieving is about.
Kindness towards ourselves and others is an essential element on the path towards healing. As is the intention to seek peace within ourselves.
Kindness, intention, and community will take us a long long way.
Well, maybe if SCOTUS rules in *Rahimi* that 2nd A rights extend to even wife-beaters coz no such laws were on the books in 18th Century America, Hunter Biden gets a good shot at having his conviction overturned on appeal, as nothing in this country's "history or tradition" barred junkies from owning weapons, now did it?
This scenario is a very real possibility, one that I hope will not happen. To me, the guilty verdict was predictable. The justice or injustice of it will be seen in the sentencing decision by the Trump appointed judge. If HB gets probation and community service, that’s fair. He will have a criminal record, which he earned.
For Trump, whose atrocious behavior in the courtroom and lack of remorse have to be addressed, and the fact that his employees have done time for acting on his behalf, a minimum of 2 years in club fed seems correct.
Good point. I guess I’m frustrated in how easy it is to get guns. Anyone who buys a gun by illegal means should be arrested. The jury found him guilty while others go free. I’d like to see the police go after the others.
Hey look! We can enforce gun laws! “All it took was the president’s son, but for the first time ever, Republicans held a gun owner accountable.” Jordan Klepper
Both sides don’t trust the judiciary. That is a very serious problem. The Republicans don’t trust the courts that hold Donald to account. The Democrats don’t trust SCOTUS and Judge Cannon.
Over and over I read who appointed a judge, sometimes to build mistrust of their rulings and other times to affirm how unbiased their ruling was if they went against the persons who a appointed them.
The judiciary is on trial without any courts to weigh in. It is very worrisome that it is in the hands of the voters (if that is true) because the voters are generally uninformed citizens.
I know. Meanwhile the Republicans are working harder to destroy faith in the system and to demonize judges, prosecutors, etc. but I don’t need to tell you that.
Blame The Federalist Society and its relentless pursuit of ideological purity in the service of the Oligarchy.
Remember Obama wanted Garland, an institutionalist many Democrats believe has been too timid in pursuing J6 transgressors. On the other side you have a Party whose mantra is “No more David Souters”.
I understand I could get it for free. But I don’t. I subscribe. I feel it’s my responsibility to subscribe and to support all the work writers do to provide quality content. So I don’t want to not get that quality content from the Substack I subscribed to and instead be referred to another Substack that is also soliciting a separate subscription. Why not just provide the same content on both Substacks if the point is to get the message out as broadly as possible?
Thank you for so clearly pointing out the hypocrisy of the right regarding these prosecutions and verdicts. I wish more people were paying attention so they could understand the double speak and vote these self serving liars out of office.
Both verdicts were correct, but neither case should have gone to trial. The decision to pull Biden's plea deal was clearly due to political pressure; that kind of thing simply doesn't happen otherwise. Trump, on the other hand, made no attempt to make a plea deal and turned what should have been a simple matter into a full-blown circus.
I'm not a lawyer, but shouldn't Trump have been able to arrange a plea deal at some point? Maybe even for misdemeanors if done early enough in the process?
Except that he does not admit to any wrongdoing and does not take responsibility for his bad acts, so it was predictable that he would never accept a plea deal.
Yes, the option was legally available, but it's not in his nature to admit culpability. So, yes, the consequences are on him, but that will not change his attacks on the justice system because that is also in his nature. He will complain and attack and complain some more, railing that he is a "victim" rather than the guilty person we know him to be.
What is wrong and unjust will come out in the sentencing. Hunter DID violate the statute and though it clearly was selective prosecution, that mostly lets us all point out to GOPers being prosecuted that at least this DOJ is an equal opportunity selective prosecution force. Not that Bragg's case was particularly selective.
Harsh SENTENCING of Hunter as a first time offender with no other crime attached to the failure to check the box will bring this way past vibes. I pretty much doubt that either case will get more than probation. For selective reasons, no doubt, but I do think that dwelling on Hunter by the left is no more productive than dwelling on him by the right.
What's more interesting is the possible result of the Extremes future rulings on gun laws on any appeal Hunter might make.
Hunter Biden is a poster child for stricter and more comprehensive gun laws. Donald Trump is a poster child for stricter and more comprehensive laws in general!
The ultimate gaslighting over Hunter's trial continues: now they are saying that prosecuting Hunter was somehow a fraud ... just so that Biden could claim he wasn't putting his finger on the scale of justice! Are Rs that cruel, that they can imagine a man throwing his own son under the DOJ bus for his own political ends? Why yes indeed! Trump would sell his own family down the river in a heartbeat.
The irony to me is just how many chronically addicted alcoholics purchase and own guns in this country.
And the right fights for their right to own a gun until the individual is Hunter Biden.
I haven't been able to find any information about anyone else being convicted of this crime as a stand alone prosecution. And, while all the lawyers I follow say it's RARELY prosecuted, none of them have shown me a case. They all say THEY have never prosecuted such a case, but still say it's RARELY prosecuted. Show. Me. A. Case. Just one. Was Hunter Biden guilty, yes he was. Yet one of the members of the jury said this case was a waste of taxpayer dollars. Nothing more needs to be said.
I am not aware of any prosecuted on its own. It’s against DoJ policy to do so.
GMA legal reporter said there are none.
Doesn't surprise me.
People are regularly prosecuted for Trump’s type of crime, while Biden’s goes unnoticed when no crime is committed after gun purchases. None-the-less, each was found guilty of real crimes by a jury. To respect the justice system is to accept both decisions.
I agree, to some extent, but there are other factors I discuss that give me a bit of pause over the fundamental fairness of the Hunter Biden prosecution.
I’d love to see the Republican pursuit of Biden come back to haunt them when more illegal gun purchases are prosecuted. My complaint is not the prosecution of Biden but rather how other drug users buy guns so easily. They need to keep us safe by going after everyone doing this!
And it’s one more drum we need to bang.
Biden appears to be the sacrificial lamb, the fall guy. "The right makes such a big deal about Hunter Biden & his laptop. We'd better charge him on something."
The Biden verdict FEELS wrong because all too many of us know people who have lied on their gun applications and gotten away with it - especially in a small rural town where everyone knows that Big Daddy has a serious alcohol /addiction problem but he needs that gun to prove his manhood. We just had 3 people shot and killed by an ex-mayor of Centerville, SD, with just that problem.
I lay out my thoughts in today’s piece about why if *feels* wrong in Hunter Biden’s case. It goes beyond sympathizing with his addiction.
I was sad and angry when I heard the Hunter verdict. And proud when I heard President Biden's response. And very touched by the photo of him hugging his son.
Something so sorrowful as addiction in a family must be met respectfully and with compassion.
The Biden family is showing those of us who have also lost loved ones to addiction are not alone. We are the many.
No matter what family members or don't do, be kind to yourselves. It is possible to rework pain, shame, loss, and regret in such a way as to make us more deeply human. That's what adaptive grieving is about.
Kindness towards ourselves and others is an essential element on the path towards healing. As is the intention to seek peace within ourselves.
Kindness, intention, and community will take us a long long way.
Hopefully, this trial will come back to bite conservatives when more of them are tried and convicted for illegal gun purchases.
Well, maybe if SCOTUS rules in *Rahimi* that 2nd A rights extend to even wife-beaters coz no such laws were on the books in 18th Century America, Hunter Biden gets a good shot at having his conviction overturned on appeal, as nothing in this country's "history or tradition" barred junkies from owning weapons, now did it?
The Fifth Circuit has ironically called into question the law. We’ll see what happens.
This scenario is a very real possibility, one that I hope will not happen. To me, the guilty verdict was predictable. The justice or injustice of it will be seen in the sentencing decision by the Trump appointed judge. If HB gets probation and community service, that’s fair. He will have a criminal record, which he earned.
For Trump, whose atrocious behavior in the courtroom and lack of remorse have to be addressed, and the fact that his employees have done time for acting on his behalf, a minimum of 2 years in club fed seems correct.
One was a prosecution and the other was a persecution…
I’m not going to go there. It sounds too Trump-like. Hunter broke the law. If he’s given a harsh sentence, we can say this. Until that time, I won’t.
Don’t know why not. The Biden deal was on the table. Even the jurors said it was a waste of time. Except the republicans are a bunch of whiners.
Good point. I guess I’m frustrated in how easy it is to get guns. Anyone who buys a gun by illegal means should be arrested. The jury found him guilty while others go free. I’d like to see the police go after the others.
Hey look! We can enforce gun laws! “All it took was the president’s son, but for the first time ever, Republicans held a gun owner accountable.” Jordan Klepper
Both sides don’t trust the judiciary. That is a very serious problem. The Republicans don’t trust the courts that hold Donald to account. The Democrats don’t trust SCOTUS and Judge Cannon.
Over and over I read who appointed a judge, sometimes to build mistrust of their rulings and other times to affirm how unbiased their ruling was if they went against the persons who a appointed them.
The judiciary is on trial without any courts to weigh in. It is very worrisome that it is in the hands of the voters (if that is true) because the voters are generally uninformed citizens.
Democrats are working hard to keep faith in the judiciary, at least at the non-supreme court level.
I know. Meanwhile the Republicans are working harder to destroy faith in the system and to demonize judges, prosecutors, etc. but I don’t need to tell you that.
Thank you for your work!
Blame The Federalist Society and its relentless pursuit of ideological purity in the service of the Oligarchy.
Remember Obama wanted Garland, an institutionalist many Democrats believe has been too timid in pursuing J6 transgressors. On the other side you have a Party whose mantra is “No more David Souters”.
I understand I could get it for free. But I don’t. I subscribe. I feel it’s my responsibility to subscribe and to support all the work writers do to provide quality content. So I don’t want to not get that quality content from the Substack I subscribed to and instead be referred to another Substack that is also soliciting a separate subscription. Why not just provide the same content on both Substacks if the point is to get the message out as broadly as possible?
Thank you for so clearly pointing out the hypocrisy of the right regarding these prosecutions and verdicts. I wish more people were paying attention so they could understand the double speak and vote these self serving liars out of office.
donald was prosecuted. Hunter was persecuted. That’s the difference.
Both verdicts were correct, but neither case should have gone to trial. The decision to pull Biden's plea deal was clearly due to political pressure; that kind of thing simply doesn't happen otherwise. Trump, on the other hand, made no attempt to make a plea deal and turned what should have been a simple matter into a full-blown circus.
I disagree about whether Trump’s case should have gone to trial. It was a serious crime for which DA Bragg was well within his rights to prosecute.
Jay, I think Kevin is saying both defendants should have plea bargained, not that Bragg was wrong to charge.
I'm not a lawyer, but shouldn't Trump have been able to arrange a plea deal at some point? Maybe even for misdemeanors if done early enough in the process?
Agreeing to a plea deal doesn't get much in the way of contributions?
Except that he does not admit to any wrongdoing and does not take responsibility for his bad acts, so it was predictable that he would never accept a plea deal.
True. But if the option was legally available any consequences from him refusing to take advantage of it are on his head.
Yes, the option was legally available, but it's not in his nature to admit culpability. So, yes, the consequences are on him, but that will not change his attacks on the justice system because that is also in his nature. He will complain and attack and complain some more, railing that he is a "victim" rather than the guilty person we know him to be.
Why? because it works with his base.
What is wrong and unjust will come out in the sentencing. Hunter DID violate the statute and though it clearly was selective prosecution, that mostly lets us all point out to GOPers being prosecuted that at least this DOJ is an equal opportunity selective prosecution force. Not that Bragg's case was particularly selective.
Harsh SENTENCING of Hunter as a first time offender with no other crime attached to the failure to check the box will bring this way past vibes. I pretty much doubt that either case will get more than probation. For selective reasons, no doubt, but I do think that dwelling on Hunter by the left is no more productive than dwelling on him by the right.
What's more interesting is the possible result of the Extremes future rulings on gun laws on any appeal Hunter might make.
Hunter Biden is a poster child for stricter and more comprehensive gun laws. Donald Trump is a poster child for stricter and more comprehensive laws in general!
The ultimate gaslighting over Hunter's trial continues: now they are saying that prosecuting Hunter was somehow a fraud ... just so that Biden could claim he wasn't putting his finger on the scale of justice! Are Rs that cruel, that they can imagine a man throwing his own son under the DOJ bus for his own political ends? Why yes indeed! Trump would sell his own family down the river in a heartbeat.
So how do I subscribe to the big picture? Is that a separate listing on Substack?