"the actual story is the very opposite of nepotism: Hunter Biden was treated worse than an ordinary citizen because of his family connections" From @kristygreenberg.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc... - ThreadSky

anneapplebaum.bsky.social • 175 days ago

"the actual story is the very opposite of nepotism: Hunter Biden was treated worse than an ordinary citizen because of his family connections"

From @kristygreenberg.bsky.social

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/12/hunter-biden-pardon-defense/680899/

Comments

mariallivia.bsky.social•175 days ago

Rabid dogs with a bone.

pcsherry.bsky.social•175 days ago

With clear threats to be even worse.

bobmlhs.bsky.social•175 days ago

All this tsk-tsking by DC Media is ridiculous. Hunter was never part of the Administration nor the government and was prosecuted and subject to ridicule because of his name not because of crimes. Also he did not escape prosecution - he paid the taxes and penalties he owed. Jared escaped however

davidcavlovic.bsky.social•175 days ago

As clear as day.

hamaloa.bsky.social•175 days ago

So heartbreakingly true!

bolsadegas.bsky.social•174 days ago

Hunter was found guilty by a jury and should do his time. And there are no doubt thousands of other addicted gun owners out there who lied on their background investigation forms. Why aren't we going after them?

sebastian2.bsky.social•175 days ago

I mean, it's not as if Hunter Biden had an office in the West Wing without security vetting, unlike two others I could mention...

mikely77.bsky.social•175 days ago

SO misunderstood

etotheipiadd1.bsky.social•175 days ago

Yes, he was persecuted because of who his father was, but that raises the question as to why this wasn't stopped earlier.
Leaving it to the point that he had to pardon him, after saying he wouldn't do it because it would be wrong, that's what causes the problem here, in my opinion.

vompis.bsky.social•175 days ago

Trump (and Murdoch) in a nutshell

russnyc.bsky.social•175 days ago

Hunter pardon was long overdue.

Joe could have handled messaging differently

davidjohnurban.bsky.social•175 days ago

Thank you for this Anne. It is so maddening to read and listen to all the hand wringing from supposed anti-MAGA about Joe protecting his son. Joe did the right thing but must move fast to protect others from MAGA.

imikepro.bsky.social•175 days ago

I mean, I'm not sure about that... I think nepotism is an issue on both sides, and objectively Hunter had it much much easier than someone born into poverty. Clearly nepotism is Weaponized by the right when it's convenient for them, but we should all take issue with it.

imikepro.bsky.social•175 days ago

If Hunter was a poor man, if Hunter was a member of a marginalized community, he would be in prison without a doubt. And you would not know anything about it or care about fate... between 1.2 and 1.9 mil Americans are jailed for nonviolent crimes... we should talk about that more...

aaricka34.bsky.social•173 days ago

There is some truth that a person from a marginalized community would be more likely to be charged. But it's rare for someone to be charged for taxed fraud when they have paid the taxes and penalties, no matter who they are. And they only knew about the gun thing because he wrote a book. 🤷‍♂️

design3.bsky.social•175 days ago

Don Trump Jr. stole millions in his and Bannon's rip-off Wall SCAM

nothing happened

no prosecution

Nada por Nada

grrrrrrrrrrrr

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

I find it remarkable when Ivanka went to China during her dad's presidency and bought voting machines and coffins

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

Sadly if his name was anything other than Biden nobody would have cared and he never would have been in jail in the first place

eptiliom.bsky.social•175 days ago

And if he hadn't been such a degenerate, no one would have cared that he was a Biden. Hunter Biden boring ass accountant doesnt get treated this way now does he?

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

My point is if he wasn't the president's son he would have completely flown under the radar and never been jailed in the first place he paid off his dues he went to court and they agreed it was done and then they came back and threw the book at him

eptiliom.bsky.social•175 days ago

I got your point. You are also completely ignoring that Hunter is a massive POS. There are two sides to this coin. It is just as much Hunters fault for dragging his father into this as it is the people who took advantage of it.

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

You do know Hunter never worked one day in the White House well Ivanka was buying voting machines and coffins from China while in the White House and everybody looks the other way

eptiliom.bsky.social•175 days ago

What on earth does that have to do with a selfish spoiled brat of a man dragging his father and family through the mud?

techwitch.bsky.social•175 days ago

Are you seriously blaming him for having a substance abuse disorder? What is wrong with you?

eptiliom.bsky.social•175 days ago

Who is to blame then? I thought the first step was admitting that YOU have a problem.

techwitch.bsky.social•175 days ago

“And if he hadn't been such a degenerate…”. 👈. That’s blaming.

Are you now admitting you have a problem?

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

Quite frankly he's a private citizen and it's none of your business what he's doing with his life or the tragedies that he's endured throughout his entire life

eptiliom.bsky.social•175 days ago

If it wasn't him then who on earth was it exactly?

thomaserb.bsky.social•175 days ago

without his father's connections doubt he would have gotten into an Ivy league college - and more likely than not would have become a slip and fall attorney in Florida.

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

All of you people do realize that Hunter Biden never worked in the White House he was a private citizen 100% unlike the Trump children that walked away with hundreds of millions from the White House are you kidding me people Jesus

thomaserb.bsky.social•175 days ago

Hunter brought nothing to his clients except access to the VP. Don Jr. has done the same thing.

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

And never mind Ivanka was in the White House and made 360 million dollars plus she bought voting machines and coffins from China

thomaserb.bsky.social•175 days ago

she didn't commit any felonies.

but if she did - she could expect to be held to a higher standard

rasalvatore.bsky.social•175 days ago

Please let the access granted. There wasn’t any that has come to light.

Hunter was doing the same unethical crap that is rampant in Washington, and will be open season under Trump (whose advisor was literally selling pardons).

444sooz.bsky.social•175 days ago

Hunter didn't go to China like Ivanka went when her dad was in the White House and bought voting machines and coffins oh it's exactly the same give me a break

jazzpilot.bsky.social•175 days ago

The same could be said for GW Bush and Jared Kushner, for starters... legacy coattails are a thing.

jnavas.com•175 days ago

With respect:
Judge in Hunter Biden tax case calls president's pardon statement an attempt to 'rewrite history'
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi said the president's characterization of the charges "stand in tension with the case record."
1/5
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/judge-hunter-biden-case-calls-presidents-pardon-statement-attempt-rewr-rcna182825

jnavas.com•175 days ago

"Some are asking whether Biden’s pardon of his rotten son, however, may have a larger motive than sparing Hunter the indignities of imprisonment. This lies in the pardon’s unusually long scope, which covers anything Hunter may have done over the past decade."
2/5
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2024/12/03/did-joe-biden-pardon-hunter-in-order-to-protect-himself/

jnavas.com•175 days ago

Far from being about protecting Hunter Biden from a 60-day stint for tax evasion, president’s categorial pardon proved that he needed to exercise unparalleled power to protect himself from future investigations related to Biden family business.
3/5
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3246851/hunter-pardon-is-biden-crime-family-admission-guilt/

jnavas.com•175 days ago

David Weiss, who was appointed special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2023, wrote in a court filing Monday, “There was none and never has been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case.”
4/5
https://www.mediaite.com/biden/hunter-biden-special-counsel-shreds-presidents-suggestion-his-sons-prosecution-was-vindictive-or-selective/

jnavas.com•175 days ago

"It is a pardon that, at least in theory, could shield President Biden himself from scrutiny. Recall that there’s a whole trail of emails from the younger Biden in which he appears to be influence peddling using his family name..."
That's the likely point.
5/5
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-situation--please-don-t-defend-this-pardon

mcvillaseca.bsky.social•175 days ago

Exactly!

stlmagnolia.bsky.social•175 days ago

Absolutely no question that Hunter was the victim of a very focused 'witch hunt'. They would have continued. Just like they will go after the orange thing's 'enemies' once it is in office.
I predict an administration of unprecedented corruption, unfair prosecution, elevated violence and cruelty.

chicago21222.bsky.social•175 days ago

It’s despicable.

joe0x7f.bsky.social•175 days ago

💯

wildgoose47.bsky.social•175 days ago

Agree 👍

jeanmoulin4ever.bsky.social•175 days ago

sociaguy4110.bsky.social•175 days ago

Great story, Anne. Not only was he treated worse than most citizens, but there has been a hint of political wrangling. The incoming administration would have attacked him the same way they attacked Michael Cohn. There would be no rest until they broke him, financially and emotionally.

sociaguy4110.bsky.social•175 days ago

On another look at Hunter, what did he do wrong? His use of his father's name is the same as Jared, Ivankas, and Trump's. But it is no good for thee but is okay for me.

noovella.com•175 days ago

100%. I was surprised so many at The Atlantic, which I’m a big fan of and subscriber, didn’t see this

hallsofshambala.bsky.social•175 days ago

💯

idoamir.bsky.social•175 days ago

Joe Biden kept David Weiss, a Trump appointee, as his own son's prosecutor. A truly dumb decision.

This was going to end badly.

👉"Trusting institutions" IS NOT a value👈

AND we can't elect people who think it is.

Because then we also get AG Garland: The #1 person responsible for Trump's 2nd term.

idoamir.bsky.social•175 days ago

Joe Biden's blind belief in institutions is DISASTROUS.
1. Merrick Garland as AG has been a life boat for Trump & America will soon pay a heavy price.
2. Trusting Trump's prosecutor has exposed his own son to persecution.
Joe said he's running for POTUS to fight evil, then left the door wide open.

aaricka34.bsky.social•173 days ago

The pardon does not mean he did nothing wrong. It spares him the jeopardy of being in federal prison when people who have vowed to cause him harm are in charge of the system. Although Hunter has done nothing to That Man, they want to cause him physical harm.

ratingbook.bsky.social•175 days ago

He saved his son, and left open the same method of highly targeted prosecution of firearms and drug laws for everyone else. When Trump's troops begin arresting those who oppose his tyrannical reign, they will use a cross reference of gun ownership and cannabis consumption to "legally" disarm them.

bxlthor.bsky.social•175 days ago

there was a time that elites were expected to live up to a higher standard. The fact that this is completely lost is a big part of the modern malaise. Time to bring it back.

dberl.bsky.social•175 days ago

And more to come starting Jan 20

imesoamericano.bsky.social•175 days ago

Hunter is saint compared to Trump, Musk, Theil and all the others competing for real estate in hell…

camofarc.bsky.social•175 days ago

Thank you, Kristy!

durrablegoods.bsky.social•175 days ago

Disagree: Chait and Nichols have it right.

cekb.bsky.social•175 days ago

Yes he was, and they never connected anything to the president. They are still trying.

shirlsurely.bsky.social•175 days ago

Exactly. ALL this attention surrounding a warranted Pardon, while the Media & MAGAs are ignoring all the positions Trump is trying to fill with dangerously insane choices & incomplete vetting. This is how the US got here in the first place! The Media has played a large part in this nightmare.

drewandnot.bsky.social•174 days ago

Poor thing.

captmandrake.bsky.social•175 days ago

Ja, sort of. Without his father's name there is no way a crackhead would be invited to sit on so many boards and participate in investment projects. And, I say that as a recovering crackhead.

specialsocialop.bsky.social•175 days ago

This reminds me of my friend who was the son of the principal of our school. He would be punished more harshly than other students because teachers didn't like the principal. Meanwhile everyone thought he was lucky to be the principals son.

suzitabonita.bsky.social•175 days ago

Agreed. While so many never Trumpers went to the fainting couch about the pardon harming norms, they forgot the most basic of norms - leave the wife and kids out of it.

communitycafe.bsky.social•175 days ago

🤍

decodingtrolls.net•175 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/decodingtrolls.net/post/3lccm7buoxx2r

jmadams.bsky.social•175 days ago

Could not agree more - Why is the media so blind to this fact? The Atlantic and CNN are characterizing the "Pardon" as the crime of the century.

That's the kind of gross coverage inequality that shaped the election.

drlozynskyi.bsky.social•175 days ago

With all due respect... The level of antagonising the opponents in the USA is fearsome. The tools used to fight each other are long ago out of the rules. Do you understand what does it means for the democracy, not only in the US, but the whole world? China+Russia+Iran+N.Korea alliance is ready.

goaskalis.bsky.social•174 days ago

He was targeted just like what we didn't do to Jared Kushner

prairiehouse.bsky.social•175 days ago

I think a lot of legal experts have said as much. The more interesting story is, why are people like Klobuchar on the moaning about this circuit? Another is, why are migrants who've been here contributing for decades not granted amnesty to prevent another crime against humanity?

norm323.bsky.social•175 days ago

Absolutely correct!

ritapassal.bsky.social•175 days ago

They were trying to break the son to then try to break the father knowing the son had an addiction hoping he would go off the rails again I think of that as the worst part of it all.

peter-lustig.bsky.social•175 days ago

Not very convincing. Donald Trump also claims that the is not treated fairly - everybody will claim that.

sallyny.bsky.social•175 days ago

Thanks Anne. I love your own work and also the pieces you recommend. There's a paywall here; I cannot pay for as much as I'd like but seems like I do indeed need to subscribe to the Atlantic

always1blue.bsky.social•175 days ago

Absolutely he did!!

forang59.bsky.social•175 days ago

I remember when trump blackmailed the President of Ukraine for dirt on the Biden's.

thomaserb.bsky.social•175 days ago

I generally agree with you, but not this time. Hunter leveraged his father's political position to earn millions and then complains when his father's political opponents target him due to that very connection.

hpfltaurus.bsky.social•174 days ago

No kidding.

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