What do “Lock Him Up!” chants, social media, and some suspicious emails have in common? They are all part of a purported “October Surprise” intended to boost the President’s re-election chances. The story is about the “smoking gun” emails allegedly found on a laptop that implicate Joe Biden in criminal partnership with his son Hunter involving the Burisma board of directors and China.
The heart of the scandal is that Hunter, with the help of his father, sold access to Joe Biden in exchange for significant amounts of money. If true, the alleged activities would be felonious.
Facebook and Twitter took down the stories, which are not yet verified. Trump and Republicans have since attacked the two social media giants for doing so. Republicans accuse the companies of bias in favor of Biden, a perception supported by some Facebook executives joining the Biden team.
The dramatic content of the alleged emails–direct contradictions of the former Vice President’s claim he knew nothing about his son’s business activities–qualifies the story as an “October Surprise.” The President enthusiastically welcomed the New York Post coverage. At a Las Vegas campaign rally, he referred to Biden’s family as “a criminal enterprise.” This prompted the crowd to start a “Lock Him Up!” chant. Trump himself joined in, obviously enjoying this moment.
How the New York Post Got the Emails
The Post claims incriminating emails were extracted from a MacBook Pro computer that was dropped off at a repair shop in 2019 but never picked up. Because the emails include messages sent to and from Hunter Biden, the assumption is that the laptop (hard drive) was his. The memory also held photos of the Biden family.
Through his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani obtained the emails and shared them with the Post. Steve Bannon, a former Trump aide now under indictment for fraud, was also cited as a source by the Post. CBS News reports the repair shop owner is “unwilling and unable” to provide details on who dropped off the laptop for repair and other information that might support the emails’ authenticity.
The FBI is now investigating the emails. Several major news organizations, including NPR, have also raised questions of authenticity. A Biden campaign spokesman has said that a 2015 meeting detailed in the emails did not take place.
The New York Times reports that there was dissension in the New York Post newsroom relating to the decision to publish the piece. One reporter who worked on the piece declined to put his name on it due to his doubts.
Trump Jumps onto the Story
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the email scandal is how quickly President Trump moved to incorporate it into his campaign message. Since the news broke, he has tweeted dozens of times about Facebook and Twitter’s decision to remove the story. Here’s one example:
So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. . ..
Then There is the Chant, “Lock Him Up!”
Trump is calling the Biden story the “second biggest” case of political corruption in history. That may be an exaggeration, but his supporters are agreeing. Attendees at Trump’s recent Las Vegas rally did the chant, just like those in Detroit called for the jailing of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. (Whitmer’s crime is shutting down the State to curtail the virus—the same crime that almost got her kidnapped).
Trump has also called for former President Obama to be jailed, in this case for allegedly spying on his 2016 campaign. The President is also resurrecting Hillary Clinton and her alleged crimes in his rallies.
Is Trump Asking for Trouble in Calling for the Jailing of Politicians?
One aspect of the Trump focus on the alleged Biden scandal is curious. Trump himself may face criminal investigations and prosecutions once he leaves office. Have you read the New York Times reporting on the President’s taxes (non-payment)?
Is it smart for Trump to focus on prosecution of elected officials?
The Bottom Line
As of today, doubts continue to rise regarding the authenticity of the emails. Major news outlets, including the Washington Post and NPR are not convinced. Hopefully, the FBI will decide and, if the emails are fakes, find out who produced them and why.
None of this is likely to make a difference to President Trump as he enters the home stretch of a campaign he appears to be losing. Vilifying Hillary Clinton over emails contributed to his surprise victory in 2016. Will a similar tactic work in 2020?
Not if everyone gets out to vote.
It’s time for the circus to end.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. For more than 30 years, he advised clients on federal education and social service policy.
Michael Melloy says
So many willful mis-statement of facts.
“Facebook and Twitter took down the stories, which are not yet verified.” False. The FBI confirms they have Hunter Biden’s MacBook in their possession.
On Tuesday 13 October, the night before the New York Post ran the first stories, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, George Mesires, called the owner of the Mac Shop and demanded that John Isaac, the owner of the Mac Shop, return Hunter’s MacBook. he was informed that the FBI now had the MacBook. Mesires sent a confirmation e-mail after that phone call. Obviously, Hunter’s lawyer would only request the MacBook if he knew it was Hunter’s and that it had been dropped off at that store. Online, there is also a Dropoff document signed by Hunter.
In short, the MacBook is Hunter’s. The e-mails are valid. The e-mails and photos are incriminating.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the story, but please know that any facts in the piece that later prove incorrect were not
“willful.”
My source for the statement that Facebook and Twitter took down the piece was the Washington Post. See:https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/10/15/facebook-twitter-hunter-biden/. The article is titled, “Facebook and Twitter Take Unusual Steps to Limit Spread of New York Post story.”
Also please know that Fox News passed on reporting the story after Rudy Guiliani offered it to them. Their concern was its authenticity. See: https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-reportedly-turned-down-hunter-biden-laptop-story-first.
I am aware that Fox News is now reporting that the FBI has the computer, but that does not prove the emails are real.
I hope the FBI tracks down the truth on this matter. If Biden and his son were selling access to the then-Vice President, they should be prosecuted. I have not yet seen evidence that they did and remain skeptical about the authenticity of the “facts” as being presented by some of the people involved. If Trump or Trump operatives faked this scandal to try to win the election, I hope anyone involved with that will also face prosecution.
Again, thank you for reading the article.
Michael Melloy says
See also the letter from Senator Johnson to the Secret Service, confirming travel details from Hunter’s e-mails correspond to Secret Service agents traveling to exact locations and dates.
https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2020-10/2020-10-20%20CEG%20RHJ%20to%20Secret%20Service%20%28Hunter%20Biden%20Travel%20Records%20Follow-Up%29%20.pdf
John Dean says
Thank you for sharing that letter. As I indicated in the response above and in the article, I doubt the authenticity of the New York Post story.
I hope the parties investigating this incident get to the truth and anyone responsible for wrongdoing faces prosecution. As of today, I remain skeptical of the authenticity of the emails and other “facts” in the story. I am keeping an open mind if additional, more credible, facts surface.
Stephen Schaare says
Addendum. Uh-oh, things not looking good for “Uncle Joe”. Hunter’s former biz partner is singing like that old canary.
He claims Joseph Robinette Biden II was waist high in the graft. Shame on those rascally Russians!
Of course, this begs the question of why did the FBI KEEP ALL THIS INTEL FROM President Trump for a year? I smell “deep state”. Freshen up that resume, mr. FBI director(and many others)
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Dean, Always the jokester! You honestly regard the Washington Post, NPR and the NY Times as credible sources of information? Guess you regard CNN and MSNBC as “fair and balanced”. Am I correct?
Rose Sigman says
If these emails are all fakes, why have the Biden’s not denied them? All they say is that it is a sham?..
Mike Huffstetler says
Mr. Dean:
Your article is a joke. This is clearly Hunter Biden’s laptop! The emails are clearly those of Hunter Biden. Bottom line, both Joe Biden and Hunter Biden are corrupt.
What is sad is that fools will still vote for such an obviously corrupt politician, who should be in jail!
John Dean says
First, I do consider the NYT, Washington Post, and NPR as trustworthy news sources. I believe these sources would cover this story if they had evidence supporting its authenticity.
The news yesterday that the emails were being shopped in Ukraine earlier this year for $5 million casts additional doubt on the authenticity of the emails. I need more evidence to accept that the laptop, or, more accurately, the information on the harddrive, is authentic. Should I see that evidence, my doubts will be satisfied.
Here is a link to the Time magazine coverage: https://time.com/5902557/hunter-biden-rudy-giuliani-ukraine/
I suspect that the Biden emails will be raised in tonight’s debate. Let’s see how Biden responds.
Also, although I don’t believe that two wrongs make a right, there is the issue of Trump’s non-payment of taxes. If you read the NYT coverage on this story, there appears to be evidence of tax fraud and apparently worse.
I wonder if those of you who support Trump and regularly call for his enemies to be put in jail, think Trump should go to jail if he is convicted of tax fraud.
In any case, thanks to everyone who has engaged on this story. The facts are not yet in, at least as I’m concerned. I think all of us need to keep an open mind and encourage the truth to come out.
Stephen Schaare says
And the income tax on The Biden’s ill gotten gains?
Mike Huffstetler says
Mr. Dean:
I suggest you watch today’s press conference by Tony Bobulinski, and gain some actual knowledge of how serious the allegations are against the Biden Family, and the National Security risk imposed were Joe Biden to be elected President, which will not happen because there are not enough fools who will vote for such a crooked politician with a socialist running mate!
Steve Carns says
You might find this link to be helpful:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hunter-biden-business-partner-email-genuine-joe-biden-advice
Charlie Bohn says
Wow, of course most of what you said turns out to be incorrect, perhaps you wrote this several days ago? It’s been confirmed it’s his laptop and the emails appear legit. Despite Democrat talking points it turns out it is not Russian interference.
The story itself is awful but the bigger story is how the mainstream press has handled the story. “NOTHING TO SEE HERE”.
Would recommend you not rely on the Washington post for facts. Try the Wall Street Journal.