Federal criminal investigation Hunter Biden focuses on his business dealings (Update: DOJ appoints special counsel) (1 Viewer)

[SaintForLife]

Hunter Biden received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the richest woman in Russia and the widow of Yury Luzhkov, the former mayor of Moscow, Senate Republicans revealed in their report on the younger Biden’s work in Ukraine.

Baturina is referenced in the 87-page report, which was released Wednesday, addressing her payment to Biden’s investment firm in early 2014.

“Baturina became Russia’s only female billionaire when her plastics company, Inteko, received a series of Moscow municipal contracts while her husband was mayor,” it said in providing background on the businesswoman.

The report described her involvement with Biden as “a financial relationship,” but declined to delve deeper into why the wire transfer was made.

The probe also found that Baturina sent 11 wires transfers between May and December 2015 to a bank account belonging to BAK USA, a tech startup that filed for bankruptcy in March 2019.

Nine of those 11 wire transfers were first sent to Rosemont Seneca Partners, the investment firm founded by Biden and Chris Heinz, stepson of former Secretary of State John Kerry, before being transferred to BAK USA.

Hunter Biden received $3.5M wire transfer from Russian billionaire: Senate report

Hunter Biden received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the richest woman in Russia and the widow of Yury Luzhkov, the former mayor of Moscow, Senate Republicans revealed in their r…

nypost.com

We all know their is massive corruption on both sides of the aisle. Here is an alleged allegation against Hunter Biden who was allegedly enriching himself because his Dad was Vice President.

 

[EmBeeFiveOhFour]

oh. my. god.

that should be it's own thread though.

Fair enough. On its way!

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

You all beat me to it... Rudy just knocked this Hunter Biden nonsense off the news cycle. The still images are being leaked and there is no way Rudy can talk his way out of it.

 

[wardorican]

You all beat me to it... Rudy just knocked this Hunter Biden nonsense off the news cycle. The still images are being leaked and there is no way Rudy can talk his way out of it.

Yeah, the description of him sitting back made me think something a LOT more innocent...

That being said, the reality is that it's two adults. He wasn't into it, because he thought she was underaged.

 

[B4YOU]

Here's the thing I find curious about this whole angle: this presentation from Giuliani and the right-wing media running with the story has Hunter Biden as the operations end of an international racketeering enterprise where the Biden family makes untold millions in China and Eastern Europe because Hunter Biden peddles access to his father (and hence to the top of the American Democratic Party). And Hunter Biden has done this beyond the reach of prosecutors who seem to regularly prosecute this kind of activity (see, e.g. charges against Elliot Broidy, Manafort/Gates, Imaad Zuberi, etc.).

But at the same time, Hunter Biden is a "crackhead" who is so irresponsible or impaired that he would drop off laptops containing material of a compromising (or even incriminating) nature to a mom-and-pop computer repair store with which he had no apparent history or familiarity, and then simply abandon them there.

I'm having a hard time reconciling these two sets of alleged behavior from the same person.

I have no problem reconciling these. Humans have an amazing ability to partition. Think of Bill Clinton, Dennis Hassert, Andrew Gillum, Trey Radel, Marion Barry, etc. This is just politicians on both sides who were caught engaging in some form of addiction who were able to partition their lives. It’s entirely possible to be both a Yale grad, attorney, and addict. High functioning addiction, especially the spree/binge type, is easily hidden.

 

[efil4]

Yeah, the description of him sitting back made me think something a LOT more innocent...

That being said, the reality is that it's two adults. He wasn't into it, because he thought she was underaged.

the reality is a young female reporter looking for access is being coerced by her much older, much more powerful subject.

That is a problem. Apparently #metoo movement didnt really move Rudy all that much.

 

[SaintForLife]

healthy skepticism is always good. 'healthy' is in the eye of the beholder.

Why aren't you skeptical at all on this? because it helps your guy?

I'll say this, the e-mails do kind of sound true. I already talked about those e-mails on their own merits however.

I said earlier it was fine to be skeptical of the story.

Federal criminal investigation Hunter Biden focuses on his business dealings (Update: DOJ appoints special counsel)

Hunter Biden received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the richest woman in Russia and the widow of Yury Luzhkov, the former mayor of Moscow, Senate Republicans revealed in their report on the younger Biden’s work in Ukraine.Baturina is referenced in the 87-page report, which...

madaboutpolitics.com

The right is trying to damage Biden's chances in the election just like Hillary when her campaign started the rumor that Trump colluded with Russia before the 2016 election.

What's ironic is that I've been mocked repeatedly for the same type of skepticism that people are engaging in this thread.

I'm sure a response would something like: But Trump is a horrible person so we just assume whatever story about Trump is true because it fits his character! If it's about Biden then we must assume it's not true!

You still have people who believe in the BS conspiracy theory about the pee tape despite there being ZERO evidence for it(it fits with Trump's character!) But it's the right wingers that believe all the conspiracy theories!

 

[SaintForLife]

You are assuming the primary intent of the media is to protect Biden and not to ensure truthful reporting. I think it’s the latter.

I view the documents as illegally obtained and with suspicion based on who is providing them and the limited proof for verifying their authenticity. We have seen dishonest conspiracy theories amplified by the media affect the outcomes of elections for a long time. I think for a story this salacious at this time, the bar for the truth needs to be high. A rush to report only helps Trump and there is a reason this got published by the NYP two weeks out from Nov 3 despite Rudy saying he had these docs for a year.

It's quite obvious they are trying to protect Biden. If they wanted the truth the media could easily ask him if Hunter brought his computer to that shop, if a particular email was a fake etc.

The bar wasn't that high when Yahoo and David Corn reported on the Russia angle before the election.

 

[SystemShock]

I have no problem reconciling these. Humans have an amazing ability to partition. Think of Bill Clinton, Dennis Hassert, Andrew Gillum, Trey Radel, Marion Barry, etc. This is just politicians on both sides who were caught engaging in some form of addiction who were able to partition their lives. It’s entirely possible to be both a Yale grad, attorney, and addict. High functioning addiction, especially the spree/binge type, is easily hidden.

"High functioning addict" doesn't fit the alleged behavior.

 

[MT15]

I had forgotten the story that Rudy was somehow involved in the 2016 Comey election interference.

Septuagenarian Batman wins, though.

 

[SaintForLife]

Here's the thing I find curious about this whole angle: this presentation from Giuliani and the right-wing media running with the story has Hunter Biden as the operations end of an international racketeering enterprise where the Biden family makes untold millions in China and Eastern Europe because Hunter Biden peddles access to his father (and hence to the top of the American Democratic Party). And Hunter Biden has done this beyond the reach of prosecutors who seem to regularly prosecute this kind of activity (see, e.g. charges against Elliot Broidy, Manafort/Gates, Imaad Zuberi, etc.).

But at the same time, Hunter Biden is a "crackhead" who is so irresponsible or impaired that he would drop off laptops containing material of a compromising (or even incriminating) nature to a mom-and-pop computer repair store with which he had no apparent history or familiarity, and then simply abandon them there.

I'm having a hard time reconciling these two sets of alleged behavior from the same person.

Isn't it possible that what Hunter may have been doing wasn't illegal and it was just corrupt? You think it's impossible for a crackhead to forget that he dropped a computer off somewhere?

 

[SaintForLife]

You're amazed because we're not falling for a lame Giuliani/Trump election disinformation plot with baseless claims? Lol. I imagine you're amazed by a lot of things in life.

Well you fell for the Russia collusion conspiracy theory.

 

[FullMonte]

Yeah, the description of him sitting back made me think something a LOT more innocent...

That being said, the reality is that it's two adults. He wasn't into it, because he thought she was underaged.

Have you seen the movie yet? Looking at the still image that was posted, it doesn't look like "he's not into it."

 

[FullMonte]

Isn't it possible that what Hunter may have been doing wasn't illegal and it was just corrupt? You think it's impossible for a crackhead to forget that he dropped a computer off somewhere?

Of course that's possible. But, that's a VERY simplified question that requires much more detail to be a true representation of the story.

A better version of your question: "Is it believable that someone with a known history of drug use dropped his computer containing incriminating information, with no password to protect it, at a computer shop on the opposite side of the country from where he lives (and that he doesn't have a prior relationship with), and then ignored multiple calls from the shop owner to pick it up?"

The answer to THAT question is, "no, it's not believable."

 

[SaintForLife]

What I find interesting on my social media timeline are the people who clamor "WAIT UNTIL THE FACTS COME OUT BEFORE RUSHING TO JUDGMENT!"

And I agree that that is a wise approach to things. It's how I try and work.

But the difference is that they will turn around with something as flimsy as this and start spreading it immediately.

I mean...

It happens two weeks before the election
There are three laptops then one then just a hard drive copy
There's a Biden foundation sticker so it must be Hunter's
He's on the other side of the country
The contact is made with Giuliani before the FBI
The timeline of the contact between the store owner and Giuliani changes
The testimony of the owner changes
He is blind and can't confirm that it was Hunter, after saying it was Hunter
Store Owner is a big Trump supporter
Store owner bought into the Seth Rich conspiracy
Signature inconsistencies don't seem a slam dunk
Steve Bannon is a 'source'
The hack and leak is eerily (and conveniently) reminiscent of 2016
The NY Post reporter didn't want the byline
Two intern/lower staff reporters didn't want the byline (of this nationally explosive story)
Other journalistic institutions' tests for validity and confirmation before publication wouldn't pass this story

And I am sure I am missing something.

But ALLLLLLL of those red flags are waving and people who say, "Wait until the facts come out! Reserve judgment!" positively couldn't wait to spread this.

And when they couldn't spread it how they wanted, they threw a big hissy fit and started claiming victimization.

I mean... this entire thing is showing how gullible and stupid we are.

The Democrats, the media, and many here didn't have any of those concerns about the red flags with the Russia collusion narrative.

I'm sure you can provide an example of Facebook, Twitter and most of the national media censoring a story that would hurt a Republican right?

It's perfectly fine to be skeptical of the story, but what's Orewellian is big tech and the media trying to prevent the public from reading or hearing about the story. Why not put a disclaimer or just let people make up their own minds about the stories credibility?

 

[coldseat]

Well you fell for the Russia collusion conspiracy theory.

Did I?

"Fell for" as in I accepted that the Trump campaign and Russia colluded unequivocally? Or "fell for" as in I accepted the Mueller investigations conclusions and have my on thoughts based on it? If you're claiming the former, any proof of that or is it just your conjecture?

 

[SaintForLife]

Of course that's possible. But, that's a VERY simplified question that requires much more detail to be a true representation of the story.

A better version of your question: "Is it believable that someone with a known history of drug use dropped his computer containing incriminating information, with no password to protect it, at a computer shop on the opposite side of the country from where he lives (and that he doesn't have a prior relationship with), and then ignored multiple calls from the shop owner to pick it up?"

The answer to THAT question is, "no, it's not believable."

Wait, someone has to have a prior relationship with a store to visit that store? He lived in California at the time, but was from Delaware. Are you claiming it's not possible that he ever flew to Delaware? Was he on house arrest in California or was there another reason that prevented him from leaving the state? How many crackheads do you know that would even remember what they did the night before? What if Hunter didn't recognize the call? How many calls do you answer from numbers that aren't stored in your contacts in your phone.

 

[SaintForLife]

Did I?

"Fell for" as in I accepted that the Trump campaign and Russia colluded unequivocally? Or "fell for" as in I accepted the Mueller investigations conclusions and have my on thoughts based on it? If you're claiming the former, any proof of that or is it just your conjecture?

Sorry. I should have said fell for and still believe.

The Mueller investigations conclusions that resulted in zero indictments or convictions for any Americans in relation to conspiracy with Russia to interfere in the election? The same Mueller investigation that had to drop the charges against the Russians that they indicted when they had to proceed to discovery? The same Mueller prosecutor that withheld evidence from Flynn that contradicted their case?

 

[efil4]

Sorry. I should have said fell for and still believe.
The same Mueller investigation that had to drop the charges against the Russians that they indicted when they had to proceed to discovery?

Why US dropping charges against Russians named by Mueller report

On Monday, the Justice Department moved to drop charges made against Russian companies who worked to sway Americans in the 2016 presidential election. It said there would be no prospect of meaningful punishment if convicted.

www.csmonitor.com

the DoJ ( current DoJ mind you ) dropped it. It wanst dropped for lack of evidence.

So if that is what your question insinuates, its already a false premise.