The New York Post published an article in the tense days leading up to the 2020 presidential election that detailed how Hunter Biden had exploited his father’s position and influence for personal advantage, all while his father was in office.
The article questioned President Biden’s denial of knowing about his son Hunter’s overseas business transactions based on information acquired from an abandoned laptop once owned by Hunter Biden.
Fifty-one ex-intelligence officials issued a public declaration five days after the Post article, claiming it looked like classic Russian disinformation and noting their official titles and national security credentials.
Three days later, in a nationally broadcast presidential debate, Biden countered President Trump’s charges by citing this public declaration, saying that 50 national intelligence personnel say the accusation is Russian disinformation.
Much ink has been spilled on the subject of how social media and news sites blocked or ignored charges on the flimsy grounds that they were “hacked” materials; and “can’t be verified”; or, in the inspiring words of National Public Radio, a “waste of time” and a “pure distraction.” Censorship decisions made back then look much worse now.
Several other news organizations have independently confirmed the Post’s reporting and the authenticity of the data on Hunter Biden’s laptop.
The 51 former federal officials with intelligence and national security credentials inserted themselves into the center of the presidential race, but until today, no one has looked into how they did it.
The House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence have been looking into the sources of this remark since April 2022. This investigation was restarted earlier this year after Republicans regained control of the House.
Each of the 51 former officials received a letter from the Committees asking for documentation and testimony.
The Biden campaign used the credibility of former intelligence officers to undermine the claims against Hunter Biden. Biden campaign strategist and current Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell on October 17, 2020, to discuss the Post’s allegations. After telling Blinken he was unfamiliar with the news, Morell received through email a story from USA Today that claimed the FBI was looking into whether or not it was Russian disinformation.
The email was signed off by Andrew Bates, the Biden campaign’s head of quick response. Morell said he wouldn’t have started writing the statement without Blinken’s communication, which came after the Biden campaign reached out to him.
Vice President Biden used the public statement to refute President Trump’s attacks during the presidential debate on October 22.
Following the debate, the Biden campaign chairman called Morell to thank him for the remark.
This week, the House Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government plan to release their findings.
