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.
Alexander Birchley says
Firstly. I’d like to take issue with your assertion that these are allegedly Hunter Biden’s emails and this laptop can plausibly somehow be construed not to be his. There is plenty of evidence to support that fact that this computer and its hard drive are indeed the former property of one Hunter Biden. Secondly, your insinuation that it is “disturbing” that the President has “jumped” on this. Given the fact that he has for four years had to put up with endless and baseless accusations of being in the pocket of Russia, I find it amusing that you condemn the President for going after the Bidens when we now know so much of how “Sleepy Joe” was part of the scam to thwart the duly elected President of the US and instead of orchestrating a peaceful transfer of power spent the remaining months in Office trying to illegally destroy Trump. Trump has every right to be pissed off at the Bidens, particularly Joe, and the FBI for not releasing this material, which would have saved him and the US electorate months of phoney investigations and a bogus impeachment fiasco.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the article. Please note that I am not alone in doubting the authenticity of the story. Not only has the Washington Post and New York Times questioned it, but Fox News turned the story down when Rudy Guiliani offered it to them.
I hope the full facts on this allegation come out. If Biden and his son did, indeed, sell or attempt to sell access to the Vice President, I hope they are prosecuted. From what I have seen, that has not yet been proven.
Similarly, if it is proven that this story is a hoax, I hope those responsible are also prosecuted. This would include Rudy Guiliani and whoever might have placed information on the computer hard drive in an attempt to create a scandal to help Trump in the closing days of this election.
I don’t expect you to agree with me on my continuing skepticism, but I hope you support the FBI and others continuing to look into this strange story.
Alice Marie Barron says
Speaking of circus…. There’s a BREAD & CIRCUS Party on the ballot…. Sounds good to me!!
Bob Lentz says
Sorry, the DOJ says you are wrong. I am afraid you are in denial and suffering “Potomic Fever”!
The Biden family are crimminals.
Steven Park says
There you go again J.E. This whole story is true as corroborated by none other than dear old Joe. Joe takes great pleasure in telling us all how powerful and effective he was getting the Burisma investor fired. This new series is simply the rest of the details. No denial by Joe, no denial from the FBI as to integrity. Confirmations from John Radcliffe in his capacity as head of the National Intelligence. Come on J.E., you will have to do better than toss up that airball defense on behalf of the Biden “pay to play” scenario. The Biden’s learned the game from the Clintons. During your tenure in Baltimore, who did you study?
Kenneth Hornstein says
A true Democratic response. The FBI has verified that the laptop is Hunter Biden’s . They also verified the the emails are real.
John Dean says
As I have noted, there continue to be questions about the authenticity of the emails. Without responding to each of the comments this article has received, let me say that I hope the truth comes out. Despite the certainty some of you have, there continue to be details of this case that are troubling. One example is the fact that someone was apparently attempting to sell the emails for $5 million in the Ukraine earlier this year. See:https://time.com/5902557/hunter-biden-rudy-giuliani-ukraine/
All of us should hope for the full details to come out. Please note that I said this story “looks like a phony.” My view on that hasn’t changed, but my mind remains open.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Can we put aside how ridiculous this is. We have the biggest pay for play family in the WH ( Trump and $$ w/China, Ivanka’s multi trademark requests getting fast tracked then her father vows to save ZDT.) The GOP led Committee confirmed that the Trump Campaign was involved with Russia. I mean, this “crap” goes on day in and day out with these people. Now we have not “Hillary’s email“ but Hunter’s computer. Big deal.
The lead “reporter” was a Producer for the Hannity Show and the lead writer for the NY Post would not allow his name on the byline. And even if it was true, which it is not, this never affected any Ukraine policy by the White House. In fact, as it should be, there was a consensus among all our allies concerning the corrupt prosecutor in Ukraine. So, time to go back to pedophiles In WDC pizza restaurants and Hillary’s emails.
Poor deluded people; can we please bring Civics back, please?!
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Deirdre , Be careful with use of “deluded”. Do you have a mirror at home? Bill and Hillary took in hundreds of millions with their ” global foundation”. Trumpster is “small potatoes”, an amateur learning the ropes , compared with these Dems. Remember, denile is a river in Egypt, not a way to go through life.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Sorry Stephen, as Steve Schmitt (John McCain’s campaign manager) said tonight: there has never been a graver
threat to our democracy than Donald Trump. And, this is the most important election since the Civil War.
You are a member of a deluded, yes deluded, cult of personality that has destroyed the GOP :Trumpism .
I do not know you. You could be the worst: Chamber of Commerce Trumpers who don’t care about anything (country,
honesty, integrity) . They think only of their own $$. Sadly, there are many in Chestertown like this. They whisper about their support of him, knowing polite society is listening, right?! Remember, the stock market and financial institutions worldwide do
best with stability. Stability: the opposite of anything Trump.
Or you love the “ macho” aspect of Trump. You know, a guy who loves the bluntness. Sorry, both are
signs of incredible detachment from anything other than “me”. Not service, not country but only tribal. And it is a sad way to live always blaming….
But so many of his supporters have had 20 plus years of hearing about the “alien” Clinton’s. I understand. When BC
won over George HWBush, my hero, I would not watch /listen to Clinton for years. But then I admired his relationship with Bush helping those in need, and the nuances. When Fox began I saw the total slant and disregard for what is truth.
An entire industry was created against the Clintons. I understand that no one is perfect, believe me. But there is
a person in the Oval Office that is looking after one person only: himself. And he is in debt to who knows what nation.
Not good. And I want a person in the Oval who deserves to be there, with love of country, humility and empathy.