On Thursday night, ABC and CBS waved goodbye to Hunter Biden’s life of corruption, omitting any and all mentions of reports (either from months past or this week) that Hunter’s business dealings in China are said to be part of legal investigations. For ABC’s World News Tonight and the CBS Evening News, the incoming First Son’s movements in China and Ukraine were (and will continue to be) nothing of substance, so move along!
And over on NBC Nightly News, they only mustered 35 seconds about Hunter as part of a segment about what White House correspondent Kristen Welker called “the President's virtually impossible effort to try to invalidate the election.” In contrast, ABC and CBS used their political segments to focus on the lawsuit.
With Thursday night’s addition to totals from Thursday morning and Wednesday night, the broadcast network morning and evenings newscasts have spent a minuscule six minutes and 46 seconds on Hunter Biden’s admission that he’s under investigation by the federal government.
Anchor Lester Holt led off the segment with the lawsuit but alluded to how Welker would also deliver “new details on the federal investigation of President-Elect's son Hunter.”
After Welker trashed the lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Welker shifted gears to Hunter Biden:
WELKER: Meanwhile new details about the federal criminal investigation into the finances of Hunter Biden. A source familiar with the investigation says it began in 2018 and authorities are looking at his business dealings in China, including whether he violated tax and money laundering laws. Hunter Biden's business dealings in China and Ukraine while his father was vice president a frequent target of president Trump.
TRUMP: Where's Hunter?
WELKER: Hunter Biden saying the investigation will show, “I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.”
Before going back to Holt, Welker reported that the scandal-ridden Susan Rice would be returning to the White House as the chair of Joe Biden’s Domestic Policy Council.
Instead of making even a passing mention of Hunter, World News Tonight had a lengthy segment about U.S.-made Christmas gifts and the CBS Evening News boasted of Taylor Swift surprising fans by announcing a new album at midnight Friday.
NBC's footnoting of Hunter Biden's legal troubles was made possible thanks to Ford and Geico. Follow the links to the MRC's Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant NBC transcript from December 10, click “expand.”
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
December 10, 2020
7:11 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking News; Trump’s Longshot Lawsuit]
LESTER HOLT: Tonight more Republicans announcing their support for that long shot lawsuit asking the supreme court to reverse the election. And we have new details on the federal investigation of President-Elect's son Hunter. With that, here's Kristen Welker.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking News; 100+ House Republicans Back Longshot Election Suit]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, the legal battle lines are hardening over the president's virtually impossible effort to try to invalidate the election. More than 100 House Republicans are now supporting a long shot Texas lawsuit, also supported by the President, aimed at overturning the results in four swing states Joe Biden won. Pennsylvania's Democratic attorney general called the lawsuit a “seditious abuse of judicial process” and even some Republicans blasted it.
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN (R-TX) I do not understand the legal theory.
WELKER: At a Hanukkah celebration overnight, President Trump again falsely claiming he can win.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Certain very important people, if they have wisdom if they have courage, we’re going to win this election.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking News; Investigators Examining Hunter Biden’s Dealings in China]
WELKER: Meanwhile new details about the federal criminal investigation into the finances of Hunter Biden. A source familiar with the investigation says it began in 2018 and authorities are looking at his business dealings in China, including whether he violated tax and money laundering laws. Hunter Biden's business dealings in China and Ukraine while his father was vice president a frequent target of president Trump.
TRUMP: Where's Hunter?
WELKER: Hunter Biden saying the investigation will show, “I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.” Meanwhile, President-Elect Biden tapping former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice to run his Domestic Policy Council. Lester?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking News; Biden Taps Susan Rice for Domestic Policy Adviser]
HOLT: Kristen Welker, thanks.
