Regarding the latest network coverage (or lack thereof) Wednesday night and Thursday morning concerning Hunter Biden’s life of corruption, we’ve got some good news and we’ve got some bad news. The bad news? ABC, CBS, and NBC saw no problem with Hunter’s shameless stunt appearing before the House Oversight Committee as they debated a contempt of Congress resolution.
The good news was Thursday’s CBS Mornings became the first newscast to do a deep dive calling out Hunter’s shady, shadowy Hollywood bankroller.
We’ll stick with the bad news. ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir teased the nearly three-minute segment (2:53) on Hunter’s hijinks as merely a stunning moment while he boasted in the segment’s open that “Hunter’s appearance...and his willingness to answer questions in public...outraging Republicans.”
Chief Biden apple polisher Mary Bruce added another piece of tape for a press secretary audition, boasting of Hunter causing “high drama” as “Republicans have tried to tie Hunter Biden's business dealings to his father, but acknowledge they have found no concrete evidence of wrongdoing.”
“Today, he sat silently for 20 minutes. When Chairman James Comer called on Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has attacked Hunter Biden in deeply personal terms, Biden walking out,” she huffed.
Thursday’s Good Morning America only had 46 seconds on what co-host and former Clinton spinster George Stephanopoulos dubbed “a surprise appearance”.
Chief Washington correspondent and three-time anti-Trump author Jonathan Karl reveled in Hunter’s stunt and showed his admiration for it. At one point, he even chuckled at the decision by Hunter and his legal team because it showed the country how Republicans are in “chaos” (click “expand”):
KARL: Yeah, he came into the — into the hearing room where they were having this contempt hearing against him. He was there for about 20, 30 minutes. It was interesting because it shined a light on the Republicans and the kind of chaos — [CHUCKLES] — around that case. You had one Republican, Nancy Mace, call for him to be arrested immediately and taken to jail in the hearing room. It didn’t make the Republicans look —
STEPHANOPOULOS: But his point was that he’s actually willing to testify.
KARL: — yes! His point was — in fact, one of the Democrats said, let’s take a vote right now. He will come up and answer questions right now in person. What he doesn’t want to do and what he’s refused to do is a private, closed door deposition. He wants to testify in public. He did. His lawyer — you know — Abbe Lowell, did speak to reporters after.
Hours later on World News Tonight, there was only a measly 27-second brief on Hunter Biden's Los Angeles arraignment on his newest financial charges.
Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News only had 89 seconds on the political brinkmanship. Anchor Lester Holt refused to criticize the “dramatic scene” while Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles gave the spectacle a brief, blow-by-blow summary of what was supposed to be a hearing about Biden “not following the rules of [the GOP’s] subpoena, which required a closed door testimony.”
Nobles was back on Thursday’s Today, but in Los Angeles for the arraignment. Co-host Hoda Kotb also downplayed the Hill stunt as just a “surprise appearance” that created “dramatics [sic] — dramatic moments.”
Nobles explained Hunter opposed an initial closed-door deposition because of a fear “Republicans would selectively leak what he said” and his presence triggered “shouting matches and chaotic moments with Republicans accusing him of taunting them.” Nobles being in Los Angeles meant a full segment on Thursday’s NBC Nightly News and an overall coverage tally of two minutes and 25 seconds. During his report, Nobles fretted about how naked photos of Hunter Biden became public (via his laptop, which Nobles omitted):
NOBLES: This morning, First Lady Jill Biden said she was proud of the way her son has managed his recovery, and blasted Republicans for showing naked selfies of Hunter during a recent hearing.
JILL BIDEN [on MSNBC’s Mornings Joe, 01/11/24]: What they are doing to hunter is cruel. And I'm really proud of how Hunter has rebuilt his life after addiction and I think -- I love my son, and it's had -- it's hurt my grandchildren. And that's what I'm so concerned about.
Wednesday on the CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell said what Hunter went against what’s general a city with “few genuine surprises” and hyped his actions as having “thrown” the GOP “for a loop”.
January 6 correspondent Scott MacFarlane had this one and remarked Tuesday “add[ed] another chapter into the probe of his business dealings and the committee’s claims, without direct evidence, the President benefited from them.”
“Biden’s appearance surprised even some Democrats...and fueled...a fierce marathon of arguments,” he added.
Congressional correspondent Nikole Killion had the story for Thursday’s CBS Mornings after co-host Nate Burleson merely characterized Hunter’s brazen nose-thumbing as “a surprise appearance yesterday to confront Republicans,” who “refused to allow” him to testify and put this behind him.
Killion followed this narrative in shouting at Congressman James Comer (R-KY) about why he didn’t “let him testify.” Comer shot back: “He doesn’t get to set the rules.” To her credit, she noted Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say whether the White House knew in advance about this.
Fast-forward to CBS Evening News and there was only 26 seconds on Biden with O’Donnell recalling how the First Son had “ignited chaos” a day earlier.
Back to CBS Mornings, there was an actual Hunter Biden story of substance about Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who’s showered Biden with millions of dollars in recent years to help him make rent and pay back taxes after only meeting at a 2019 fundraiser for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign
Though the Daily Caller has been covering Morris since October, Herridge’s story opened the door for viewers to hopefully do their own homework on this shady character that even co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King admitted “has been heavily funding” Biden.
Herridge began with Hunter’s Venice Beach home that he had signed a two-year lease for, which Morris helped pay for “much of” to the tune of “approximately $200,000”.
Hunter Biden said Kevin Morris, a prominent Hollywood attorney, is like a brother to him.
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 11, 2024
Morris, according to an IRS agent involved in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, has spent nearly $5 million on behalf of the president’s son. @CBS_Herridge reports. pic.twitter.com/CEuKxNVX8s
After explaining Morris came into his money as “prominent Hollywood attorney who brokered lucrative deals for the creators of the animated sitcom, South Park...and the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon, Herridge said Hunter’s been his “latest project,” adding he’s drawn the eye of both congressional Republicans and IRS agent-turned-Biden probe whistleblower, Joseph Ziegler (click “expand”):
JOSEPH ZIEGLER: No one should be above the law.
HERRIDGE: An IRS agent involved in the Hunter Biden tax investigation told Congress, Morris spent nearly $5 million on behalf of the President’s son. According to prosecutors and other sources, payments include $11,000.00 on a Porsche, purchases of Hunter Biden’s art, and a loan of more than $2 million for Hunter Biden’s back taxes. The payments and the timing have drawn the attention of Republicans running the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
CONGRESSMAN JASON SMITH (R-MO): What is Kevin Morris getting from Hunter Biden or from Joe Biden? These are things that we need to look into.
HERRIDGE: Morris and Hunter Biden reportedly met at a political fundraiser in 2019 as Joe Biden launched his campaign for the presidency.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Folks, America is an idea.
HERRIDGE: A month before Super Tuesday, Morris sought to get Hunter Biden’s outstanding tax returns filed, writing in an e-mail: “We are under considerable risk personally and politically to get the returns in.” An accountant for the President’s son explained to an IRS investigator, unpaid tax could generate media attention. [TO BURNS] What rule does that break?
BURNS: Well, it seems to break some of the rules of politics.
HERRIDGE: Caleb Burns is an expert in campaign finance law. He says the money Morris gave Hunter Biden doesn’t appear to meet the narrow standard for any illegal campaign contribution. Morris has not been charged with any crime. [TO BURNS] Going forward, could the Kevin Morris money present a legal issue?
BURNS: Yes, if President Biden were to take official action to benefit Mr. Morris.
Among the charges, Morris even allegedly covered for Hunter as, upon leaving said residence, the First Son “left tens of thousands of dollars in damage” and “months of unpaid rent.”
Wrapping up her nearly-four-minute piece, Herridge said a Morris representative relayed Morris “has not asked for or expected anything from President Biden or his administration in return for his support of Hunter.”
Exit question: Does any honest believe that’s true?
To see the relevant transcripts from January 11, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).
