On Friday morning, ABC was the only broadcast network left that didn’t disclose to viewers that an IRS whistleblower had come forward with WhatsApp messages where Hunter Biden directly implicated President Biden in a business deal with a Chinese associate. It was CBS Morning that join NBC’s Today in highlighting the messages as bad news for Joe, who has long claimed he does not speak with his son about his businesses.
Instead of covering the apparent hard evidence that the President was involved in shady business deals and pressure campaigns on behalf of his son in China, ABC’s Good Morning America spent over three and a half minutes (3:33) testing out dishwashers and detergents.
While ABC was focused on dirty dishes, CBS and NBC were airing out the Bidens’ dirty business dealings to some extent.
CBS investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge was on the case as she immediately shared what whistleblowers were trying to bring to the public’s attention, including interference in the investigation and messages implicating Joe Biden:
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley spoke to congressional investigators in May. He said IRS investigators recommended charges for tax evasion, filing a false tax return, for the tax years 2014, 2018, and 2019, all felonies. Plus, charges for failure to file or pay for several years. Those are misdemeanors. A conviction on these charges could bring hefty fines and up to five years in prison.
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Shapley also alleged there was a recovered 2017 WhatsApp message from Hunter Biden to a Chinese businessman over an outstanding payment stating, quote, “I am sitting here with my father. We would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,” Hunter Biden allegedly texted, according to the transcript, "I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand. And now means tonight." CBS News has not independently verified the message.
“The U.S. attorney in Delaware declined to comment on the whistleblower allegations,” she added.
Over on NBC, senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell continued the network’s streak of covering the story from Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News. “Kelly, meanwhile there's some new whistleblower testimony that’s also making headlines,” anchor Craig Melvin teed her up.
O’Donnell noted that “A GOP-led House committee released testimony from two IRS agents and whistleblowers on Tuesday who say the DOJ and other government officials improperly interfered in their Hunter Biden investigation, giving him what they say is preferential treatment.”
Adding: “One of those agents also provided what he says are WhatsApp messages from Hunter Biden to a Chinese business associate in 2017.”
After putting the message on the screen and summarizing it, O’Donnell noted that Hunter’s attorneys “have not commented.”
ABC’s refusal to disclose this part of the story to their viewers came after chief Washington correspondent Jon Karl proclaimed on The View that there was “no evidence” of corruption from Hunter or any of the Bidens.
ABC’s refusal to cover Hunter implicating his father in his overseas businesses dealings was made because of lucrative sponsorships from Google and Disney. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Mornings
June 23, 2023
7:11:08 a.m. EasternGAYLE KING: And as Ed just pointed out, Hunter Biden attended last night’s state dinner ahead of his expected guilty plea to tax charges. House Republicans have just revealed testimony from two IRS officials who claimed there was sweeping misconduct in the Biden investigation. Senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge has more on that part of the story.
[Cuts to video]
CATHRINE HERRIDGE: IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley spoke to congressional investigators in May. He said IRS investigators recommended charges for tax evasion, filing a false tax return, for the tax years 2014, 2018, and 2019, all felonies. Plus, charges for failure to file or pay several years. Those are misdemeanors. A conviction on these charges could bring hefty fines and up to five years in prison.
But the plea deal filed this week by the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, David Weiss, said the President's son agreed to enter guilty pleas for two misdemeanor tax charges. As part of the deal, Biden will avoid full prosecution on a separate gun charge. A source familiar with the terms told CBS news his legal team expects probation, not jail time.
Shapley also alleged there was a recovered 2017 WhatsApp message from Hunter Biden to a Chinese businessman over an outstanding payment stating, quote, “I am sitting here with my father. We would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,” Hunter Biden allegedly texted, according to the transcript, "I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand. And now means tonight." CBS news has not independently verified the message.
The U.S. attorney in Delaware declined to comment on the whistleblower allegations. But in a recent letter to Congress said he has been granted ultimate authority over this matter.
[Cuts back to live]
The congressional committee’s senior Democrat said the release of the transcripts is premature, not fully vetted, and he scolded Republicans for not waiting for the investigators to release their findings. Hunter Biden's legal team did not respond to CBS News' questions. The Justice Department and White House reiterate that the matter is being handled independently by the Delaware U.S. attorney. Vlad
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: All right, Catherine. Thank you very much.
NBC’s Today
June 23, 2023
7:08:18 a.m. EasternCRAIG MELVIN: Now to the appearance that turned a lot of heads in Washington overnight. Hunter Biden attended the White House state dinner for India's prime minister, just days after striking a plea deal to settle federal tax charges.
NBC’s senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell joins us now with more on this. Kelly, first of all, good morning to you. This is a very, very public appearance. First of all, was it expected given it's only been a few days since the plea deal?
KELLY O’DONNELL: Good morning, Craig. The White House didn't make public ahead of time until the guest list came out that Hunter Biden was coming, but you saw the President's son on full display. He's the first trial of a sitting president criminally charged, and he was invited to be among the high-profile guests at the White House state dinner. We saw him mixing and mingling in black tie at this glamorous affair along with a number of Biden family members.
The White House invited Attorney General Merrick Garland and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who says the House GOP should keep investigating the President's son and his foreign business dealings.
Now, this was Hunter Biden's first public appearance after the announcement on Tuesday that he entered into a plea agreement deal with a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Delaware. And that deal ends a five-year investigation into the younger Biden's finances, and it resolves a gun possession charge during a time when Hunter Biden says he was addicted to drugs. Now, his first court appearance for that is set for July 26 on two misdemeanor counts related to his taxes.
MELVIN: Kelly, meanwhile there's some new whistleblower testimony that’s also making headlines. What more can you tell us about that.
O’DONNELL: Yeah, this is far from over. A GOP-led House committee released testimony from two IRS agents and whistleblowers on Tuesday who say the DOJ and other government officials improperly interfered in their Hunter Biden investigation, giving him what they say is preferential treatment.
One of those agents also provided what he says are WhatsApp messages from Hunter Biden to a Chinese business associate in 2017. And in that he says he is sitting with his father, who was then the vice president, waiting for an answer to a proposal and that he would not regret following -- not following the direction, that's the interaction with the Chinese businessman.
Now, NBC has not confirmed the authenticity of the message and the White House says there was no political interference here. Hunter Biden's attorneys have not commented. Craig?
MELVIN: Kelly O’Donnell from the White House, thank you.
