After barely covering the latest corruption allegations against Hunter Biden on Wednesday, the networks on Thursday morning jumped into full Democrat Protection Mode, spinning for Hunter and Joe Biden and repeating talking points about no wrongdoing. The amount of coverage is still embarrassingly small — the two hour-long Good Morning America on Thursday allowed a scant 39 seconds — but all the networks did their best to please the incoming Democratic president. NONE of them featured any critics of Joe or Hunter Biden.
On NBC’s Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie explained that the son is being investigated by the Justice Department over his taxes and connections to China and the Ukraine. She parroted, “Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing. His father's transition team said the President-Elect is 'deeply proud of his son and added that he fought through personal attacks of recent months to emerge stronger.'”
Earlier in the show, Kristen Welker repeated the exact same quote: “The Biden transition team adding, ‘President-Elect Biden is deeply proud of his son who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks in recent months, only to emerge stronger.’”
Welker added, “Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing." Thursday's Today allowed just 109 seconds on the scandal swirling around the son of the President-Elect. Still, that’s more than the scant 39 seconds on Good Morning America. ABC correspondent Mary Bruce used that precious time to tout the company line:
Hunter Biden says he is being investigated by federal prosecutors in Delaware over his taxes. The details of this investigation are unknown but in a statement, Hunter Biden says he is taking the matter very seriously and is confident they handled his affair, quote, “legally and appropriately.” Hunter Biden, of course, was a frequent target of President Trump's during the campaign.
CBS This Morning managed slightly better at 72 seconds. But political correspondent Ed O’Keefe still sounded exactly like his competitors at ABC and NBC. He repeated the Joe Biden statement:
Mr. Biden’s youngest son has been the subject of congressional and media investigations for work he did in China and Ukraine while his father was Vice President. But no probe found evidence of wrongdoing. In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Biden says “He is deeply proud of his son who fought through difficult challenges, including vicious personal attacks of recent months only to emerge stronger.”
The Democratic propaganda on ABC was sponsored by Kia. On CBS, Cadillac backed the Democratic effort. On NBC’s Today, Target was the sponsor. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
Good Morning America
12/10/2020
7 AM teaseGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Hunter Biden under investigation. The President-Elect's son reveals he just found out the Justice Department is investigating his taxes and business deal with China. What Biden is saying this morning as President Trump asks the Supreme Court to overturn the election results with false and baseless claims.
(....)
7:13 AM ET
STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to switch gears and get the latest on President-Elect Joe Biden's son Hunter who revealed that he just found out the Justice Department is investigating his taxes. Federal investigators served subpoenas were served this week. Mary Bruce tracking the story from Washington. Good Morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, George. Well, Hunter Biden says he is being investigated by federal prosecutors in Delaware over his taxes. The details of this investigation are unknown but in a statement, Hunter Biden says he is taking the matter very seriously and is confident they handled his affair, quote, “legally and appropriately.” Hunter Biden, of course, was a frequent target of President Trump's during the campaign, but sources tell us this investigation began well before the election in 2018, George.
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Today
12/10/2020
7 AM TeaseHODA KOTB: Under investigation. Joe Biden's son hunter is the focus of a federal tax probe. The potential case against him And what the President-Elect is saying about it.
(....)
7:15 AM ET
KOTB: But now we turn to the White House where President trump is touting a new lawsuit designed to overturn the election. But many critics say it won't hold up. This as President-Elect Biden deals with an issue that involves son Hunter that shadowed his campaign. Kristen Welker has details. Kristen, good morning.
(....)
7:17 AM ET
WELKER: As for President-Elect Joe Biden, breaking news late Wednesday that his son Hunter is under investigation by the department of justice over his taxes. Hunter Biden releasing a statement saying in part, I take this matter very seriously, but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.” The Associated Press reporting investigators are examining the younger Biden’s business dealings in China, among other financial transactions. But NBC News has not independently confirmed that report. The Biden transition team adding, “President-Elect Biden is deeply proud of his son who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks in recent months, only to emerge stronger.” Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine and China while his father was Vice President were the target of attacks by President Trump during the campaign.
DONALD TRUMP: Where's Hunter?
WELKER: Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing. I pressed Joe Biden during the final presidential debate. [From debate.] In retrospect, was anything about those relationships appropriate or unethical?
JOE BIDEN: Nothing was unethical. Not one single solitary thing was out of line. Not a single thing.
WELKER: Now, the Justice Department has declined to comment on the investigation.
(....)
8:05 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: President-Elect Joe Biden's son Hunter has confirmed he is now the focus of a federal tax investigation. Hunter Biden was a frequent target of President Trump during the recent campaign. According to the Associated Press, “This investigation covers business dealings in China along with other matters.” Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing. His father's transition team said the President-Elect is deeply proud of his son and added that he fought through personal attacks of recent months to emerge stronger.”
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CBS This Morning
12/10/2020
7:14 AM ETANTHONY MASON: Hunter Biden, the President-Elect's son, says the U.S. attorney in Delaware is investigating his tax records. Sources tell CBS news the FBI has been looking into his taxes since 2018. Under Justice Department policy, law enforcement didn't actively pursue the case during the weeks before the presidential election to avoid politicizing the investigation. Ed O'Keefe is covering the Biden transition in Delaware. Ed, what else do we know about this case?
ED O’KEEFE: Well, good morning, Anthony. In a statement released by the President-Elect's office, Hunter Biden said he just learned of the investigation Tuesday, it will find that, quote, “he acted legally and appropriately.” Out on the campaign trail, the younger Biden was a frequent target of the President and his allies. Mr. Biden’s youngest son has been the subject of congressional and media investigations for work he did in China and Ukraine while his father was Vice President. But no probe found evidence of wrongdoing. In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Biden says “He is deeply proud of his son who fought through difficult challenges, including vicious personal attacks of recent months only to emerge stronger.”
