# Hunter Biden Laptop Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587 "2020-10-22T11:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/81 "2020-10-23T20:22:34Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > > [@Jas09](#): > > > > Is there > > Are you serious? There are two separate questions here: > > 1. Was Hunter Biden engaged in influence peddling? I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise. The guy is a crackhead screwup, But somehow landed a $50,000+ per month board position on a corrupt Ukranian gas and oil firm despite knowing nothing about Oil, Gas, or the Ukraine, and a multi-million dollar payout from various sketchy Chinese firms with connections to the Chinese Communist Party. Hunter even admitted that he would not have gotten any of that if his last name wasn’t Biden. [/quote] That doesn’t mean it’s influence peddling. It could just as easily mean they wanted a feather in their cap, and a famous name on their letterhead. > [@](#): > > Hunter’s deal with Burisma raised flags with anti-corruption authorities around the world As did Biden bragging about getting the prosecutor looking into Burisma fired. Are you aware that you’re pointing to a nonsense conspiracy theory here? This is embarrassing. Up your game, dude. > [@](#): > > 1. Was Joe Biden personally involved, and did he actually trade U.S. government favors to enrich his family? The jury is still out on that, but his demanding the firing of the Burisma prosecutor and his taking Hunter to China on Air Force Two immediately before the Chinese deals both look sketchy. At the very least, he allowed the perception that Hunter was wired into the administration. Not only is the jury out. The cops are still looking for the first bit of evidence. > [@](#): > > Do I think this is unique to Biden? Nope. I think Senators trading on their power is common, and one of the reasons Washington is a swamp. These are the guys that voted themselves the right to trade on inside knowledge and scew over other investors. Republicans and Democrats alike. How gracious. _Both sides_. I mean there is no real evidence about one side, but hey they must be bad, because the side you support is hot garbage, so they must be the same… Are the lizard-people involved? Isn’t the cold weather gonna slow their plot until spring? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/82 "2020-10-23T20:24:31Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I really don’t see what any of that is based on that is not intentional disinformation. Which of the below is not accurate based on your understanding?: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > - Was Hunter Biden engaged in influence peddling? I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise. The guy is a crackhead screwup, But somehow landed a $50,000+ per month board position on a corrupt Ukranian gas and oil firm despite knowing nothing about Oil, Gas, or the Ukraine, and a multi-million dollar payout from various sketchy Chinese firms with connections to the Chinese Communist Party. Hunter even admitted that he would not have gotten any of that if his last name wasn’t Biden. Hunter’s deal with Burisma raised flags with anti-corruption authorities around the world As did Biden bragging about getting the prosecutor looking into Burisma fired. > - Was Joe Biden personally involved, and did he actually trade U.S. government favors to enrich his family? The jury is still out on that, but his demanding the firing of the Burisma prosecutor and his taking Hunter to China on Air Force Two immediately before the Chinese deals both look sketchy. At the very least, he allowed the perception that Hunter was wired into the administration. Perhaps I don’t have the full understanding of events. Kindly show me where my knowledge gaps lie. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/83 "2020-10-23T20:26:03Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > That doesn’t mean it’s influence peddling. It could just as easily mean they wanted a feather in their cap, and a famous name on their letterhead. Look, I don’t want this to be true either, but nobody believes that and neither should you. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/84 "2020-10-23T20:27:24Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > How it was acquired is not really relevant if the material on it is true. Where have I heard this sort of argument before…? [Oh, yes](https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/truth-or-consequences/): > Rather was forced to respond, giving newspaper interviews defending the report and eventually addressing the controversy directly on the evening news, offering up new interviews and evidence meant to buttress his initial claims (most famously, he interviewed Killian’s former secretary, who said _the content of the memos was accurate but the memos themselves were fake_). So, I take it you’re applying the same standard…? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/85 "2020-10-23T20:29:22Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Which of the below is not accurate based on your understanding?: Again, as I posted, the bit about the firing of the prosecutor in Ukraine in order to benefit Biden was debunked many times before. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/86 "2020-10-23T20:31:03Z")
The first bullet point has been debunked over and over here and elsewhere. It was not Biden’s call, it was the recommendation of our state department, as well as several other nations that the prosecutor be pushed out. This is less than nothingburger. The second is that a family member rode on the plane with his Father. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/87 "2020-10-23T20:34:09Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Again, as I posted, the bit about the firing of the prosecutor in Ukraine in order to benefit Biden was debunked many times before. Right… I thought about redacting that but didn’t want to mess with the quoted text and because it’s my understanding from multiple Biden advocates that he did lobby to have that prosecutor fired because of corruption. It’s also my understanding that the prosecutor wasn’t going to seriously pursue Burisma in any serious way (hence the suspicions of corruption). ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/88 "2020-10-23T20:36:29Z")
This bit specifically, please: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Was Hunter Biden engaged in influence peddling? I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise. The guy is a crackhead screwup, But somehow landed a $50,000+ per month board position on a corrupt Ukranian gas and oil firm despite knowing nothing about Oil, Gas, or the Ukraine, and a multi-million dollar payout from various sketchy Chinese firms with connections to the Chinese Communist Party. Hunter even admitted that he would not have gotten any of that if his last name wasn’t Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/89 "2020-10-23T20:38:28Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > They said that their experience tells them it’s probably Russian disinfo, but that they had no actual evidence one way or another. “I’ve repaired lots of cars, and every time I heard one make that kind of noise it was a problem with the fan belt, but I have no actual evidence that it’s the fan belt this time…” “I’ve fixed lots of toilets, and every time I saw one leaking around the base like that it was a problem with the wax ring, but I have no actual evidence that its the wax ring this time…” “I’ve done lots of real estate sales, and every time somebody tried to change the subject when I asked about the home inspection report there were undisclosed problems with the property, but I have no actual evidence that there are undisclosed problems with the property this time…” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/90 "2020-10-23T20:38:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The entire GOP strategy is to throw more shit in the fan. _Some_ know how screwed they are by supporting Trump. And all they have is shit and a fan. And it’s helpful to have folks like @Sam_Stone who is apparently willing to believe this sketchy story… Even after he was recently burned when he believed the latest Trump lie. "Oh, sure it looks very much like shit hitting the fan. But with that much shit, I’m POSITIVE there must eventually be a pony. " Keep the faith, brother. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/91 "2020-10-23T20:41:53Z")
Influence peddling requires the other half. If I purchase a painting from you because I want you to approve my home permits, that’s not influence peddling unless you know that’s what’s happening. I may just want a painting that is from the famous QuickSilver because of all the Straight Dope cred it will garner me. Biden went his whole life without cashing in. You expect me to believe that as Veep he chose to help his son peddle foreign influence? How about some evidence? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/92 "2020-10-23T20:42:38Z")
You mean the bit that was not in the part that you asked for your gaps in your knowledge to be filled in? That was not what you just asked for. Okay… Most of the implication in that is false as well, and has be debunked and explained on several occasions. He was a lawyer, he did have experience in running businesses, and he was wanted by Burisma for the specific purpose of elevating them above the idea of corruption. If they have a Biden on their board, then the past corrupt practices that they had fired the CEO over would not be held against them. No one has indicated anything about a mulit-million dollar payout from the Chinese, that claim seems to be more or less a complete lie. Here, I don’t really have time to explain things that have been explained multiple times right now, I’m about to sign off for the evening. However, a very quick and easy Google (how sad if Trump’s DOJ manages to take that away) search turns up this. > **[Trump's Claims About Hunter Biden in China - FactCheck.org](https://www.factcheck.org/2019/10/trumps-claims-about-hunter-biden-in-china/)** > > President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Hunter Biden, without evidence, of making millions of dollars in a "payoff" from China, after accompanying his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, on a 2013 diplomatic trip to Beijing. > [@](#): > > that was an unpaid position, that he did not create the company and has not yet received any money, let alone millions. ---
**Author:** ![agzem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@agzem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agzem)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/93 "2020-10-23T20:45:05Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Again, as I posted, the bit about the firing of the prosecutor in Ukraine in order to benefit Biden was debunked many times before. Here’s the timeline of events: Feb 4 2016: **Shokin** (the prosecutor) confiscated four large houses and a luxury car of **Burisma** owner **Mykola Zlochevsky** Feb. 12: **Biden** spoke to President **Poroshenko** by phone. Feb. 16: Poroshenko announced he had **asked Shokin to resign** ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/94 "2020-10-23T20:54:58Z")
Oh dear… [Trump’s latest smear against Biden debunked…by a Fox News anchor, no less](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/10/conservatives-latest-smear-against-joe-biden-gets-debunked-by-a-fox-news-reporter/) > “I completed searching all of Tony Bobulinski’s emails,” she wrote on Twitter. “They establish: the “Chairman” is China; NO ROLE for Joe Biden in emails/docs; Tony Bobulinski states himself there are NO OTHER MEMBERS besides Hunter Biden, Jim Biden, Rob Walker, James Gillar, and Bobulinski.” Just can’t depend on nobody… ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/95 "2020-10-23T21:04:20Z")
You must be mistaken. I am informed my @sam_stone that Biden is as crooked as the Soviet sickle and has hard as the hammer that crosses it. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/96 "2020-10-23T21:09:46Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Biden went his whole life without cashing in. You expect me to believe that as Veep he chose to help his son peddle foreign influence? How about some evidence? yes. I think that is exactly what happened. It strains credulity to assume otherwise. Even if we are meant to believe this was all above board, being a 47year veteran of public service, Biden knew this looked sketchy as fucking hell. So while no laws were explicitly broken, and I’m sure Biden made sure none were, I do think he agreed to take the chance to help out his son. And he did it without the prospect of being a Presidential nominee on the horizon. So there would be nothing to have to explain or answer for. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/97 "2020-10-23T21:10:57Z")
Right, because we should believe that people who steal or knowingly receive stolen laptops - your suggestion, not mine - should be taken at their word. We should assume they’re above tinkering with a stolen laptop and putting incriminating ‘evidence’ on it. The “crimes” were politically motivated for the start, and motivated to produce one thing: manufactured ‘evidence’. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/98 "2020-10-23T21:14:34Z")
I mean there is no evidence to support that, but it’s your right to believe whatever you want. Just accept that you’re _deciding_ to believe it. I agree that it looks bad. I don’t agree that it is bad. Unless I see evidence better that the utter RW echochamber stuff Sam is shoveling. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/99 "2020-10-23T21:18:31Z")
I don’t pretend to be up on all the details of the case, but FWIW, I wholeheartedly agree that there are some mighty bad optics - no question about it. And I say this as someone who has absolutely no regrets about voting for Biden and generally has a favorable view of his public service. But one of the reasons people are fed up with DC insider politics is because of shit like this, where someone can just know the right people and get hooked up with cushy lobbying or ‘consulting’ gigs. There’s probably nothing illegal at or, or anything that runs afoul of ethics rules, but it does damage public trust and confidence in the system. And at the risk of ‘both sides-ism’…yes, both Dems and Repubs cash in on this political ecosystem. That political ecosystem is something I’ve referenced in other discussions on other threads. Wanna know why Senators like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker had a chance to really take a strong stand against Trump but ultimately pussed out? It’s this ecosystem, a world of post-congressional careers in lobbying, consulting, and the like. Millions at stake. It’s too risky to take on your party’s leader and get shut out of that economy. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/100 "2020-10-23T21:25:59Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > But one of the reasons people are fed up with DC insider politics is because of shit like this, where someone can just know the right people and get hooked up with cushy lobbying or ‘consulting’ gigs. There’s probably nothing illegal at or, or anything that runs afoul of ethics rules, but it does damage public trust and confidence in the system. But, does that mean that the family of a politician are not allowed to have any business dealings whatsoever, as those could potentially create “bad optics”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587.md?page=6)