### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2024, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1083 "2024-02-26T09:28:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Should Hannity be investigated, as it is now clear that he was simply acting as a mouthpiece for a Russian spy’s obvious lies? Are there no repercussions for someone who aids a foreign government who is trying to harm the country by spreading falsehoods?
Becoming president in 2016?
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1084 "2024-02-26T18:19:43Z")
> [@DesertDog](#):
>
> He’s not wrong.
😁
…….
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1085 "2024-04-29T17:53:57Z")
Hunter to sue FOX ala the voting machine companies:
>
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### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1086 "2024-04-29T18:43:28Z")
It would seem difficult to defame him.
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### Author:  [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1087 "2024-04-29T19:04:53Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#):
>
> It would seem difficult to defame him
How so? Sure, lots of people think that, if you’re a drug addict, you’re irredeemable, but it’s quite a leap from “drug addict” to “committing actual treason”. And that’s a big part of what Fox et al. have been pushing: That he has actually betrayed the United States, and helped his father do the same.
---
### Author:  [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1088 "2024-04-29T19:50:54Z")
The underlying article:
> **[Lawyers for Hunter Biden plan to sue Fox News 'imminently'](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/lawyers-hunter-biden-plan-sue-fox-news-rcna149707)**
>
> A letter obtained by NBC News says action is pending because of Fox’s alleged "conspiracy and subsequent actions to defame Mr. Biden and paint him in a false light."
IANAL, but I _think_ it will be important, legally, to either declare HB a private citizen or a (limited) public figure.
IIRC, the Defamation standard for the former can be negligence, but the standard for the latter is actual malice.
There actually is precedent for a public figure to have a reputation _so bad_ that they could not legally be defamed:
> **[Is Your Reputation So Bad You Cannot Be Defamed? | JD Supra](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/is-your-reputation-so-bad-you-cannot-be-92700/)**
>
> According to a new ruling from a New York court, a public figure’s reputation can be so toxic that it is impossible to defame him. The...
BUT …
> The court summarized the libel-proof plaintiff doctrine as applying to “a plaintiff whose ‘reputation with respect to a specific subject may be so badly tarnished that he cannot be further injured by allegedly false statements on that subject.’”
So, in theory, Hunter Biden’s past drug-fueled exploits may NOT bar him from claiming the kind of Defamation of which Fox is surely to be accused.
🍿
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1089 "2024-04-30T20:31:23Z")
"… with respect to a specific subject… "
Hunter Biden could smoke all the crack in the world and that would still not give Hannity a free pass to say that Biden took a five million bribe.
> The letter alleges that Fox News knew that the bribery allegations were unverified at the time but continued to report that the source was “highly credible,” and demands corrections and retractions — including on-air statements by television hosts “including Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Maria Bartiromo, to inform their viewers on air that they have been sharing a debunked allegation from a source who has been federally indicted.”
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### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1090 "2024-04-30T21:02:15Z")
I agree, I hadn’t meant to slur him, I just meant in general, he didn’t have a pristine reputation.
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### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1091 "2024-05-01T11:12:31Z")
_You know he’s got a bad reputation, and it isn’t just talk talk talk…_
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1092 "2024-05-01T20:47:01Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#):
>
> ou know he’s got a bad reputation, and it isn’t just talk talk talk…
He appears to have committed some sort of tax fraud.
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### Author:  [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1093 "2024-06-03T07:21:08Z")
It seems that Hunter’s trial on gun charges starts this week, maybe this morning, in Wilmington. It must be distressing for their family as the President seems so close to his sons and family.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1094 "2024-06-03T17:19:05Z")
jury selection is underway and the various cable and news teams have descended on delaware.
one of the jury questions asks about personal knowledge of drug addiction. reports are many people raise their hands on that.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1095 "2024-06-03T17:51:35Z")
It warms my cockles to think of all the right wingers watching this in glee, polishing their guns while sipping whiskey, maybe hitting the coke stash, provided they’ve come down from the Oxy binge. Not to mention the plethora of meth lab parties featuring guns fired in the air in celebration that the scofflaw is getting his comeuppance.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1096 "2024-06-03T18:08:59Z")
they are at a lunch break, so far they have 34 going into the heavier questioning. the judge wants 36, so another round will happen after lunch.
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1097 "2024-06-03T19:19:51Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> It warms my cockles to think of all the right wingers watching this in glee, polishing their guns while sipping whiskey, maybe hitting the coke stash, provided they’ve come down from the Oxy binge. Not to mention the plethora of meth lab parties featuring guns fired in the air in celebration that the scofflaw is getting his comeuppance.
Me too. But to be fair, isn’t that their version of what we’ve been doing regarding trump’s legal woes?
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1098 "2024-06-03T19:33:58Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#):
>
> But to be fair, isn’t that their version of what we’ve been doing regarding trump’s legal woes?
Sure, but a little perspective: They’re cheering the prosecution of the president’s son for violations that impacted exactly no one, while we’re cheering the prosecution of a former president for felonies he committed in the process of becoming president.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1099 "2024-06-03T19:35:24Z")
Oddly, the section Hunter is accused of has long been held by the NRA to be unconstitutional. Which leads them to a quandary- if Hunter is convicted- then that section can be prosecuted more- which makes the NRA sad- but at least the “Biden Crime family” is hit. 🙄But if it is held to be unconstitutional (which, IMHO -it is) then Hunter goes free- which helps the NRA, but the that means the GOP has nothing to crow about.
If it was anyone other than Hunter, the NRA would be assisting in his defense.
[https://www.reuters.com/legal/what-are-criminal-charges-likely-defense-hunter-bidens-gun-trial-2024-06-03/](https://www.reuters.com/legal/what-are-criminal-charges-likely-defense-hunter-bidens-gun-trial-2024-06-03/)
## ARE THE CHARGE AGAINST HUNTER BIDEN UNUSUAL?
Y_es. The government rarely charges someone for false statements on gun purchase forms unless the accused is also charged with a violent crime, according to a Government Accountability Office [report, opens new tab](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-440.pdf) cited by Hunter Biden’s legal team. More than 80 million American adults own a firearm, but only about 1,000 a year are investigated for false statements on a gun purchase form, and even fewer are charged, according to the GAO._
So it _is_ politically motivated.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1100 "2024-06-03T19:38:42Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#):
>
> > [@Jack\_Batty](#):
> >
> > It warms my cockles to think of all the right wingers watching this in glee, polishing their guns while sipping whiskey, maybe hitting the coke stash, provided they’ve come down from the Oxy binge. Not to mention the plethora of meth lab parties featuring guns fired in the air in celebration that the scofflaw is getting his comeuppance.
>
> Me too. But to be fair, isn’t that their version of what we’ve been doing regarding trump’s legal woes?
I don’t know. I didn’t fuck that many hookers while celebrating Trump’s woes.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1101 "2024-06-03T19:47:35Z")
Pacing yourself?
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunter-biden-investigation-thread-started-in-2019-hunter-pardoned-on-december-1-2024/840964/1102 "2024-06-03T20:59:14Z")
That Biden controlled DOJ, directed by Biden, doing Biden’s bidding is merciless! Going after Biden’s own son.
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