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FBI secretly taped James Biden as it probed attorney who paid $100K to his consulting firm

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 23:21:22 +0000

President Biden’s brother James was secretly recorded by the FBI during a bribery investigation into a Mississippi trial attorney who shelled out $100,000 to his consulting firm in the late 1990s, a report said on Sunday.

Richard Scruggs, the trial attorney, hired James and Sara Biden’s DC consulting firm while seeking to gin up support for tobacco legislation being contemplated by Congress in 1998, the Washington Post reported.

Neither James, 74, nor his brother President Joe Biden, 81, were implicated in any major criminal wrongdoing in the case. But the revelation comes amid an impeachment probe into alleged influence-peddling by the president’s family members.

“I probably wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t the senator’s brother,” Scruggs told the Washington Post about why he forked over cash to James Biden’s firm.

“Jim was never untoward about his influence,” he added. “He didn’t brag about it or talk about it. He didn’t have to. He was the man’s brother.”

Scruggs, who was later sent to prison over a separate bribery scheme, had been closing in on a deal to push the tobacco companies to cough up billions of dollars in a lawsuit alleging they withheld information that their products were addictive.

Richard ‘Dickie’ Scruggs served roughly five years in prison. NBC

Seeking some $368 billion, Scruggs needed Congress to waive antitrust provisions as part of a settlement deal. Joe Biden in 1997, initially said, he was “not yet convinced that this settlement is a good deal.”

Despite initially being reluctant, Joe Biden, who sat on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee as the ranking member, ultimately became one of its most significant backers.

Ultimately, the bill failed to clear Congress. Biden, at the time, cited an intense campaign by the tobacco industry that he claimed swayed Republicans.

Lion Hall

While seeking support from the then-Delaware senator, Scruggs made multiple $10,000 payments to Lion Hall, James and Sara Biden’s consulting firm, over roughly a year, according to the Washington Post.

Scruggs was unsure if James convinced his brother to back the bill, but told The Washington Post, “I hope he did.”

A lawyer for James Biden was adamant that his “work has never involved speaking with or providing access to his brother.” The lawyer has not responded to requests for additional comment from The Post.

Sara and James Biden’s financial machinations have drawn attention from House GOP investigators. AP

Lion Hall has come into focus for Republican congressional investigators looking into whether the president’s brother has used the company to filter money to the rest of the Biden family.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has flagged a $40,000 check marked as a “loan repayment” from James to Joe in 2017.

Comer alleges that the payment was “laundered” money from the Chinese government-linked CEFC. As evidence, Comer points to a series of transactions to the president’s brother’s account.

James Comer and Jim Jordan have been investigating the Biden family’s business dealings. Getty Images

The White House, however, has forcefully rejected that notion and highlighted bank records that indicate the president did indeed make a loan to his brother.

In November House GOP impeachment inquiry subpoenaed both James and Hunter Biden for testimony this month, but both men skipped it. Hunter Biden offered to testify publicly, but Republicans slapped that down, insisting that he appear behind closed doors.

Last week, the GOP-led House voted to formally authorize the impeachment probe into Biden over the alleged dealings.

Republicans have been mulling the possibility of holding Hunter Biden in contempt, which would then go to the Justice Department to decide whether or not to press charges.

The taping

Years after the tobacco bill hubbub, FBI authorities began to investigate Scruggs over an alleged bribery scheme involving supposed plans to funnel $40,000 to a local judge.

During that investigation, agents recorded phone calls, including ones from James Biden, according to the report. At the time, James Biden was reportedly attempting to create a firm with Scruggs partners.

Although James Biden was never implicated in the bribery scheme, Scruggs and some of his partners were ultimately sent to jail.

A lawyer for the president’s brother insisted he was never aware of that scheme and nascent plans for a partnership “never got off the ground.”

President Biden has reportedly been deeply bothered by the attacks on his family. Corbis via Getty Images

Recordings reviewed by the Washington Post showed much of the recorded calls James Biden was on, discussed the potential partnership.

“I told him we had formalized our relationship with you guys,” lawyer Tim Balducci told him during one call.

“I told him about the real Washington presence, that this was not going to be a bulls––, you know, a shingle hung somewhere in the window,” he added. “That this was a real deal, that Sara was coming on, you know, as a named partner, an equity share in the venture, that we were changing the name of the firm to include her.”

“Hunter was going to be involved, and you were going to be involved.”

Scruggs told the Washington Post that he never really intended to be part of that potential venture.

How Scruggs met the Bidens

Scruggs became chummy with Biden’s brother due to his ties with Steve Patterson, an aide to former Sen. John Stennis (D-Miss.), the Washington Post reported.

Stennis was a segregationist who differed dramatically from Biden during his early days in the upper chamber.

The eventual president became friendly with Patterson in the years that followed, as did his brother James. Patterson reportedly connected James and Scruggs during the 1990s.

“Biden wouldn’t have known anybody in Mississippi if not for me. That’s just a fact. I take ownership of that,” Patterson told the outlet. “Biden loved Mississippi.”

The president has insisted he was not ensnared in the financial maneuverings of his family. AP

The Post contacted the White House for comment. Scruggs was not available for comment.

The White House has contended there isn’t sufficient evidence to launch an impeachment probe and amplified several Republicans who have publicly aired their misgivings about the inquiry.

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Competitive CA races in 2024 election for House majority

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 17:26:55 +0000

WASHINGTON

The race for control of the House of Representatives in 2025 is a toss-up, analysts say, with 10 California contests likely to figure significantly in the final outcome.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Inside Elections and Elections Daily rank districts by partisan advantage. Forecasters rate close elections as “toss-up,” “leaning” or “likely” to go for a Democrat or Republican. Projections continue to shift — and did after Republicans picked a new House Speaker on Oct. 25.

Prospective candidates still have until mid-December to file for candidacy.

California had some of the nation’s closest House races in 2022, lifting Republicans to a slim majority and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, into the speaker’s chair in January. Nine months later, all Democrats joined eight GOP hardliners to vote him out, leading to several weeks of Republican infighting to select a successor. They settled on little-known Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, a staunchly conservative supporter of former President Donald Trump.

How Johnson’s speakership will affect 2024 elections is yet to be seen. Regardless, these are 10 California races to watch, along with how much money candidates reported in their third-quarter Federal Election Commission filings at the end of September:

Likely Republican

3rd Congressional District

Most analysts believe Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, will keep his seat, representing a district stretches from the northern Sierra Nevada along the Nevada border into Death Valley.

The freshman reported more than $1.5 million in the bank as of Sept. 30. Democrat Jessica Morse, who has worked in wildfire prevention, had about a third of that, close to $501,000. She fundraised well while running against Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, in 2018 but lost by an 8% margin.

Another Democrat, businessman Douglas Huhn, did not report any campaign cash for that period.

40th Congressional District

Rep. Young Kim, R-La Habra, will likely win in 2024, forecasters concur. The 40th holds parts of Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

She reported more than $2.2 million in reserve. Two Democrats had cash to run against her. Joe Kerr, a retired Orange County fire captain, disclosed almost $413,000. Allyson Damikolas, a Tustin school board trustee, had over $167,000.

Leans Republican

41st Congressional District

Most experts give Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, a slight advantage in the 41st. The Cook Political Report rates the Riverside County district a toss-up.

Calvert had his closest House race in over a decade in 2022, edging out Democrat Will Rollins by less than 4 percentage points. Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, is in for a 2024 rematch.

Calvert disclosed close to $2 million. Rollins, just under $1.5 million. Two other Democrats trailed by large margins.

45th Congressional District

Rep. Michelle Park Steel, R-Seal Beach, will edge out an opponent in the 45th, forecasters seem to agree. The 45th takes in parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties.

She showed almost $2.4 million in the bank. So far she has five Democratic challengers, but none who had more than $150,000 on hand at the end of September.

Toss-up

13th Congressional District

This was home to the nation’s second-closest House race in 2022, where Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, beat former Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, by fewer than 600 votes. Gray is running again so another tight race is expected.

The district, which holds all of Merced County and chunks of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin counties, voted for President Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020 by 11 percentage points. It has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

There are many challengers in the 13th but Duarte and Gray lead financially. Duarte reported over $1.2 million, Gray more than $197,000.

22nd Congressional District

After the ouster of McCarthy, Rep. David Valadao’s mentor and patron, most analysts rate the race in the 22nd as a toss-up.

Valadao, R-Hanford, faces a rematch with former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield. Valadao beat him by a 3% margin in 2022.

The 22nd, which has more Democrats than Republicans and picked Biden by 13 points in 2020, includes most of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Kern counties. Valadao has survived tough elections in that area before, having lost and regained his House seat by slim margins in 2018 and 2020.

State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Fresno, and pro-Trump conservative Chris Mathys are also competing for the seat.

The congressman reported nearly $1.2 million, Salas almost $158,000. Hurtado had over $33,000. Mathys, $500.

27th Congressional District

Most experts see a toss-up in this northern Los Angeles County district. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, faces Democrat George Whitesides, former CEO of Virgin Galactic and NASA chief of staff under President Barack Obama.

Garcia led in fundraising but Whitesides had more cash on hand after lending to his campaign, with over $1.7 million. Garcia had under $1.6 million.

Leans Democratic

47th Congressional District

Forecasters are divided on who has the advantage in the Orange County district that Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, is leaving to run for the Senate. Porter is among a handful of House Democrats running to succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

At least a dozen candidates are running in the 47th. Scott Baugh, an attorney and Republican Assemblyman from 1995 to 2000, showed the most cash on hand with almost $1.4 million. He ran against Porter in 2022 and lost by just over 3 percentage points.

Two Democrats led financially at the end of September. State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, reported nearly $826,000. He was sentenced to three years probation in August after being arrested in May for driving under the influence. Joanna Weiss, an attorney who founded a progressive voter education organization, showed nearly $833,000.

Likely Democratic

9th Congressional District

Three of the forecasting organizations think that the Stockton-anchored district held by Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, is likely rather than safely Democratic.

Harder had almost $2.3 million on hand. The leading Republican challenger, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, reported about $186,000. Republican John McBride, a strength and conditioning coach, had $3,404.

49th Congressional District

The consensus is that Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, will likely have the upper hand. The 49th covers northern coastal areas of San Diego County and has drawn four GOP candidates.

Levin reported under $1.1 million. Republicans with the most cash in reserve were Margarita Wilkinson, a media executive who had almost $882,000, and Matt Gunderson, a business owner who had almost $790,000. Both lent to their campaigns.

This story was originally published November 2, 2023, 6:00 AM.

How Speaker Mike Johnson affects CA Republican 2024 elections

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:09:24 +0000

WASHINGTON

California’s House Republicans have finally gained a Speaker of the House, but at what cost in 2024?

Many of the state’s GOP congressional incumbents were already in tough positions headed into next year. The removal of fellow Californian Rep. Kevin McCarthy, their valued fundraiser and political patron, in favor of Rep. Mike Johnson, who devised a legal argument to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, may place them on even more unstable ground.

For Republicans to maintain their slim House majority, they will need to hold the line in California.

But they “are now associated with one of the most far-right elements of MAGA, the MAGA Republican Whig Party,” said GOP consultant Mike Madrid. “And as much as they try to omit that, the Democrats will make sure that that everybody understands that connection.”

All House Republicans supported Johnson in Wednesday’s floor vote, ending three weeks of infighting and dysfunction over a successor to McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. His Oct. 3 ouster was engineered by a small group of ultra-conservative members and Democrats. After the candidacies of three potential replacements (Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Rep. Jim Jordan and GOP Whip Tom Emmer) collapsed, the little-known four-term Louisianan — the least experienced speaker in 140 years — finally emerged as a palatable choice for the hard right and other caucus factions.

“It’s not that Mike Johnson is really fundamentally different than Kevin McCarthy or Donald Trump,” Mike Madrid, a GOP consultant, said. “This is the realization that this isn’t an abstract thing anymore. This is an existential threat to the values that a lot of Republicans — especially women, college-educated women are facing — and they’re saying, ‘I’ve had enough.’”

“You have to remember that the Republicans have done very poorly with their own base in the last three straight election cycles,” he said. “And this is lining up to make it a fourth.”

Who is Mike Johnson?

With war in the Middle East and a mid-November deadline to avert a government shutdown, the urgency of filling the speaker’s chair was mounting by the day.

From the chaos emerged Johnson, 51, with a low public profile but a penchant for highly conservative ideology.

A constitutional law attorney, Johnson argued in the wake of the 2020 election that several states improperly changed their voting laws to ease ballot access in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He asserted that this was unconstitutional and provided House Republicans a reason to reject election results.

He solicited House GOP support to file an amicus brief in a long-shot Texas lawsuit seeking to throw out Electoral College votes from multiple states. He also served as part of the former president’s defense team through two Senate impeachment trials.

As part of the Republican Study Committee, a kind of in-house policy think tank, he supported slashing Social Security and Medicare benefits. Johnson, who identifies as a Christian, said the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision protecting federal abortion rights was “an egregious error.” He is strongly against abortion access, and garners top ratings from nonprofit Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Last year, he introduced legislation to bar discussion of sexual orientation, gender identity and related subjects at institutions that receive federal funds, mirroring a Florida law. Johnson also opposes gender-affirming care for minors, blasting it and LGBTQ identities at a hearing he held in July.

“Those issues are really working with fewer and fewer Republicans,” Madrid said, “which is why you’re seeing a lot of these nominal districts, especially in Orange County and in Mike Garcia’s district, go back and forth between Republicans and Democrats.”

California Republicans in tough elections

Democrats are already piling onto California Republicans facing close 2024 elections.

“Mike Johnson is Jim Jordan with a sports coat — possibly worse — and he has a new posse of best friends in California …” said Dan Gottlieb, a spokesman for the Democratic Campaign Committee. “These GOP shills have enabled MAGA extremism every step of the way, and we’ll make sure that voters know that they once again put the far-right before California workers and families.”

Meanwhile California Republicans in tough races put out statements focused less on Johnson and more on returning to work.

Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, without using Johnson’s name, said: “We have a crisis at our southern border, one of our closest allies in the Middle East at war, and a deadline to fund the government in less than 30 days. The House elected a Speaker so we can get back to work on these issues…”

Valadao is one of five GOP incumbents in districts Biden carried in 2020, and is one of seven whose seat is considered at risk. His race leans ever-so-slightly in his favor, election analysts say, with some rating it as a toss-up. Former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, who fell to Valadao last year by a 3% margin, and State Sen. Melissa Hurtado have declared as Democratic challengers.

Also in trouble are Reps. John Duarte, R-Modesto, and Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, whose races are predominantly considered toss-ups. Both represent districts that Biden won.

Duarte, a first-term Republican representing an agriculture-heavy district, won election by fewer than 600 votes in 2022 and faces the same opponent, Democrat Adam Gray, next year.

Garcia has new Democratic challengers after beating out former Assemblywoman Christy Smith last year. Garcia became the first California Republican in two decades to flip a district represented by a Democrat; he won a special election in 2020.

Reps. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, and Ken Calvert, R-Corona, also face races that currently lean slightly in their favor, according to analysts. Rep. Young Kim, R-La Habra, has a more secure seat, however he also represents a Biden district. And forecasters note Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, is not guaranteed to win next year.

Losing McCarthy

Losing McCarthy in leadership puts California Republicans in a tough spot. With his formidable fundraising, McCarthy has been a significant source of cash for the state GOP, often using his assets to protect vulnerable incumbents.

Through PACs associated with McCarthy and his own campaign committee, he has steered about $4.8 million this year to the campaigns of the seven at-risk incumbents, according to a review of Federal Election Commission filings. That makes up a significant portion of their fundraising.

The McCarthy-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC founded in 2011, and its associated groups have raised about $80 million this election cycle. CLF, which will be controlled by the next speaker, raised about $645 million under McCarthy.

Important too is what Matt Rexroad, another GOP consultant, called the “McCarthy machine.”

“Does [Johnson] have the support of the McCarthy machine in terms of the infrastructure? Will they replace a lot of people at the Congressional Leadership Fund?” Rexroad asked. “All these sorts of things are very secondary but really important: After you elect the speaker, then what do you do after that? Some speakers are better than others in terms of the political operations.”

Their best bet for speaker was McCarthy, said Rexroad. But the path forward for House Republicans under an inexperienced speaker, no matter who, is unclear.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that the best thing for the California delegation was to have Kevin McCarthy remain as speaker, but I don’t know,” he said. “There’s obviously going to be some drop off because there was no member of that caucus or organization that was better. But how much this drop off is, I really just don’t know.”