The Grassley Report

[George K]

In a series of tweets, Kimberly Strassel summarizes:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1308815375841112064.html

1. The Johnson-Grassley report raises the many and disturbing conflicts of interests surrounding Hunter's biz dealings while Joe was veep. But it also makes clear that the Democratic nominee is not being straight with the public.

2. Joe Biden last year: "I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings." That's pretty definitive, right? Yet according to testimony from former Obama official Amos Hochstein, he briefed Joe on his concerns about Hunter/Burisma in October 2015... AND

3. "Shortly after his conversation with Vice President Biden, Hunter Biden contacted Hochstein and
   asked to meet. According to Hochstein, Hunter became aware of Hochstein’s West Wing conversation with the Vice President, who had mentioned it to Hunter." (Page 17 of report)

4. So, Joe Biden was specifically briefed on the U.S. govs concerns about Hunter/Burisma, and he specifically brought up those concerns to his son. How does that comport with "I have never spoken"?? If Joe isn't asked about this at the debate, it will be journalistic malpractice.

5. The report similarly shows that despite former Sec of State John Kerry saying he had no knowledge of any of this, that in fact he too was briefed on Hunter. Seems a lot of people in Obama administration knew this was a problem, but nobody acted.

6. This is all relevant given Biden's claim he is the more ethical choice in this election. Voters might legitimately ask if the wink-nod approach to Hunter's wheeling-dealing will be business as usual in a Biden administration.

[Loki]

File under Scranton vs. Park Avenue

[George K]

Oh, look...

[xenon]

I haven't been following this closely. What did Hunter do wrong (outside of earning money from a Ukrainian/Russian business)?

$1M a month for an advisor sounds ridiculous to the lay person - as someone in the professional services industry, I can tell you the amount of money doesn't make me blink.

[George K]

"Vice President Mike Pence's son was given $3.5 million by the wife of the mayor of Moscow."

How does that sit with you?
Does that make you blink?
Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

"Vice President Mike Pence's son was awarded multiple contracts with companies based in China."

How does that sit with you?
Does that make you blink?
Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

[Horace]

@xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

[Copper]

Sure, a million a month is chump change.

But a million a month for nothing is the stuff that blinks are made of.

[xenon]

@Horace said in The Grassley Report:

@xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

In management consulting - a couple of fresh outta school analysts, a couple of newish MBAs + a manager that's been doing it for 3+ with a fractional allocation of a partner is in that neighborhood.

Almost every single corporation in America buys teams (usually multiple) like that. Elite lawyers are in the same range.

My understanding with these foreign firms is that they want to show recognizable American advisors to lend an air of respectability and professionalism to their operations. Again - that feels about as valuable (or in the same ballpark) as getting important legal or business advice.

Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

[Horace]

Well, I've watched the company I work for throw money at high tech consultancy firms to develop products that we don't have the horses in the building to develop. The qualifier that it is for a team puts a different spin on it.

[Horace]

It's been interesting to watch the ability level of the consultancy teams we throw money at, for the lack of the ability in the building. Generally the consultancy firm has one or two legit smart folk and a bunch of rando mediocrities. The building, i.e. my company, is about the same but a way higher denominator of mediocrities.

[Mik]

It's interesting that in 2009 Hunter said he was leaving lobbying to prevent reputational conflicts with his father as VP. Then a few years later he ends up making money in the country his father is working closely with.

Must be his management expertise.

[Rainman]

@George-K said in The Grassley Report:

"Vice President Mike Pence's son was given $3.5 million by the wife of the mayor of Moscow."

How does that sit with you?
Does that make you blink?
Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

"Vice President Mike Pence's son was awarded multiple contracts with companies based in China."

How does that sit with you?
Does that make you blink?
Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

So, if Pence's son got millions, and Hunter Biden got 10s of millions, who is more corrupt?
That's like the old joke of "if I pay you a million, would you sleep with me" and the punch line, "so we know you're not moral, it's all in negotiating a price." Or, something like that.

How about Pence step down because he is so moral, and Trump could pick a black female VP?

[Copper]

@xenon said in The Grassley Report:

@Horace said in The Grassley Report:

Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

I worked with several Fortune 100 companies. I worked for a Fortune 1 company for a number of years.

I remember being and hiring consultants.

I don't remember us paying or being paid hundreds of millions, or even $3.5 million, for nothing. Usually there was something expected in return for the money.

[George K]

@Copper said in The Grassley Report:

I don't remember us paying or being paid hundreds of millions, or even $3.5 million

You guys had the wrong fathers.

[taiwan_girl]

@Copper said in The Grassley Report:

@taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

@Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

Or you won’t be in that country.

It's one thing to get involved with that as a private businessman

The vice-president is a different story

But okay for the president?

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are the two top officials in the Trump organization. Do you not think that when they do business in foreign countries now, this does not matter that their father is President of the US?

(Before anybody say anything, i do not think that the Trump Organization should have shut down just because President Trump became President. And I also know that the Trump organization had business in many countries before President Trump became president.

I actually dont know much about Vice President Biden son and his business.

I think it is pretty obvious that connections "open doors" that would not be open instead, regardless if it is Vice President Biden son, President Trump children, the son/daughter of a famous musician/movie actor, etc.)

[Copper]

How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

[taiwan_girl]

@Copper said in The Grassley Report:

How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

It is not for nothing. They are expecting some sort of influence.

Maybe their company (Company X) wants to do a project in Country A. They are competing against Company Y. Company Y comes in cheaper, but the project rules are are changed such that only Company X can win.

Why would they do that? Because the person high up in teh company is the son of the Vice President or President. I think it is nave to think it is not going on.

[Mik]

TG, do you think that if the Trump boys were out selling influence internationally that would not have been screamed from the rafters already? It's really not believable and you have no evidence, just unfounded assumption.

[xenon]

@Copper said in The Grassley Report:

@xenon said in The Grassley Report:

@Horace said in The Grassley Report:

Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

I worked with several Fortune 100 companies. I worked for a Fortune 1 company for a number of years.

I remember being and hiring consultants.

I don't remember us paying or being paid hundreds of millions, or even $3.5 million, for nothing. Usually there was something expected in return for the money.

Say you're a portfolio manager looking for foreign energy companies to invest in - Perhaps Russian/Ukranian ones.

All else being equal - one had a board full of Ukranian natives and the other having some well known ex-pats on it. Which one would you choose?

Mabye Hunter was corrupt. I have no idea. But getting paid $1M a month to be a board member of a foreign company is by no means a criminal indictment.

Famous board members get paid craploads for essentially not delivering anything all the time.

[Mik]

Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.