Flotsam and Jetsam - Biden Impeachment Inquiry Begins, Hunter Commits Contempt, Supes Take Up J6 Cases, Trump Trials on Ice

I don't have that much saved up for the morning, but it was a pretty big day. First, the House voted to open an impeachment investigation into Joe Biden, along party lines, without any defectors in the Republican ranks. Second, as he previously threatened, Hunter Biden blew off the subpoena from the House of Representatives, instead choosing to appear on the House steps and give a prepare statement about how the mean MAGA pubs were picking on him to get to his dad (true enough) and that his dad had never played a "financial role" in his various and sundry business adventures. Third, the Supreme Court took up a challenge to one of the most serious charges being levelled at J6 protesters and Donald Trump, the obstruction of official proceedings (a law designed in the wake of Enron to cover the obfuscation of financial crimes) which, if overturned, could throw out a huge mass of J6 convictions, as well as charges against Trump. Finally, after the Supreme Court accepted Special Persecutor Jack Smith's plea for expedited decision on Trump's claim of sovereign immunity on a wide swath of his charges, Judge Shitcan shut down the proceedings of Jack Smith's cases in DC until that decision is made. 

USA Today whines that  House Republicans authorize Joe Biden impeachment investigation in major escalation. From NewsMax, House OKs Biden Impeachment Inquiry as GOP Rallies Behind Investigation. Matt Margolis at PJM, House Votes to Formally Authorize Biden Impeachment Inquiry. At Da Signal, Biden Could Be Impeached for Bribery, House GOP Members Say. Althouse reads the NYT so you don't need to, "House Set to Approve Biden Impeachment Inquiry as It Hunts for an Offense." "The NYT reports (with distaste)."

Rolling Stone goes with Republicans Rage After Hunter Biden Snubs Subpoena. Ace rages THE CRIMINAL HUNTER BIDEN DEFIES CONGRESS, IGNORES SUBPEONA FOR TESTIMONY in red font "You son of a bitch. He gave a public statement, not under oath, but refused to actually answer questions posed by impeachment officers under oath." At Da Signal, Why Chip Roy Says Hunter Biden ‘Gave Up the Game’ "President Joe Biden’s son—indicted last week on federal tax charges—didn’t do a deposition, but did a press conference outside the Capitol, saying his father wasn’t “financially involved” in his business. The qualifier suggested the president was involved in Hunter Biden’s business activity, said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a member of the House Judiciary Committee–one of three House panels authorized to conduct an impeachment inquiry into the president." Hat Hair's Capt. Ed comments "Yes, although this is more of a political rather than legal admission. Hunter would have been better off keeping his mouth shut entirely, either way. He faces a multiple-count federal indictment, and talking publicly could jeopardize whatever defense his attorneys plan to make. Plus, House Republicans can point out that Hunter had no problem speaking to the press but continues to duck Congress." And as long as we're discussing Hunter, Althouse brings "Hunter is... a domestic offender of a more mundane stripe, his misdeeds largely outside the reach of the law, involving serious harm..." from the New Yorker. Dan Zimmerman at the Truth About Guns notes Hunter Biden’s Attorneys Argue That Drug Users Can No Longer Be Barred from Gun Ownership.

Hat Hair's Dave Strom, Whoa...Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal on Jan. 6 Case That Could Change Everything "The Supreme Court has just granted cert to an appeal by Joseph Fischer, who was charged with obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and thus faces a severe sentence. The charges are based on a law passed in the early aughts (2002). Those charges are based solely on his trespass and not on any violence or destruction. . . . Bloomberg Law’s take on the Court’s consideration of the case is, unsurprisingly, driven by the fact that it might upend some of the charges leveled at Trump. And it is hard to criticize that focus because, well…Trump. He is the big dog, and if Fischer wins his appeal some of the cases against Trump either get complicated or even go away." Sundance at CTH dances Supreme Court Will Hear Dispute Over Twisted Jack Smith Obstruction Law Used to Indict J6 Defendants and Donald Trump.  At Twitchy, the redoubtable Julie Kelly Lays Out What SCOTUS Taking This Case Could Mean for J6 Defendants, Trump & the DOJ.

HOLY SH*T: Supreme Court will review 1512(c)(2), obstruction of an official proceeding case.

This is felony used against 300+ J6ers and represents half of Jack Smith's indictment against Trump.

If SCOTUS determines DOJ has misused the statute...will be a game changer.

My…

— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) December 13, 2023

Matt Margolis at PJM, Judge Halts January 6 Case Against Trump "Judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing the case involving former President Trump and the bogus allegations against him regarding the 2020 election, surprisingly acknowledged her lack of jurisdiction in the case and put it on hold as the court awaits a decision by the Supreme Court to take up the case, according to a report from Fox News." From NewsMax, US Judge Pauses Trump's 2020 Election Case While He Appeals Immunity Ruling. Sundance, Judge Chutkan Indicates She Will Have to Pause DC Prosecution Until Presidential Immunity Decided. "Overall, this has been a very bad day for the Lawfare team, as they run into judicial processes that cannot be facilitated by politically motivated higher courts."

That's enough to digest for breakfast.