Democrats and Republicans Split on What Hunter Biden’s Conviction Says About the Rule of Law

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Following the felony convictions of Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, media from the left and right have framed the consequences for rule of law in the U.S. differently.

Trump’s False Narrative: In an opinion labeled an analysis from CNN Opinion (Left bias), Stephen Collinson claimed Hunter Biden’s conviction shattered “the false notion that (Trump) is a victim of a weaponized legal system by a Justice Department that exclusively targets Republicans.” Collinson argued that “truth rarely matters” to conservatives and Republicans, and that the “survival of the rule of law in America” could depend on whether President Biden wins a second term.

Republicans Unfazed: An analysis from NBC News (Lean Left bias) noted reactions to the Hunter Biden verdict from many key Republicans and how it compared to Trump’s. NBC aired quotes from some Republicans who believe the Hunter Biden conviction hurts Trump’s narrative that the justice system is weaponized against conservatives, but ultimately concluded that “the consensus among Republicans” is the verdict “did Trump no real political favor.”

Democrat Perspectives: A report from Fox News (Right bias) highlighted several statements from Democrats who claimed the Republican claims that the justice system is unfairly weaponized are proven wrong by Hunter Biden’s conviction. Notably, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said, “The Republicans are attacking our entire system of justice and the rule of law” over Trump’s conviction, but that there isn’t “a single Democrat crying foul” over Hunter’s verdict.

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An unprecedented two weeks of legal drama that yielded historic convictions of a former president and a sitting president’s son have also produced a clear political takeaway.

The survival of the rule of law in America and untainted justice may depend on the choice voters make in November.

The country’s divergent possible paths under President Joe Biden or presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump were highlighted in the way both men, their families and their political operations reacted to the twin trials and verdicts.

Former President Donald Trump's argument about the "weaponization" of the justice system just ran smack into a Delaware jury's conviction of President Joe Biden's son Hunter.

The result, according to some Republicans, is a major blow to one of Trump's favorite talking points — and a boost to Biden's case that he respects the rule of law.

Congressional Democrats criticized their Republican counterparts over alleged hypocrisy after they were not satisfied when President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty of federal firearms charges on Tuesday. 

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., remarked that "my Republican friends have gone on and on about how Democrats have weaponized the [Department of Justice], but their conspiracy theories crumbled this morning when Hunter Biden, the son of the president, was found guilty in a federal court on three gun-related charges."