Reporter corners KJP with Biden's own words about defying congressional subpoenas after Hunter Biden does exactly that



White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to reconcile Hunter Biden defying a congressional subpoena with President Joe Biden's words that such individuals must be prosecuted.

The elephant in the briefing room on Wednesday was Hunter Biden's Capitol Hill speech and his refusal to comply with a subpoena requiring that he testify before House investigators probing allegations of Biden family corruption.

The first two times reporters asked about the first son's defiance, Jean-Pierre refused to address the issue. "I’m just not going to speak to that," she said. But when a reporter asked if Biden watched his son's speech, Jean-Pierre said the president "was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say," suggesting the two had conversed about it beforehand. But she later declined to provide additional details as to what exactly she meant by "familiar."

Finally, a reporter confronted Jean-Pierre with Biden's own words about congressional subpoenas.

"You were asked what the president — what his stance was on people who defy congressional subpoenas. In 2021, he was asked that question specifically and said that he believed the Justice Department should prosecute them," the reporter noted.

"Is that still his position?" the reporter asked.

But Jean-Pierre took the coward's way out.

"I don't have anything to add to what you just quoted me from the president. I just don't have anything to add," she responded

.@DailyMail's @RobCrilly: "You were asked what the President -- what his stance was on people who defy congressional subponeas. In 2021, he was that...and he said he believes the Justice Dept should prosecute them. Is that still his position?"

KJP: "I don't have anything to add" pic.twitter.com/n6MZbocrxm
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 13, 2023


In October 2021, Biden was asked about individuals who had defied the Jan. 6 committee and ignored subpoenas requiring their testimony.

"I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable criminally," Biden responded.

When asked if he thinks that accountability should come in the form of Justice Department prosecution, Biden confirmed, "I do, yes."

And that's exactly what happened. At the time of Biden's comments, Steve Bannon had ignored a congressional subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee. The Justice Department then secured an indictment against Bannon for contempt charges, and he was later found guilty and sentenced to prison.

— (@)

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Pro-mandate Rep. Eric Swalwell called out after being caught maskless in Florida: 'It's not hypocrisy. It's hierarchy.'



Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) – who claimed last week that Republicans "prolonged" the COVID-19 pandemic and caused vacations to be canceled – was caught maskless indoors while visiting in the red state of Florida.

The Daily Mail published photos of a casually dressed Swalwell sitting in the lobby of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel without a mask, holding his infant son while speaking to a woman.

Swalwell – who has fully supported strict COVID-19 protocols in California – lashed out at the publication for exposing him not wearing a face mask while indoors.

He tweeted, "They got me! Maskless, juggling a baby and a coffee while meeting with a Congolese queen. Pulitzer please!"

"Funny they didn’t use this picture in their headline, taking a cup of coffee to my mouth," Swalwell said on Wednesday. "And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank’s face. He’s too damn cute!"

Funny they didn\u2019t use this picture in their headline, taking a cup of coffee to my mouth. And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank\u2019s face. He\u2019s too damn cute!pic.twitter.com/y617ATH2u8
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1641424609

Swalwell's office gave a statement on his trip to Florida.

"The Congressman was in the Sunshine State to take official meetings and campaign to help Democrats keep the House," Swalwell's office said. "He loves Florida and has dozens of family members there. It is lies from unvaccinated Republicans that are prolonging the pandemic."

Swalwell has repeatedly scapegoated Republicans for the COVID-19 pandemic, including taking potshots at GOP leaders for refusing to enact mask mandates.

"As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic, you should know who has prolonged it," Swalwell wrote last Friday. "THESE GUYS. Republican liars. Your vacation cancelled. Your kids back to virtual learning. And back to masks everywhere. For blame look no farther than #TheseGuys."

Swalwell attacked GOP members in August, "THEY refuse to require masks. THEY LIE about vaccines. Your kids are in danger. Teachers are dying. Why? Because #THOSEGUYS in the Radical Republican Party."

Swalwell – who represents California's 15th Congressional District near San Francisco –has criticized the flexible pandemic management by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In March 2020, Swalwell called DeSantis "selfish" for not closing Florida beaches.

In August 2021, Swalwell chided DeSantis for giving Florida parents the decision to send their children to school with masks or not.

Christina Pushaw – the press secretary for DeSantis – slammed Swalwell for his getaway to the free state of Florida.

"If Swalwell truly believed his own rhetoric about COVID, Florida, and mandates, he would not take his maskless unvaccinated baby to Loews Hotel South Beach during the Omicron case surge in Miami," Pushaw wrote on Twitter. "It's not hypocrisy. It's hierarchy."

Pushaw added, "I thought Democrats believed Florida is a dystopia of sickness and death."

Swalwell joins fellow Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in ditching face masks to enjoy a retreat in mandate-free Florida. AOC was labeled as a "hypocrite" after she was caught partying maskless at a crowded drag queen bar in Miami on Sunday.

After being called out for alleged hypocrisy, AOC attempted to deflect from the controversy by claiming that she was only criticized by conservatives because "Republicans are mad they can’t date me."

On Monday, DeSantis commented on Democrats flocking to Florida.

"If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida over the last two years, I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man, let me tell you," DeSantis quipped. "I mean, congresspeople, mayors, governors, I mean, you name it."

He added that Floridians often question lockdown-happy leaders who escape to the Sunshine State.

"I think a lot of Floridians say, 'Wait a minute, you’re bashing us because we’re not doing your draconian policies, and yet we’re the first place you want to flee to, to basically be able to enjoy life.'"

Internet reactions to photos of Obama's supposed 'scaled back' birthday bash boasting massive tents for celebrities: 'Do you feel like a peasant yet?'



Former President Barack Obama is throwing a huge birthday party for himself at his opulent $12 million waterfront mansion on Martha's Vineyard on Saturday. The birthday bash was originally supposed to include nearly 500 guests and more than 200 staff, but the celebration was "significantly scaled back" to include "only family and close friends" due to criticism over holding a social gathering of that size during a surge in COVID-19 infections.

However, photos emerged of massive tents constructed specifically for the birthday party on Obama's 29-acre estate. There were also images of celebrities arriving at Martha's Vineyard to attend the festivities. The internet was quick to point out that the preparations for the party looked anything other than "scaled back."

Several celebrities were reportedly invited and then uninvited, including late-night talk show hosts David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" actor Larry David, and David Axelrod, chief strategist for Obama's presidential campaigns, according to the New York Times.

The celebrities who did make the cut include Beyonce, Jay-Z, Eddie Vedder, Tom Hanks, and musician Questlove, who reportedly coordinated a meat-free menu for the party. "Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay had pulled out of the party earlier because of concerns over the Delta variant," the Times reported. Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen, and George Clooney were reportedly on the original guest list, according to the New York Post. There were no reports of Obama's "bro" and former vice president Joe Biden attending the birthday party.

The New York Times added that the attendees of the party would be a "mostly vaccinated crowd," but "all of whom had to submit negative tests to gain entry to the property."

The party had been planned for months, and "the former president had baseball caps made for the occasion that read '44 at 60.'"

The Daily Mail released photos of massive tents on the Obamas' grandiose grounds. The outlet also published photos of celebrities arriving at the wealthy Massachusetts enclave for Obama's 60th birthday party, including Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Dwayne Wade, Gabriel Union, Don Cheadle, and Stephen Colbert. Biden's climate czar, John Kerry, was seen in photos taking a private jet to Martha's Vineyard.

EXCLUSIVE: Obama's 60th birthday bash looks anything but intimate as huge tents are erected on his $12M Martha's Vi… https://t.co/JfLmqD7Wzh

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) 1628297308.0


JUST IN - Massive tents are erected ahead of Obama's 60th "scaled back" birthday bash on Martha's Vineyard.… https://t.co/DqlIoG3qBQ

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) 1628339097.0


“Scaled Back” https://t.co/wvSLvGM1We

— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) 1628298626.0

The internet reactions to Obama's swanky and seemingly over-the-top birthday party complete with circus-like tents were delivered fast and furious.

  • "Do what we say, not what we do."
  • "The hypocrisy is the point."
  • "These are the people calling you selfish if you don't want to close your small business."
  • "Do you feel like a peasant yet?"
  • "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
  • "The virus so deadly the elites risk their lives for a birthday party!"
  • "Look, news outlets raised cane when @POTUS45 held events at his compound in Florida during the pandemic. Now. @BarackObama celebrating his 60th with a tent larger than a lot of homes. It's just the news cycle. Stay healthy."

This is the tent for Obama’s “scaled back” birthday party where only close friends & family were said to attend. In… https://t.co/hUlhc3ePdB

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) 1628349304.0

Food vendor, 65, says he was beaten after confronting woman for taking US flag from cart and demanding it be replaced with Pride flag



A 65-year-old food vendor told the New York Post a woman took a U.S. flag from the cart he was helping operate Sunday night outside Washington Square Park in Manhattan and demanded that a Pride flag replace it.

But when Nader Hassaneen confronted the woman, he told the paper she got angry. And then she and others physically attacked him, he added to the Post.

"I have a broken nose. They say I might need surgery," Hassaneen told the Post. "When I saw the blood in my cap, and I was bleeding from my nose, I thought I was going to bleed to death."

Pride festivities had been going on all day in the park, the paper said.

Food vendor attacked Pride party in Washington Square Park reveals revelers broke his nose and left him fearing for… https://t.co/wN7L9lj4ef

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) 1625044451.0

What are the details?

Hassaneen — an Egyptian immigrant who retired from street vending because of a heart condition — told the paper he decided to help his son's friend with his food cart.

He told the Post in Arabic as his daughter translated that he was punched and that hot sauce was tossed in his eyes.

"My eyes were burning. A lot of people were hurting me and pushing me around. They punched in the back of the head. I didn't know I was bleeding," he said.

Here's the clip. Hassaneen is in the yellow shirt:

Rioters at a NYC Pride event assaulted a food cart operator. He (in the neon green shirt) was left bloodied on the… https://t.co/vrEm2Y5yaa

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) 1624853333.0

"I felt safe because the cops were around. There were about 30 or 40 cops near the arch," Hassaneen added to the paper, "but I was scared when they came at me. There were a lot of people coming at me at the same time."

Police said the brawl broke out over prices of items — but a videographer who captured the beatdown claimed it was sparked by one of the cart workers hurling an anti-gay slur, the Post reported.

"I would never do that. I don't have a problem with them," Hassaneen told the paper. "I know it was their parade. It was their day. They came out to have fun and enjoy themselves."

Hassaneen's 24-year-old daughter Soha Ahmed told the Post her father seemed OK at the hospital — and then her tune changed after she saw the video.

"That's when I realized how bad it was," she said. "It's just not right. They are out there for love, and then it gets chaotic and violent."

The paper said no arrests have been made in connection with the attack on Hassaneen.