On first day of House Judiciary Committee hearings on impeachment the Republican attorney, Paul Taylor, quoted, and read aloud, a section of Neal Katyal’s book “Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump.” Katyal is a former Solicitor General for the United States. Here’s what the Republican attorney quoted and supported with a graphic of the words.
“Is what Hunter Biden did wrong? Absolutely. Hunter Biden had no real experience in the energy sector, which made him wholly unqualified to sit on the board of Burisma. The only logical reason the company could have had for appointing him was his ties to Vice President Biden. This kind of nepotism isn’t only wrong; it is a potential danger to our country, since it makes it easier for foreign powers to buy influence … No politician, from either party, should allow a foreign power to conduct this kind of influence peddling with their family members.”
Take note of those ellipses before the last sentence. The inquiring mind should want to know what is in them. Prepare to be appalled. I shall now redo the quote, adding the missing text excluded by Mr. Taylor, in bold.
“Is what Hunter Biden did wrong? Absolutely. Hunter Biden had no real experience in the energy sector, which made him wholly unqualified to sit on the board of Burisma. The only logical reason the company could have had for appointing him was his ties to Vice President Biden. This kind of nepotism isn’t only wrong; it is a potential danger to our country, since it makes it easier for foreign powers to buy influence. The thing is it is not illegal. That’s why Hunter Biden didn’t hide his involvement in Burisma. And it’s why President Trump’s children — Ivanka, Don Junior, and Eric — continue to conduct business around the world with impunity. As does President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who works in the White House. No politician, from either party, should allow a foreign power to conduct this kind of influence peddling with their family members.”
Mr. Katyal had some strong words regarding this distortion of his writing by the Republicans.
Katyal added that, “The Republicans have no defense of the President. They have to resort to lies like this.”
Mr. Katyal is correct. This incident only underscores the dishonesty that is required to defend Trump.
Mr. Katyal is also correct in suggesting that an attorney pulling this kind of stunt in a legal brief, to mislead the court, could be subject to disciplinary action. Paul Taylor committed a clearly unethical act showing as lack of candor to the tribunal.
