(CNN) � In the wake of Hunter Biden’s conviction on federal gun charges Tuesday, right-wing media personalities sought to downplay the jury’s decision, falsely claiming the case was a “fake trial� designed to “cover up� other supposed crimes committed by the president and his family.
The reaction showcased how far to the fringesÌýtheÌýright-wing and pro-Trump mediaÌýecosystem hasÌýdrifted in recent years, withÌýhigh-profile personalities defaulting toÌýconspiracy theoriesÌýandÌýinnuendo in response toÌýinconvenient political news.
“Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn,� right-wing talk show host Charlie Kirk wrote. “The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear ‘balanced.� Don’t fall for it.�
While right-wing figures and Republicans have long pushed the narrative that President Joe Biden has been involved in criminal activity, their claims have repeatedly fallen flat.ÌýBut theÌýreactionÌýrippled throughout the pro-Trump worldÌýTuesdayÌýwithÌýother far-right influencers and Trump-boosting Republicans echoing theÌýsentiment.
“They went after Hunter on his gun stuff to make you overlook all his Ukraine stuff,â€� Jack Posobiec,Ìýthe far-right conspiracy theoristÌýand Real America’s Voice host,ÌýwroteÌýon X.
Donald Trump’s campaign alsoÌýslammedÌýthe verdict,ÌýpushingÌýthe conspiracy theory that the president had taken money from foreign governments.
“This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine,� the Trump campaign said a statement to CNN. “Crooked Joe Biden’s reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.�
There isÌýÌýJoe Biden has received large sums of money from China or has otherwise gained wealth as a result of his son’s business dealings abroad.
The former president’s sonÌýDonald Trump Jr.Ìýalso alleged in a live conversation on X that the younger Biden’s trial was “not what it seems.â€�
“It’s trying to create that illusion of equal justice under the law,â€Ìýhe claimed.
Instead, Trump Jr. alleged the caseÌýwas a “cover upâ€� for the “real charges and all the things that tied back to Joe Biden himself lapse, drop, expire in terms of statute of limitations.â€�
Many of the former president’s supporters alsoÌýreacted withÌýsimilarÌýsentiments.
“They want you focused on the shiny little object of Hunter’s gun so you’re not focused on the Bidens making bank selling out America,â€ÌýMonica Crowley, the former Trump administration officialÌýand Fox News contributor, wrote on X.
The reaction stood in contrast to just last month when former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts inÌýtheÌýNew YorkÌýhush money trial. ForÌýothersÌýin the right-wing sphere, it’s simple; Trump’s case was a political hit job while Hunter Biden’s case was a clear case of someone breaking the law.
“We have gone over a cliff,� Fox News host Jeanine Pirro said shortly after Trump was found guilty. “This is a new era in America, and I think it goes against the ilk of who we are as Americans and our faith in the criminal justice system.�
ButÌýon Tuesday after the juryÌýdelivered itsÌýguilty verdict, PirroÌýapplauded theÌýDelawareÌýjudgeÌý-Ìýa Trump appointeeÌý-ÌýforÌýherÌýhandling of the Hunter Biden case.
“This is a no-nonsense judge who took this case, showed America how a case worked and moved it right from opening statement to verdict,� she said.
Virginia Rep. Bob Good,Ìýwho leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus,Ìýoffered a similar assessment.
“Hunter Biden is convicted of an actual crime. Donald Trump was railroaded by a political prosecutor and a biased judge,â€Ìýhe posted on X.
Meanwhile,ÌýMark Levin, the right-wing talk radioÌýpersonalityÌýand Fox News weekend host, wrote that Biden was convicted “in a real trial (not a farce like Manhattan).â€�
Still, other Trump boosting Republicans reacted with aÌýshrugÌý.
“The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh,â€� Florida GOP Rep. MattÌýGaetzÌýÌýon X.
The-CNN-Wire
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