“We are deeply disturbed by these reports and have insisted that Hugh return any monies received.” “Neither Hillary nor I had any knowledge of such payments,” Bill Clinton said. Rodham returned the money after controversy erupted and his sister and brother-in-law delivered intense public criticism. At the very end of the Clinton administration, Hugh Rodham received $400,000 for his work in obtaining a pardon and sentence commutation for two clients. After Hillary Clinton’s brothers Tony and Hugh Rodham got involved in a hazelnut-harvesting business in Georgia (the former Soviet republic, not the state), the Clinton White House pressured them to drop their activities. Other first families went further in distancing themselves from their troublesome relatives. Then-Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, left, greets Tony, center, and Hugh Rodham during their meeting in Tbilisi, on Aug. The Carter White House flatly disassociated itself from Billy’s Libyan connections. Jimmy Carter’s brother Billy became the face of the failed launch of “Billy Beer,” an homage to his favorite recreational activity, and - more seriously - took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government of Libya to apply his well-honed diplomatic skills. A furious Nixon ripped up one of the signs.) (Democratic prankster Dick Tuck once arranged for signs to appear at a Chinatown rally for Nixon in his 1962 governor’s race with the words “How About the Hughes Loan?” printed in Chinese. Richard Nixon was plagued for years by his brother Donald’s financial life, most notably a $200,000 loan he received from the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. FDR refused the offer, simply shaking his head about his son’s behavior. Douglas, offered to resign out of frustration over James’ conduct. Roosevelt’s son James, who was a paid member of the White House staff, was so cavalier about using his position to enrich himself that the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, future Supreme Court Justice William O. But Biden has several options for how to proceed, particularly if he wants to follow a blueprint from the past.įranklin D. It’s a history that may prove useful to Biden if he is forced to grapple with the indictment of his son - an episode that would be agonizing for a parent and politically treacherous for a president. Want to read more stories like this? POLITICO Weekend delivers gripping reads, smart analysis and a bit of high-minded fun every Friday. The idea that a president’s family member might be using those ties to enhance their bank account has a long line of antecedents - and an equally long line of political foes looking to turn those efforts into political ammunition. (Whatever the findings of the House Oversight Committee, it’s undeniable that Hunter Biden received hefty paychecks from foreign-based firms at the time Joe Biden was vice president. Partisans are always on the lookout for a juicy target, and ultimately the relatives of presidents often find it appealing to “monetize” their family ties that’s especially true when foreign governments and companies with deep pockets suddenly discover their incredible business acumen. Today, Comer’s words raise a different question: not whether any of his party’s members finds them objectionable - so far, crickets - but whether anyone is even surprised that the opposition party is probing the misdeeds, real and otherwise, of presidential families. James Comer speaks during a press conference on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s investigation into the Biden family on May 10, 2023.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |