There have already been statements from multiple Capitol Hill Democrats indicating that they believed Hunter’s activities had risen to the level of illegal and unethical activity — even from partisans like Jerry Nadler and Jamie Raskin. But the comment from Chris Murphy, viewed not just as a partisan but as a close White House ally on multiple fronts, that Hunter is “worthy of prosecution” in reaction to the latest California indictment has to be read as a message to Joe Biden: your re-election may well depend on what you do, or don’t do, about your son’s obvious crimes.

This is why the Hunter Biden appearance on Capitol Hill in the Senate swamp, arranged by Eric Swalwell, to hold a press conference on his defiance of a congressional subpoena has to be read not just as a defiant response to Hill Republicans but to Hill Democrats as well.

The decision Hunter, Abbe Lowell and the rest of his team made to go super aggressive instead of doing what the White House staff reportedly preferred — keeping his head down through the 2024 election — has been an unmitigated disaster.

[That scene outside of Congress certainly added to the disaster, too. Hunter appears to want to testify everywhere *except* where he has to on the record and under oath. That’s certainly his right, but stunts like the one this week keep escalating a scandal that Democrats would be far better off with more silence. Perhaps this is a message to both Hunter and Joe that both of them could become expendable very soon. — Ed]