Kevin McCarthy and Hunter Biden: Winner and Loser of the Day

Speaker of the House outsted, Pres. Joe Biden's son pleads not guilty to gun charges

I wrote about Hunter Biden’s court appearance on gun charges — it’s below. As I was about to hit the send button, the House of Representatives voted out Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That made it clear there was a clear winner and loser in politics in one day.

U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) answers questions at the Capitol after being ousted as House speaker October 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House voted for the measure by simple majority, an effort led by a handful of conservative members of McCarthy's own party, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The vote to oust McCarthy is the first time in history a speaker has been removed from his chair. It was done with Democrats and a few Republicans, who were angry about the bill passed over the weekend to keep the government open.

McCarthy said after the vote that he won’t run again for speaker. This was a surprise because he fought hard to get elected by the slim majority in January. He said he’s not resigning even without the power that he fought for so many years to get.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks to reporters as he leaves the U.S. Capitol after U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted form his position, October 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. McCarthy was removed by a motion to vacate, an effort led by a handful of conservative members of his own party, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

McCarthy said the eight Republicans who voted against him are “not conservative.” The California Republican also said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who led the charge against him, did it for “personal” reasons about his own ethics charge. He also told reporters that Gaetz did it to get “attention from you.”

McCarthy said, “If you have to lose for something, I will always lose for the country. It’s a much better battle to have.”

Do you think there needs to be order for the legislative branch to function? Who do you think would be a good speaker next?

Comment below and then read the story about Hunter Biden’s day in court.

Hunter Biden’s 2A Defense

Meanwhile, in Delaware, Hunter Biden pled not guilty to three gun charges on Tuesday. His lawyer said in court for the first time that Pres. Joe Biden’s son — of all people— will go ahead with his plan to use his Second Amendment rights as a defense. Hunter faces 25 years in prison.

Hunter Biden (C) and his lawyer Abbe Lowell (L) leav the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on October 3, 2023. Biden pleaded not guilty Tuesday to an illegal gun possession charge, as his father President Joe Biden accelerates his campaign for reelection next year. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Hunter’s lawyer Abbe Lowell said in the Delaware federal court that he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges for being unconstitutional. Lowell also told CNN,  “The constitutionality of these charges are very much in doubt.” 

Drugs and guns

Lowell didn’t say it outright but he will be using the conservative Supreme Court landmark ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Joe Biden has railed against the decision that says gun control laws have to have an historical precedent at the founding of the country.

As I wrote recently, the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Bruen decision made it unconstitutional for federal to ban drug users from possessing firearms. Hunter bought a gun and had it for less than two weeks in October 2018, during a period he admits he was addicted to crack cocaine.

Lowell predicted to ABC News recently he expects "the case will be dismissed before trial." If the charges are not dropped…