Former Politico Reporters Accuse Outlet of Suppressing Hunter Biden Laptop Story and Other Key Narratives
Two seasoned political reporters, Tara Palmeri of Puck News and Marc Caputo of Axios, have leveled accusations against their former employer, Politico, claiming the publication deliberately suppressed stories related to Hunter Biden’s laptop and other potentially damaging narratives concerning the Biden family in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election. These allegations, aired on Palmeri’s podcast "Somebody’s Gotta Win," paint a picture of editorial interference driven by fear and a desire to protect then-candidate Joe Biden from negative press. Both reporters expressed frustration with what they perceived as a concerted effort to downplay or ignore information that contradicted the prevailing narrative surrounding the Biden campaign.
Caputo specifically criticized Politico’s coverage of the infamous "51 intelligence officials" letter, which suggested the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of Russian disinformation. He argued that Politico’s framing of this letter was itself closer to disinformation, given subsequent revelations confirming the laptop’s authenticity. He recalled being explicitly instructed by higher-ups at Politico to avoid reporting on the laptop altogether. This directive, he contended, contributed to a wider media blackout of the story, echoing actions taken by social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which suppressed the New York Post’s initial reporting on the laptop’s contents. This suppression, Caputo argued, unfairly penalized The Post and further obscured the truth from the public.
Further fueling the controversy, Caputo revealed that a story he was working on in 2019, focusing on Hunter Biden’s business dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, was abruptly killed by an editor. The story, based on opposition research provided by a rival Democratic campaign, detailed a tax lien against Hunter Biden during the period of his Burisma employment. Caputo expressed bewilderment at the decision to shelve the story, arguing that it was relevant to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and the public’s right to know. He lamented the influence of "cowardly editors" in shaping news coverage and preventing potentially crucial information from reaching readers.
Palmeri echoed Caputo’s concerns, sharing her own experience with a story she co-authored in 2021 concerning Hunter Biden’s purchase of a firearm. She spent three months meticulously investigating the incident, including visiting the Delaware gun shop where the purchase took place. However, she questioned whether the story’s publication was delayed due to the “honeymoon period” at the beginning of the Biden administration. The story focused on Secret Service agents attempting to retrieve a federal gun-purchase form filled out by Hunter Biden, who falsely claimed he was not a drug user, despite his documented struggles with addiction. This incident ultimately led to Hunter Biden’s conviction on federal charges in 2024, charges for which he later received a presidential pardon.
Politico vehemently denied the allegations, issuing a statement to Mediaite asserting that its journalists, particularly Ben Schreckinger, author of "The Bidens: Inside the First Family’s Fifty-Year Rise to Power," have been at the forefront of reporting on the Biden family’s business dealings. The statement highlighted Schreckinger’s extensive research and subsequent reporting, including an exclusive story about a federal investigation into James Biden, President Biden’s brother, related to a Medicare fraud scheme. Politico insisted its editors uphold rigorous standards of accuracy and accountability, ensuring all stories are thoroughly vetted before publication. They attributed the former reporters’ claims to "false memory."
However, the former reporters’ accounts raise serious questions about potential editorial bias and the suppression of information deemed unfavorable to a powerful political figure. The timing of these alleged incidents, coinciding with crucial moments in Joe Biden’s political career, further fuels speculation about the motivations behind the editorial decisions. The subsequent confirmation of many of the details surrounding Hunter Biden’s business dealings and legal troubles lends credence to the former reporters’ claims, suggesting that important information may have been withheld from the public.
The controversy underscores the ongoing debate about media bias and the influence of political considerations on news coverage. Whether motivated by a desire to protect a preferred candidate or a fear of backlash, the alleged suppression of information raises concerns about transparency and the public’s right to know. The conflicting narratives presented by the former reporters and Politico highlight the challenges in navigating the complex landscape of political journalism and the importance of holding news organizations accountable for their editorial choices. The debate surrounding these allegations continues, with potential implications for public trust in the media and the understanding of events leading up to the 2020 presidential election.