Inside Washington’s Most Exclusive Club

Russian state TV propagandists are ecstatic about Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections, especially Kash Patel who the incoming president has appointed to be FBI director, the Daily Beast reports.

Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean urged President Biden to issue blanket pardons to everyone President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to target when he returns to the White House next month, the HuffPost reports. That list includes those who have investigated Trump ― including Robert Mueller and Jack Smith and their teams ― as well as “all on Trump’s enemies list.”

Aaron Blake: “President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday is exceptional not just because of the pardon’s recipient — the closest family member to receive a pardon in history — but also for its sheer breadth, according to experts on presidential pardons.” “Biden didn’t just pardon his son for his convictions on tax and gun charges, but for any ‘offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.'” “That’s a nearly 11-year period during which any federal crime Hunter Biden might have committed — and there are none we are aware of beyond what has already been adjudicated — can’t be prosecuted.

“President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), commenting on the Hunter Biden pardon.

Donald Trump is now fundraising off the President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told colleagues he would challenge Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) for the party’s top slot on the House Judiciary Committee.