The looming question – was Joe Biden Secretary of Agriculture arrested – has caused massive public debate. Joe Biden has been in public service for an extended period of time, yet there has been no indication of him being arrested for any reason. The truth of the matter is that Joe Biden was never arrested for his role as Secretary of Agriculture. However, there has been speculation as to whether Joe Biden may have committed a crime while serving in the post. The scope of this discussion is not to determine if Joe Biden violated the law while serving in his position, but rather to explain why he wasn’t arrested.
Firstly, the federal government prosecutes specific crimes. While it is true that public servants can and do commit the same crimes as ordinary citizens, the types of crimes that a Secretary of Agriculture may commit are different than those that an average person may commit. Given this, it is highly unlikely that the federal government would have investigated Joe Biden for any crimes related to his job as Secretary of Agriculture.
Additionally, the present federal government can only prosecute crimes committed within the past five years. As Joe Biden left his position of Secretary of Agriculture more than a decade ago, any crimes he may have committed would have been legally ineligible to be prosecuted.
Finally, the notion of arresting a former public servant is unpalatable to many citizens. The American populace is largely opposed to any form of corruption and bribery, though in Joe Biden’s case, there is no empirical evidence of him having engaged in any such activity.
Overall, while there may be suspicions as to Joe Biden’s former capacity as Secretary of Agriculture, the reality is that he was never arrested for any crimes. The federal government only prosecutes specific crimes, and those alleged offenses must have been committed in the past five years. The likelihood of Joe Biden being prosecuted for a crime he may have committed a decade ago is infinitesimally small.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, had a contentious relationship with Joe Biden during his time in office. President Trump had threatened multiple times in the past to have Joe Biden arrested, although that never came to fruition. This is likely due to the lack of evidence to support Trump’s claims, as his oft-repeated rhetoric of corruption and bribes was never supported by any hard evidence.
Not only was there a lack of any concrete evidence against Joe Biden, but there is also an established legal protocol that must be followed in order to pursue a case against a public official. As previously mentioned, any allegations of criminal activity must be within the past five years, and the decision to prosecute lies solely with the federal government. Trump’s attempt to have Joe Biden arrested, then, could not have succeeded.
Another factor to consider is how American citizens view the notion of arresting a former public official. The general perception of many is that such incursions typically waste taxpayer money and that they only serve to reinforce the image of a corrupt federal government. It is therefore understandable why the public was opposed to the idea of President Trump having Joe Biden arrested.
In the end, Donald Trump’s frequent threats to arrest Joe Biden due to his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture could not have been carried out for either legal or popular reasons. The efficacy of such a move would have been doubtful even had there been evidence supporting the claims, as the public would have certainly been skeptical of such an act.
Existing Laws
There are a host of federal laws and regulations that are in place to protect the rights of federal public servants, and Joe Biden’s tenure as Secretary of Agriculture was no exception. The most fundamental rule is that a federal official cannot be prosecuted for a crime committed during their term of service, whereas a non-public servant would face that particular legal consequence.
Furthermore, these laws apply even if there is an allegation of criminal activity, as to convict a federal public servant of a crime, the burden of proof lies solely on the prosecutors. In other words, even if Joe Biden were accused of a crime, it would be the responsibility of the federal government to present overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing in order for there to be a conviction.
The sheer number of legal checks and balances that hinder a prosecution of a public servant is ample, and the likelihood of such a move being successful is slim. As a result, Joe Biden’s tenure as Secretary of Agriculture was never put into question and he was excluded from any type of legal prosecution.
Further, the extension of this protection to Joe Biden is of great practical importance, as it allows public servants to feel secure in their positions. Such legal protections grant civil servants the confidence that they can perform their jobs without fear of retribution, and it is through these guarantees that a healthy and functioning democracy is maintained.
Given these facts, the answer to the question – was Joe Biden Secretary of Agriculture arrested – is a resounding no. Joe Biden was never arrested for any crime, as the federal government and existing law only enable such a move in the most extreme and obvious of cases. The current restriction on prosecuting public servants serves to both protect civil servants and to uphold the integrity of the legal system.
Investigations and Controversies
Although Joe Biden was never arrested for any crime related to his post as Secretary of Agriculture, there were still allegations of corrupt practices and allegations of bribery leveled against him during his tenure. Such allegations were difficult to prove, however, and they were quickly dismissed by the public; few people believed that Biden had engaged in any sort of illegal activity while serving in his role.
Furthermore, the press had frequently insinuated that the former Secretary of Agriculture may be under investigation by federal agencies due to the perceived controversies surrounding his office. However, Biden’s existing legal protections had prohibited any such investigation from being conducted and all accusations of wrongdoing had quickly dissipated.
In the end, the media had stirred up a flurry of discussion and debate regarding Joe Biden’s tenure as Secretary of Agriculture, although no further action was taken by federal authorities. This is due to both Biden’s legal protections and the fact that investigations can take place only in the event of overwhelming evidence of a crime having taken place. Because such evidence did not exist against Joe Biden, no further investigative measures were pursued.
The bottom line is that Joe Biden was never arrested nor prosecuted for any alleged crimes committed while serving as Secretary of Agriculture. The legal protections guaranteed by federal law prohibited any further investigations into Biden’s activity while in office, and the lack of hard evidence meant that the situation was quickly resolved and discredited.
Inconsistencies Within the System
The lack of investigation into Joe Biden’s tenure as Secretary of Agriculture has brought up questions of the efficacy of the federal government in punishing public servants. If allegations can be made against a public servant yet no action is taken due to legal privileges, then the whole system of justice may as well be rendered null and void. This criticism grows more pertinent when taking into account that the public is typically unwilling to back such measures anyway.
Indeed, the sheer number of laws and rules that exist to protect federal public servants from legal repercussions is staggering. This protection applies regardless of the severity of the alleged crime, meaning that elected officials can get away with virtually anything if the burden of proof falls upon the prosecutors.
The fact that Joe Biden was able to avoid prosecution is reflective of the loopholes and inconsistencies within the system. It is almost as if elected officials are beyond the reach of the law in some capacity. This is an issue that demands to be addressed, as to allow federal public servants to be exempt from punishment will only serve to enhance the idea of an unconstrained, infallible government.
In short, the lack of legal action taken against Joe Biden during his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture raises questions as to the efficacy of the justice system. The current legal system grants public servants unprecedented privileges and protection, and this can generate deep public mistrust in the government’s ability to uphold the law. Thus, frustratingly, the answer to the initial question – was Joe Biden Secretary of Agriculture arrested – continues to remain a resounding ‘no’.
