Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary election night campaign rally Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

After Joe Biden won South Carolina last Saturday, seemingly convincing the powers that be behind the scene that he had some viability, there appeared to be some arm-twisting and/or horse trading going on behind the scenes to have folks endorse Biden to help his chances for Super Tuesday.

First, let’s look at what’s been reported about the interactions with Pete Buttigieg, according to PJ Media.

While being interviewed on KHOU 11 News in Houston, Texas, on Monday, Biden revealed he’d discussed giving Buttigieg a position in his administration. “I did speak to Pete Buttigieg a couple of days ago to encouraged him to stay engaged because he has enormous talent and I indicated to him that if I became the nominee, I’d be coming to ask him to be a part of an administration to be engaged in moving things forward,” Biden said.

Biden said a couple of days ago on March 2. The New York Times reported they spoke on Sunday after he had dropped out.

Mr. Buttigieg talked with Mr. Biden and former President Barack Obama on Sunday night, according to a Democratic official familiar with the conversations. Mr. Biden asked for Mr. Buttigieg’s support and the former mayor indicated he would consider the request. Mr. Buttigieg wants to sleep on the decision, he told aides, some of whom believe he should move quickly to endorse Mr. Biden. Mr. Obama did not specifically encourage Mr. Buttigieg to endorse Mr. Biden, said the official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. But Mr. Obama did note that Mr. Buttigieg has considerable leverage at the moment and should think about how best to use it.

But Buttigieg didn’t endorse Biden until Monday, after whatever conversation Biden had with him, about saying would be offering him a position in his administration.

Second, let’s look at the interactions with Beto O’Rourke. Here’s how Fox describes them.

In a surprise moment at the end of his Dallas rally on the eve of Super Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden called former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke up to the stage — and vowed to put O’Rourke, who has said the government should forcibly seize assault rifles from Americans, in charge of gun-control efforts. Also at the rally, Biden accepted the endorsements of onetime rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, as the Democratic party’s moderate wing rallied behind Biden to challenge anti-establishment frontrunner and self-described “democratic socialist” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow, March 3, 2020, I will be casting my ballot for Joe Biden,” O’Rourke announced to applause at the rally’s conclusion.

PJ Media pointed out the problem as to Buttigieg but it appears to apply to O’Rourke as well.

18 U.S. Code § 599 is pretty clear on this. “Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”

So was there some “quid pro joeing” going on there?

So is anyone going to ask any questions about this? Or is this just politics as usual?

HT: Jeffrey Lord