Biddle’s Macbeth

“To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.” —William Shakespeare, Macbeth

I watched a performance of Macbeth last night, and the parallel between Biddle and Macbeth was startling.

Both men began as men of substantial ability and good character. Both were trusted and supported by a benefactor. In Macbeth’s case, the benefactor was King Duncan, who honored him, advanced him, and entered his home as a friend. In Biddle’s case, it was me. For approximately twenty years, I was his patron, supporter, adviser, and friend. I financed his work, sustained his organizations, promoted him, and helped create the public position he now occupies.

Both men betrayed the person who trusted and benefited them.

Macbeth murdered Duncan and took his crown. Biddle took control of approximately $9 million that he had repeatedly acknowledged was held in trust and could not be used.

In January 2024, Biddle wrote that the funds were “held in trust by OSI, not grants to OSI.” He also wrote that they could be used only with permission. In December 2024, he was still referring to the money as “Carl’s funds held in trust” and asking permission before acting.

One year later, his position is now the opposite: This $9 million belongs to him to do with as he pleases.

One crime begets another.

Macbeth’s murder of Duncan did not end with Duncan’s death. The original crime created the need for further crimes.

Macbeth had to lie about what he had done. He had to silence those who threatened his position. He arranged Banquo’s murder. He ordered the slaughter of Macduff’s entire family.

One crime required another. One lie required another.

Macbeth obtained the crown, but he could not enjoy it. He knew that it was not earned. He knew that he had no moral title to it. The crown became a constant soul-destroying reminder of the man he had betrayed and the crime upon which his position depended.

Biddle is following the same moral path.

The original lie—that the $9 million belongs to him—must now be sustained by further lies. He has contradicted his own written statements, repeated falsehoods in sworn testimony, and committed perjury. He has drawn Sarah, Thomas Walker, and others into making false statements. He is using my philanthropic funds to finance a scorched-earth legal campaign against me so he can keep those very funds.

Macbeth used the power obtained through Duncan’s murder to preserve the results of the murder. Biddle is using the money obtained through betrayal to preserve the results of the betrayal.

The Destruction of the Betrayer

Macbeth destroyed Duncan, but in doing so, he ultimately destroyed himself.

He lost his peace, his honor, his friendships, his confidence, and finally his life. The respected warrior became a frightened tyrant. He possessed the crown, but the crown possessed him. Psychologically and spiritually, he was dead before his body was killed.

Biddle is killing his own soul—by which I mean his character, his self-respect, his psychological integrity, and the best within himself.

He has spent years teaching honesty, justice, independence, integrity, and earned value. He knows what these principles mean. He knows the difference between earning and taking, between permission and force, between truth and evasion.

A stolen value cannot become a source of self-esteem.

Biddle has not merely taken money. He has sacrificed the moral meaning of his life’s work.

Macbeth killed Duncan and thereby killed the best within Macbeth.

Biddle is doing the same. It is horrible to watch him self-destruct.

By the time this ends, Biddle will have lost everything, including his soul.

Carl B. Barney

August 5, 2026