According to recently released documents, Hunter Biden, the son of then-Vice President Joe Biden, reportedly reached out to the U.S. State Department for assistance in securing a foreign energy deal in Italy on behalf of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.
As reported by the Washington Examiner, Hunter Biden reportedly tried to facilitate a deal for Burisma in 2014 while his father was Vice President in the Obama administration.
Records obtained by the New York Times through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Biden wrote at least one letter to John Phillips, the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, seeking assistance for the Ukrainian company. The details of this communication have prompted scrutiny, as they involve a sitting vice president's son leveraging government channels for business interests abroad.
Correspondence within the U.S. Embassy in Rome revealed discomfort among officials about Biden’s request. A Commerce Department official who was tasked with responding to Biden's inquiry expressed hesitation in taking action. “I want to be careful about promising too much,” the official wrote in an internal email, highlighting the sensitive nature of advocating for a foreign company such as Burisma.
The official further advised that the U.S. government should avoid advocating with the Italian government directly on behalf of a Ukrainian company without first ensuring that the company goes through the proper channels. The official suggested that Burisma should have utilized the Commerce Department’s Advocacy Center, a step that was apparently bypassed in Biden's request.
Despite these concerns, the State Department’s response to Biden did not involve direct advocacy. Instead, it underscored the appropriate protocol for such matters, redirecting the request to the appropriate department.
Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, responded to the reports by downplaying the significance of the request. He emphasized that there was nothing illegal about Biden’s actions, noting that no substantial actions resulted from the request. According to Lowell, Biden merely sought an introduction in Italy, and no meeting or project materialized from his outreach.
Lowell's statements aim to mitigate the political implications of the report, which comes at a time of increased scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Critics have questioned whether Hunter Biden’s activities while his father was in office presented conflicts of interest or raised ethical concerns.
The documents obtained by the New York Times were released after a protracted three-year process involving a Freedom of Information Act request.
These records have added to the growing body of evidence that has been used by political opponents to challenge President Joe Biden’s credibility and raise questions about potential conflicts of interest during his time as vice president.
The implications of Hunter Biden's actions have extended beyond the immediate concerns about government advocacy. The matter has become one of several issues contributing to the current political climate in Washington, where Republicans have launched an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.
While no concrete evidence has emerged to directly link President Biden to his son's activities, the ongoing investigation continues to fuel political debate. The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s request for government assistance underscores the broader questions about the intersection of family, politics, and business at the highest levels of government.
In conclusion, the recent revelations about Hunter Biden’s request for assistance from the U.S. State Department during his father’s vice presidency have stirred significant controversy. The discomfort expressed by U.S. officials at the time and the political ramifications of these actions continue to shape the narrative surrounding the Biden administration. As the investigation unfolds, the implications of these dealings remain a contentious issue in American politics.
