In a series of revelations that have ignited political debates, newly disclosed documents have shed light on the financial struggles and alleged influence-peddling activities of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden.
The documents, released by the House Ways and Means Committee, reveal text messages from December 2018 where Hunter Biden communicated with his uncle, James Biden, expressing his financial woes. He lamented that the millions he had earned from overseas business deals were "all gone," leaving him unable to afford school tuition for his three daughters or even basic living expenses. In one message, Hunter stated, "I can't pay alimony w/o Dad or tuitions or for food and gas. Really it's all gone."
These messages were part of a larger trove of documents provided by IRS whistleblowers who had been investigating Hunter Biden. The documents suggest that Hunter frequently sought financial assistance from his father, even moving into the elder Biden's Delaware mansion after a relationship breakdown.
One of the more significant disclosures was an August 2020 email that directed colleagues to remove Joe Biden's name from a draft search warrant, emphasizing that there was no legal basis to include it. This email was in relation to a warrant for "BS," likely referring to Blue Star Strategies, a lobbying firm that represented Burisma Holdings, where Hunter Biden was a board member.
The New York Post also reported on an exchange between Hunter and his daughter Naomi from January 2019, where Hunter claimed he had been covering the family's expenses for 30 years and had to give "half" of his salary to his father.
The documents have intensified the scrutiny around the Biden family's financial dealings, especially with foreign entities. Records indicate that the Biden family and their associates garnered over $20 million from Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan during Joe Biden's tenure as vice president under the Obama administration. Further, bank records unveiled by the House Oversight Committee showed six-figure wire transfers from Chinese entities listing Joe Biden's Delaware address as the beneficiary.
Democrats have criticized the document release as a distraction, emphasizing the need to focus on more pressing issues like the looming government shutdown. The White House has also dismissed the allegations, with spokesperson Sharon Yang stating that House Republicans should prioritize the needs of the American people over "media stunts."