Hunter Biden#Firearms trial and conviction
{{Short description|American businessman and lobbyist (born 1970)}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Hunter Biden September 30, 2014.jpg
| alt = Headshot of Hunter Biden, a white, middle-aged man with dark hair and beard wearing a morning suit, smiling at the camera.
| caption = Biden in 2014
| name = Hunter Biden
| birth_name = Robert Hunter Biden
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|2|4}}
| birth_place = Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
| spouse = {{ubl
| {{marriage|Kathleen Buhle|1993|2017|end=div}}
| {{marriage|Melissa Cohen|2019}}
}}
| partner = Hallie Olivere Biden (2016–2019)
| children = 5
| parents = {{ubl
}}
| relatives = Biden family
| education = {{ubl
| Yale University (JD)
}}
| module = {{Infobox military person |embed=yes
| allegiance =
| branch = United States Navy
| serviceyears = 2013–2014
| rank = Lieutenant
| unit = U.S. Navy Reserve
}}
}}
Robert Hunter Biden (born February{{nbsp}}4, 1970) is an American attorney and businessman. He is the second son of former president Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was a founding board member of BHR Partners, a Chinese investment company, in 2013, and later served on the board of Burisma Holdings, one of the largest private natural gas producers in Ukraine, from 2014 until his term expired in April 2019. He has worked as a lobbyist and legal representative for lobbying firms, a hedge fund principal, and a venture capital and private equity fund investor.
Since early 2019, Hunter and his father have been the targets of false allegations that Joe pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor to protect Hunter, which intensified after the New York Post published an article in October 2020 about a laptop computer that had belonged to Hunter Biden. Biden was convicted of three federal firearms-related felony charges in June 2024 after he had admitted to illegally owning a gun while a drug user. His tax affairs have been under federal criminal investigation since late 2018, and in September 2024, he pleaded guilty to all of the tax charges.
In December{{nbsp}}2024, Biden's father pardoned him for all federal offenses committed between 2014 and 2024, including any potential offenses not yet discovered.
Early life and education
{{Further|Biden family}}
Robert Hunter Biden was born on February 4, 1970,{{cite news |last1=Phelps |first1=Jordyn |last2=Saenz |first2=Arlette |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Hunter Biden Denies Ashley Madison Account Is His |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hunter-biden-denies-ashley-madison-account-belongs/story?id=33301506 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804143133/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hunter-biden-denies-ashley-madison-account-belongs/story?id=33301506 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=ABC News}} in Wilmington, Delaware. He is the second son of Neilia Biden (née Hunter) and Joe Biden.{{cite news |last=Entous |first=Adam |title=Will Hunter Biden Jeopardize His Father's Campaign? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/08/will-hunter-biden-jeopardize-his-fathers-campaign |magazine=The New Yorker |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710013015/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/08/will-hunter-biden-jeopardize-his-fathers-campaign |url-status=live}} Hunter Biden's mother and younger sister Naomi were killed in an automobile crash on December 18, 1972.{{cite news |last=Connelly |first=Kevin |date=August 28, 2008 |title=Biden shows more bark than bite |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7585384.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023202243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7585384.stm |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=May 7, 2014 |work=BBC News |location=London, England}}{{cite news |first=John M.|last=Broder|title=Biden Opens New Phase With Attack on McCain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28biden.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 28, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027083533/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28biden.html|url-status=live}} Biden and his older brother Beau were also seriously injured but survived. Beau suffered multiple broken bones while Hunter sustained a fractured skull and severe traumatic brain injuries.{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-brain-tumor-that-killed-beau-biden | title=The Brain Tumor That Killed Beau Biden | newspaper=The Daily Beast | date=June 2015 | last1=Swinney | first1=Anand Veeravagu | access-date=June 12, 2022 | archive-date=June 12, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612173337/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-brain-tumor-that-killed-beau-biden | url-status=live }} Both spent several months in the hospital, during which time their father was sworn into the U.S. Senate in January 1973.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/01/25/joe-biden-2019-profile-grief-beau-car-accident-224178|title=How Grief Became Joe Biden's 'Superpower'|first=Michael|last=Kruse|date=January 25, 2019|work=Politico|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613012910/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/01/25/joe-biden-2019-profile-grief-beau-car-accident-224178|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/e5a1e70314eb44219448eeb850c65f1e |title=Biden's prism of loss: A public man, shaped by private grief |first=Nancy|last=Benac|date=August 18, 2019|work=Associated Press|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214221809/https://apnews.com/article/e5a1e70314eb44219448eeb850c65f1e|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/12/beau-biden-obit-213476|title=Remembering Beau Biden |first=Glenn |last=Thrush |work=Politico|date=December 29, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212172922/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/12/beau-biden-obit-213476/|url-status=live}} Hunter and Beau later encouraged their father to marry again,{{cite news |first=Katharine Q. |last=Seelye|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/politics/25wife.html |title=Jill Biden Heads Toward Life in the Spotlight |newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 24, 2008 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210193454/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/politics/25wife.html |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |url-status=live}} and Jill Jacobs Stevenson became their stepmother in 1977. Biden's half-sister Ashley was born in 1981.{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Meredith |last2=Jagtiani |first2=Sarika |last3=Sharp |first3=Andrew |title=Hunter Biden: Who is former Vice President Joe Biden's son mentioned in Ukraine-Trump call? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/26/who-hunter-biden-joe-biden-son-ukraine-call/3773527002/ |work=USA Today |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005003320/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/26/who-hunter-biden-joe-biden-son-ukraine-call/3773527002/ |url-status=live}}
Like his father and brother, Biden attended the Catholic high school Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Georgetown University in 1992. During the year after he graduated from college, he served as a Jesuit volunteer at a church in Portland, Oregon, and met Kathleen Buhle, whom he married in 1993. After attending the Georgetown University Law Center for one year, he transferred to Yale Law School and graduated in 1996.
Early career
After graduating from law school in 1996, Biden accepted a consultant position at the bank holding company MBNA, whose employees donated more than $200,000 to his father's senate campaigns over the years.{{cite news |first1=Matthew |last1=Yglesias |author-link1=Matthew Yglesias |title=Hunter Biden, the black sheep who might accidentally bring down Trump, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/1/20891510/hunter-biden-burisma-ukraine-shokin |work=Vox |date=October 1, 2019 |access-date=October 24, 2019 |quote=There's no reason to think that Biden backed MBNA's position because his son worked there—senators normally line up with their home state's major employers' policy priorities—it's more like Hunter got the job due to his dad's overall cozy relationship with the company. |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023182658/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/1/20891510/hunter-biden-burisma-ukraine-shokin |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=August 25, 2008 |title=Biden's Link To Credit-Card Firm Questioned |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/93954519 |work=National Public Radio (NPR)}} Biden delayed his start date at MBNA to serve as co-chair for his father's reelection campaign. By 1998, Hunter Biden had risen to the rank of executive vice president. Biden departed from MBNA in 1998. He then served at the United States Department of Commerce, focusing on ecommerce policy for President Bill Clinton's administration.{{cite news |last1=Peligri |first1=Justin |date=October 18, 2014 |title=Who is Hunter Biden? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/17/politics/who-is-hunter-biden/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728073009/https://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/17/politics/who-is-hunter-biden/index.html |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=CNN}} In 2001, Biden became a lobbyist, co-founding the firm of Oldaker, Biden & Belair. According to Adam Entous of The New Yorker, Biden and his father established a relationship in which "[Joe] Biden wouldn't ask Hunter about his lobbying clients, and Hunter wouldn't tell his father about them". In 2001, he was also rehired by MBNA as a consultant, where he was paid a yearly $100,000 retainer until 2005.{{cite web|last=Craven|first=Jasper |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden Snagged a Cushy Bank Job After Law School. He's Been Trading on His Name Ever Since |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/26/hunter-biden-first-nepotism-job-00137308 |work=Politico |access-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015552/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/26/hunter-biden-first-nepotism-job-00137308 |url-status=live }} MBNA's rehiring of Biden was controversial because his father was pushing for passage of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which was beneficial to the credit card industry and supported by MBNA during Biden's time at the bank.{{cite news|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BIDEN_MBNA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-08-25-18-54-05|title=MBNA paid Biden son at critical time for bill|last=Yost|first=Pete|publisher=Associated Press|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914010819/http://hosted.ap.org:80/dynamic/stories/B/BIDEN_MBNA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-08-25-18-54-05|date=August 25, 2008|archivedate=September 14, 2008|accessdate=April 24, 2024|url-status=dead}} The legislation made it more difficult to get bankruptcy protection.
Biden was appointed to a five-year term on the board of directors of Amtrak by President George W. Bush in 2006.{{cite news |last=Glass |first=Andrew |date=February 7, 2007 |title=A Younger Biden Goes the Extra Miles for Amtrak |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/a-younger-biden-goes-the-extra-miles-for-amtrak-002672 |work=Politico |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116085012/https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/a-younger-biden-goes-the-extra-miles-for-amtrak-002672 |url-status=live}} Biden was the board's vice chairman from July 2006 until he was replaced as vice chairman in January 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.pennfedbmwe.org/Docs/amtrak/Amtrak_Board/McLean/20090130_Amtrak_Advisory_McLean.pdf |title=Amtrak Board Names Thomas Carper of Illinois as Chairman: Former Chairman Donna McLean Becomes Vice Chairman |date=January 30, 2009 |website=pennfedbmwe.org |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation |location=Washington, D.C. |page=1 |access-date=November 15, 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220204645/http://www.pennfedbmwe.org/Docs/amtrak/Amtrak_Board/McLean/20090130_Amtrak_Advisory_McLean.pdf |url-status=live}} He resigned from the board that February,{{cite news |last=Seitz |first=Amanda |date=October 21, 2019 |title=Hunter Biden didn't make millions off Amtrak |url=https://apnews.com/afs:Content:8002831726 |work=Associated Press |access-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116085014/https://apnews.com/afs:Content:8002831726 |url-status=live}} shortly after his father became vice president. Biden said during his father's vice-presidential campaign that it was time for his lobbying activities to end.
Investing, lobbying, and philanthropy
In 2006, Biden and his uncle James Biden purchased international hedge fund Paradigm Global Advisors with an $8 million promissory note.{{cite web |last1=Schreckinger |first1=Ben |date=August 2, 2019 |title=Biden, Inc.: How 'Middle Class' Joe's family cashed in on the family name |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/02/joe-biden-investigation-hunter-brother-hedge-fund-money-2020-campaign-227407 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008022856/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/02/joe-biden-investigation-hunter-brother-hedge-fund-money-2020-campaign-227407 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=Politico Magazine}} The joint promotion of the fund by an entity of the troubled Stanford Financial Group hastened the unwinding of the company in 2010.{{Cite news |last1=Kamalakaran |first1=Ajay |last2=Daga |first2=Anshuman |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Stanford had links to fund run by Bidens: report |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBNG368666/ |access-date=January 5, 2024 |work=Reuters}} In September 2008, Hunter Biden founded a consultancy company named Seneca Global Advisors that offered to help companies expand into foreign markets.{{cite web |last1=Yu|first1=Sun |last2=Williams|first2=Aime |last3=Olearchyk|first3=Roman|date=October 9, 2019|title=Hunter Biden's web of interests |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3904f888-e8ef-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55|access-date=October 29, 2020|website=Financial Times |language=en-GB|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030181123/https://www.ft.com/content/3904f888-e8ef-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55 |url-status=live}} Biden was a partner in investment vehicles that included the name "Seneca" to denote his participation.{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |title=Unraveling the tale of Hunter Biden and $3.5 million from Russia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/08/unraveling-tale-hunter-biden-35-million-russia/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408132226/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/08/unraveling-tale-hunter-biden-35-million-russia/ |url-status=live }} In 2009, Biden, Devon Archer, and Christopher Heinz founded the investment and advisory firm Rosemont Seneca Partners. Biden also co-founded venture capital firm Eudora Global. Biden held the position of counsel in the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in 2014. From 2011 to 2017, Biden was on the board of directors of World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) charity based in Washington, D.C., that supports the work of the UN World Food Programme; he served as board chairman from 2011 to 2015.{{cite web|last1=Funke|first1=Daniel |title=Fact-checking claims about charities linked to Hunter Biden and the Trump children |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/oct/21/left-action/fact-checking-claims-about-charities-linked-hunter/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022224321/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/oct/21/left-action/fact-checking-claims-about-charities-linked-hunter/|archive-date=October 22, 2020|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=PolitiFact|language=en-US}}
A detailed analysis of Hunter Biden's hard drive by NBC News showed that Biden and his firm were paid $11 million from 2013 to 2018,{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/analysis-hunter-bidens-hard-drive-shows-firm-took-11-million-2013-2018-rcna29462 |title=Analysis of Hunter Biden's hard drive shows he, his firm took in about $11 million from 2013 to 2018, spent it fast |website=NBC News |date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |first1=Tom |last1=Winter |first2=Sarah |last2=Fitzpatrick |first3=Chloe |last3=Atkins |first4=Laura |last4=Strickler |url-status=live |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519090521/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/analysis-hunter-bidens-hard-drive-shows-firm-took-11-million-2013-2018-rcna29462 }} including $3.8 million in payments from CEFC China Energy,{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Aizhu |last2=Lopatka |first2=Jan |title=China's CEFC has big ambitions, but little known about ownership, funding |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cefc-china/chinas-cefc-has-big-ambitions-but-little-known-about-ownership-funding-idUSKBN14X0B5/ |website=Reuters |access-date=23 January 2024 |location=Prague |date=13 January 2017 |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016214435/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cefc-china/chinas-cefc-has-big-ambitions-but-little-known-about-ownership-funding-idUSKBN14X0B5 |url-status=live }} a defunct oil and gas company with links to the Chinese Communist Party,{{cite news |last=Viser |first=Matt |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/30/hunter-biden-china-laptop |title=Inside Hunter Biden's multimillion-dollar deals with a Chinese energy company |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 30, 2022 |accessdate=May 26, 2022 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405063706/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/30/hunter-biden-china-laptop/ |url-status=live }} as well as from Burisma Holdings.
In the U.S. criminal tax case against Hunter Biden, prosecutors allege he accepted payments from Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu to influence U.S. government agencies regarding a criminal probe in Romania. Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty on 5 September 2024 to tax evasion and related charges. The allegations date back to his work for Popoviciu in 2015, during Joe Biden's vice presidency.{{Cite news |last1=Stempel |first1=Jonathan |date=8 August 2024 |title=US prosecutors says Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to seek US policy influence |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-prosecutors-says-romanian-businessman-hired-hunter-biden-seek-us-policy-2024-08-08/ |access-date=8 August 2024}}
=BHR Partners=
{{Main|BHR Partners}}
From 2013 to 2020, Biden served as a member of the board of the China-based private equity fund BHR Partners, of which he acquired a 10% stake in 2017 at a discount to actual value and with borrowed money.{{Cite news|date=October 23, 2020|title=Hunter Biden: What was he doing in Ukraine and China?|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54553132|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029144748/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54553132|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Hunter Biden's Family Name Aided Deals With Foreign Tycoons |last1=Areddy |first1=James T. |last2=Duehren |first2=Andrew |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |quote=The dealings got the younger Mr. Biden a discounted stake in a private-equity firm in China... the cost for Mr. Biden's 10% stake, at $420,000, was based on BHR's startup value in 2013, filings show. Of that, at least a third was provided in the form of loans from other BHR principals, according to people familiar with the situation. |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126094826/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |url-status=live }} The founders of BHR Partners included Biden's Rosemont Seneca Partners investment firm (20% equity), along with US-based Thornton Group LLC (10% equity) and two asset managers registered in China.{{cite web |title=About Us: Investment Funds |publisher=BHR Partners |url=http://www.bhrpe.com/list.php?catid=30&page=1 |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=May 16, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516044558/http://www.bhrpe.com/list.php?catid=30&page=1 |url-status=live}} The Chinese-registered asset managers are the Bank of China (via BOC International Holdings-backed Bohai Industrial Investment Fund Management) and Deutsche Bank-backed Harvest Fund Management.{{cite news|last=Deng|first=Chao|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bohai-harvest-and-u-s-investment-firms-expand-target-for-outbound-fund-1404956572|title=Bohai, Harvest and U.S. Investment Firms Expand Target for Outbound Fund |url-access=subscription|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 10, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517063931/https://www.wsj.com/articles/bohai-harvest-and-u-s-investment-firms-expand-target-for-outbound-fund-1404956572|url-status=live}}
In September 2019, while President Donald Trump was accusing Hunter Biden of malfeasance in Ukraine, he also falsely claimed that Biden "walk[ed] out of China with $1.5 billion in a fund".{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/26/trumps-false-claims-about-hunter-bidens-china-dealings/ |title=Trump's false claims about Hunter Biden's China dealings |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=September 26, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005220857/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/26/trumps-false-claims-about-hunter-bidens-china-dealings/ |url-status=live}} Later in 2019, The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Trump was incorrect in claiming that Hunter received $1.5 billion, stating that Trump had no evidence to support the claim and that he incorrectly interpreted BHR's past fundraising target of $1.5 billion; BHR invested money raised from other companies and did not keep the funds.{{cite web |last1=Arredy |first1=James T. |date=4 October 2019 |title=What We Know About Hunter Biden's Dealings in China |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-we-know-about-hunter-bidens-dealings-in-china-11570181403 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114082953/https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-we-know-about-hunter-bidens-dealings-in-china-11570181403 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |website=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones}} Trump publicly called upon China to investigate Hunter Biden's business activities there while his father was vice president.{{cite news |first1=Nathan |last1=Layne |first2=John |last2=Ruwitch |first3=Samuel |last3=Shen |first4=Engen |last4=Tham |first5=Keith |last5=Zhai |title=Explainer: Trump's claims and Hunter Biden's dealings in China |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-hunterbiden-c/explainer-trumps-claims-and-hunter-bidens-dealings-in-china-idUSKBN1WI2HK |publisher=Reuters |date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006064611/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-hunterbiden-c/explainer-trumps-claims-and-hunter-bidens-dealings-in-china-idUSKBN1WI2HK |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=What We Know About Hunter Biden's Business in China |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/hunter-biden-china.html |first1=Sharon |last1=LaFraniere |author-link=Sharon LaFraniere |first2=Michael |last2=Forsythe |work=The New York Times |date=October 3, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006034924/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/us/politics/hunter-biden-china.html |url-status=live}}
Hunter Biden announced his resignation from the board of directors of BHR Partners, effective the end of October 2019, citing "the barrage of false charges" by then-U.S. President Trump.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=David |title=Hunter Biden to step down from board of Chinese company |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/13/hunter-biden-resign-china-company-045761 |date=October 13, 2019 |work=Politico |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013161223/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/13/hunter-biden-resign-china-company-045761 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |title=Hunter Biden resigns from Chinese firm following Trump attacks |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/13/hunter-biden-resigns-from-chinese-firm-following-trump-attacks.html |publisher=CNBC |date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013134950/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/13/hunter-biden-resigns-from-chinese-firm-following-trump-attacks.html |url-status=live}} This was confirmed by Biden's attorney, who said in November 2021 that his client no longer held any direct or indirect interest in BHR. However, as of April 2020, Chinese business records showed that Hunter Biden remained a board member of BHR.{{cite web |last1=Hoonhout |first1=Tobias |title=Hunter Biden Still Listed on Board of Chinese Firm Six Months after Lawyer Said He Resigned |url=https://news.yahoo.com/hunter-biden-still-listed-board-143829217.html |website=Yahoo News |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=15 April 2020 |quote=Business records show that Hunter Biden is still listed as a board member of Chinese private equity firm BHR Partners, despite his lawyer saying in November that Biden had resigned from the position. Biden remains on the board and still has a 10 percent equity stake in BHR, which manages $2.1 billion in assets |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124063614/https://news.yahoo.com/hunter-biden-still-listed-board-143829217.html |url-status=live }} According to his lawyer, Biden had "not received any compensation for being on BHR's board of directors" nor had he received any return on his equity share in BHR.{{cite news |url=https://medium.com/@george.mesires/a-statement-on-behalf-of-hunter-biden-dated-october-13-2019-d80bc11087ab |title=A Statement on behalf of Hunter Biden, dated October 13, 2019 |last=Mesires |first=George |website=Medium |date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013160940/https://medium.com/@george.mesires/a-statement-on-behalf-of-hunter-biden-dated-october-13-2019-d80bc11087ab |url-status=live}} Biden's lawyer George Mesires told The Washington Post that BHR Partners had been "capitalized from various sources with a total of 30 million RMB (Renminbi), or about $4.2 million, not $1.5 billion". Biden's solely-owned company Skaneateles LLC owned a 10% equity stake in BHR as of December 2020.{{cite web |title=Biz entity 2896405 |url=https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=2896405 |website=Washington D.C. Corporation Registry }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web |last1=Areddy |first1=James T. |last2=Duehren |first2=Andrew |title=Hunter Biden's Family Name Aided Deals With Foreign Tycoons |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |website=Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=22 December 2020 |quote=starting in August 2017, entities linked to CEFC's Mr. Ye executed the wire transfers listed as covering legal and advisory costs totaling $4.79 million to Mr. Biden's Washington law firm, Owasco PC... Mr. Biden's October 2019 statement, issued through his lawyer, Mr. Mesires, stopped short of promising he would divest foreign holdings. Corporate records in China suggest he hasn't. A Delaware-registered corporation, Skaneateles LLC, controlled by Mr. Biden, still owns 10% of the Chinese private-equity firm BHR, the records show |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126094826/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |url-status=live }} In November 2021, New York Times reported that "Chinese corporate records show Skaneateles remains a part owner of BHR".{{cite web |last1=Forsythe |first1=Michael |last2=Lipton |first2=Eric |last3=Searcey |first3=Dionne |title=How Hunter Biden's Firm Helped Secure Cobalt for the Chinese |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/world/hunter-biden-china-cobalt.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=20 November 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120142021/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/world/hunter-biden-china-cobalt.html |url-status=live }} Skaneateles was dissolved in 2022.
BHR Partners invests Chinese venture capital into tech startups, such as an early-stage investment in Chinese auto hailing app DiDi and cross-border acquisitions in automotive and mining, for example, the purchase of a stake in Democratic Republic of Congo copper and cobalt producer Tenke Fungurume Mining.{{cite web |url=http://en.bhrpe.com/_d276561112.htm |title=Funds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929204232/http://en.bhrpe.com/_d276561112.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |work=BHR Partners |access-date=November 16, 2016 }}{{cite news |last=McKinnon |first=Judy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lundin-mining-to-sell-stake-in-african-mine-for-1-14-billion-1479215364|title=Lundin Mining to Sell Stake in African Mine for $1.14 Billion|url-access=subscription|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108025148/https://www.wsj.com/articles/lundin-mining-to-sell-stake-in-african-mine-for-1-14-billion-1479215364|url-status=live}} The New York Times reported that BHR Partners helped finance a coal-mining company in Australia that was controlled by a Chinese state-owned enterprise, assisted a subsidiary of a Chinese defense company in acquiring an auto parts manufacturer in Michigan, and facilitated the $3.8 billion purchase of the DRC cobalt mine. A former BHR board member told the Times that Biden and the other American BHR founder, Devon Archer, were not involved in the mine deal.{{cite web |title=Hunter Biden's firm helped Chinese company purchase rich cobalt mine in $3.8 billion deal: report |work=Fox News |date=November 20, 2021 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hunter-biden-firm-chinese-purchase-cobalt-mine |first=Peter |last=Aitken |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127105624/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hunter-biden-firm-chinese-purchase-cobalt-mine |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Millward |first1=David |title=Hunter Biden linked investment firm 'helped' Chinese buy cobalt mine |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/11/21/hunter-biden-linked-investment-firm-helped-chinese-buy-cobalt/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/11/21/hunter-biden-linked-investment-firm-helped-chinese-buy-cobalt/ |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph |date=November 21, 2021}}{{cbignore}}
=Burisma Holdings=
{{see also|Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}
In April 2014, Biden joined the board of Burisma Holdings owned by Ukrainian oligarch and former politician Mykola Zlochevsky, who was facing a money laundering investigation just after the Ukrainian revolution.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/12/the-money-machine-how-a-high-profile-corruption-investigation-fell-apart |title=The money machine: how a high-profile corruption investigation fell apart |last=Bullough |first=Oliver |date=April 12, 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004042523/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/12/the-money-machine-how-a-high-profile-corruption-investigation-fell-apart |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Risen |first=James |author-link=James Risen |date=December 8, 2015 |title=Joe Biden, His Son and the Case Against a Ukrainian Oligarch |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/europe/corruption-ukraine-joe-biden-son-hunter-biden-ties.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005215400/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/europe/corruption-ukraine-joe-biden-son-hunter-biden-ties.html |url-status=live}} Biden's business partner, Devon Archer, had joined the board of Burisma several months prior. Biden was hired to help Burisma with requesting assistance from the U.S government to expand its business and corporate governance best practices, while still an attorney with Boies Schiller Flexner. A consulting firm in which Biden is a partner was also retained by Burisma.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/us/politics/hunter-biden-ukrainian-company.html|title=Hunter Biden Sought State Department Help for Ukrainian Company|date=August 13, 2024|work = The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/us/politics/biden-ukraine-trump.html|title=Trump, Biden and Ukraine: Sorting Out the Accusations|first=Kenneth P.|last=Vogel|author-link=Kenneth P. Vogel|date=September 22, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006011656/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/us/politics/biden-ukraine-trump.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/us/politics/biden-son-ukraine.html|title=Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies|last1=Vogel|first1=Kenneth P.|date=May 1, 2019|newspaper =The New York Times|access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190504200501/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/us/politics/biden-son-ukraine.html|archive-date=May 4, 2019|last2=Mendel|first2=Iuliia |issn=0362-4331|author-link=Kenneth P. Vogel|author-link2=Iuliia Mendel}}{{cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/sep/23/president-donald-trump-ukraine-biden-whistleblower/|title=Trump's Ukraine call, a whistleblower and the Bidens: What we know, what we don't|last1=Jacobson|first1=Louis|date=September 23, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924204438/https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/sep/23/president-donald-trump-ukraine-biden-whistleblower/|archive-date=September 24, 2019|publisher=PolitiFact|last2=Kruzel|first2=John}} Christopher Heinz, John Kerry's stepson, opposed his partners Devon Archer and Hunter Biden joining the board in 2014 due to the reputational risk. Biden served on the board of Burisma until his term expired in April 2019, receiving compensation of up to $50,000 per month. Because Joe Biden played a major role in U.S. policy towards Ukraine, some Ukrainian anti-corruption advocates and Obama administration officials expressed concern that Hunter Biden having joined the board could create the appearance of a conflict of interest and undermine Joe Biden's anti-corruption work in Ukraine.{{cite news |last1=Sonne |first1=Paul |last2=Kranish |first2=Michael |last3=Viser |first3=Matt |title=The gas tycoon and the vice president's son: The story of Hunter Biden's foray into Ukraine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-gas-tycoon-and-the-vice-presidents-son-the-story-of-hunter-bidens-foray-in-ukraine/2019/09/28/1aadff70-dfd9-11e9-8fd3-d943b4ed57e0_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 28, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006202113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-gas-tycoon-and-the-vice-presidents-son-the-story-of-hunter-bidens-foray-in-ukraine/2019/09/28/1aadff70-dfd9-11e9-8fd3-d943b4ed57e0_story.html |url-status=live}} While serving as vice president, Joe Biden joined other Western leaders in encouraging the government of Ukraine to fire the country's top prosecutor Viktor Shokin,{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |last2=Blake |first2=Aaron |title=The full Trump-Ukraine timeline – as of now |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/24/full-trump-ukraine-timeline-now/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006040226/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/24/full-trump-ukraine-timeline-now/ |url-status=live}} who was widely criticized for blocking corruption investigations.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Daniel |title=EU hails sacking of Ukraine's prosecutor Viktor Shokin |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-hails-sacking-of-ukraine-s-prosecutor-viktor-shokin-1.2591190 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=March 29, 2016 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003215312/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-hails-sacking-of-ukraine-s-prosecutor-viktor-shokin-1.2591190 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/politics/trump-ukraine-collusion.html|title=Instead of 'No Collusion!' Trump Now Seems to Be Saying, So What if I Did?|first=Peter|last=Baker|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|date=September 23, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006024857/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/politics/trump-ukraine-collusion.html|url-status=live}} The Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Shokin in March 2016.{{cite press release |url=https://iportal.rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/page/en/news/News/127271.html |date=March 29, 2016 |title=Verkhovna Rada Chairperson Volodymyr Groysman calls on all people's deputies to take part in voting for dismissal of prosecutor general Shokin – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |website=iportal.rada.gov.ua |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925171602/https://iportal.rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/page/en/news/News/127271.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/02/correcting-media-error-bidens-ukraine-showdown-was-december/ |title=Correcting a media error: Biden's Ukraine showdown was in December 2015 |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 2, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002112614/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/02/correcting-media-error-bidens-ukraine-showdown-was-december/ |url-status=live}}
Biden lobbied the U.S. State Department on behalf of Burisma to help secure a potentially lucrative energy project in Italy while his father was still Vice President. In 2016, Biden wrote a letter to the U.S. ambassador to Italy, John R. Phillips, which Biden's lawyer described as seeking to arrange an introduction between Burisma and the president of Italy's Tuscany region, the location of a potential Burisma energy project. A businessman involved in Burisma's project said that the outreach was undertaken at a time when Burisma was having difficulty securing regulatory approval for its Tuscany project. Embassy officials who handled the letter were concerned about the son of the sitting vice president reaching out on behalf of a foreign company, and Biden's request for a meeting was ultimately unmet. As President, Joe Biden released records confirming Hunter Biden's lobbying effort after dropping out of his 2024 presidential campaign, and denied being aware of it while vice president.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/14/hunter-biden-burisma-energy-company|title=Hunter Biden sought US government help for Ukrainian company Burisma|date=August 14, 2024|work = The Guardian}}
Since early 2019, Hunter and his father Joe Biden have been the subjects of false and baseless claims of corrupt activities in a Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory pushed by then-U.S. president Donald Trump and his allies.Multiple sources:
- {{cite web|title=Trump Revives False Narrative on Biden and Ukraine |first=Eugene |last=Kiely |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/trump-revives-false-narrative-on-biden-and-ukraine/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017095910/https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/trump-revives-false-narrative-on-biden-and-ukraine/|archive-date=October 17, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020|website=FactCheck.org|date=October 15, 2020}}
- {{Cite news|last=Caldera|first=Camille|date=October 21, 2019|title=Fact check: Biden leveraged $1B in aid to Ukraine to oust corrupt prosecutor, not to help his son|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/10/21/fact-check-joe-biden-leveraged-ukraine-aid-oust-corrupt-prosecutor/5991434002/|website=USA Today|access-date=October 24, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023172701/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/10/21/fact-check-joe-biden-leveraged-ukraine-aid-oust-corrupt-prosecutor/5991434002/|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Hjelmgaard|first=Kim|date=October 11, 2019|title=Trump's Biden-Ukraine natural gas conspiracy theory: False, but alive|url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2019/10/10/trumps-biden-ukraine-natural-gas-conspiracy-theory-false-but-alive/3851728002/|website=USA Today|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121162303/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2019/10/10/trumps-biden-ukraine-natural-gas-conspiracy-theory-false-but-alive/3851728002/|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Pilkington|first=Ed|date=September 30, 2019|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/30/trump-impeachment-five-conspiracy-theories-ukraine-dilemma|title=Five fantasies Trump is pushing about the Ukraine scandal – and the truth|website=The Guardian|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001124100/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/30/trump-impeachment-five-conspiracy-theories-ukraine-dilemma|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Timm|first=Jane C.|date=October 7, 2019|title=Trump is pushing a baseless conspiracy about the Bidens and China. Here's what we know.|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-pushing-baseless-conspiracy-about-bidens-china-here-s-what-n1062551|publisher=NBC News|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=May 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503133352/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-pushing-baseless-conspiracy-about-bidens-china-here-s-what-n1062551|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Timm|first=Jane C.|date=September 25, 2019|title=There's no evidence for Trump's Biden-Ukraine accusations. What really happened?|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/there-s-no-evidence-trump-s-biden-ukraine-accusations-what-n1057851|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005034/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/there-s-no-evidence-trump-s-biden-ukraine-accusations-what-n1057851|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Collins|first=Sean|date=September 23, 2019|title=The facts behind Trump's bogus accusations about Biden and Ukraine|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/23/20879611/joe-biden-hunter-biden-ukraine-corruption-prosecutor-burisma-donald-trump-whistleblower-complaint|website=Vox|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218075445/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/23/20879611/joe-biden-hunter-biden-ukraine-corruption-prosecutor-burisma-donald-trump-whistleblower-complaint|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Meyer|first=Jane|date=October 4, 2019|title=The Invention of the Conspiracy Theory on Biden and Ukraine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-invention-of-the-conspiracy-theory-on-biden-and-ukraine|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=December 9, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118095430/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-invention-of-the-conspiracy-theory-on-biden-and-ukraine|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Zadrozny|first2=Brandy|author-link2=Brandy Zadrozny|date=November 20, 2019|title=As Sondland testified, a misleading Ukraine story spread among conservatives on social media|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/sondland-testified-misleading-ukraine-story-spread-among-conservatives-social-media-n1087511|publisher=NBC News|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121015935/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/sondland-testified-misleading-ukraine-story-spread-among-conservatives-social-media-n1087511|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Mackey|first=Robert|date=May 10, 2019|title=Republican Conspiracy Theory About a Biden Scandal in Ukraine Is 'Absolute Nonsense'|url=https://theintercept.com/2019/05/10/rumors-joe-biden-scandal-ukraine-absolute-nonsense-reformer-says/|work=The Intercept|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510220932/https://theintercept.com/2019/05/10/rumors-joe-biden-scandal-ukraine-absolute-nonsense-reformer-says/|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Hjelmgaard|first=Kim|date=October 11, 2019|title=Trump's conspiracy theories thrive in Ukraine, where a young democracy battles corruption and distrust|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2019/10/10/trumps-biden-ukraine-natural-gas-conspiracy-theory-false-but-alive/3851728002/|website=USA Today|access-date=October 11, 2019|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101083916/https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2019/10/10/trumps-biden-ukraine-natural-gas-conspiracy-theory-false-but-alive/3851728002/|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Phelps|first=Jordan|date=November 22, 2019|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-continues-push-debunked-ukraine-conspiracy-theory/story?id=67228100|title=Trump continues to push debunked Ukraine conspiracy theory|publisher=ABC News|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=November 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122235813/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-continues-push-debunked-ukraine-conspiracy-theory/story?id=67228100|url-status=live}}
- {{cite news|last=Meyer|first=Jane|date=October 4, 2019|title=The Invention of the Conspiracy Theory on Biden and Ukraine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-invention-of-the-conspiracy-theory-on-biden-and-ukraine|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118095430/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-invention-of-the-conspiracy-theory-on-biden-and-ukraine|url-status=live}} Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani claimed in 2019, without evidence, that Joe Biden had sought the dismissal of Shokin in order to protect his son and Burisma Holdings. Actually, it was the official policy of the United States and the European Union to seek Shokin's removal.{{cite news |last1=Raymond |first1=Adam K. |title=Everything We Know About the Joe Biden–Ukraine Controversy |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/05/joe-biden-ukraine-controversy.html |work=New York |date=May 7, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006211232/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/05/joe-biden-ukraine-controversy.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Braun |first1=Stephen |last2=Berry |first2=Lynn |title=The story behind Biden's son, Ukraine and Trump's claims |url=https://www.apnews.com/9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c |work=Associated Press |date=September 23, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004123625/https://www.apnews.com/9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Kiely |first1=Eugene |title=Trump Twists Facts on Biden and Ukraine |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/trump-twists-facts-on-biden-and-ukraine/ |work=FactCheck.org |publisher=Annenberg Public Policy Center |date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003193130/https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/trump-twists-facts-on-biden-and-ukraine/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/10/us/politics/joe-biden-ukraine.html|title=What Joe Biden Actually Did in Ukraine|first1=Glenn|last1=Thrush|first2=Kenneth P.|last2=Vogel|author-link1=Glenn Thrush|author-link2=Kenneth P. Vogel|date=November 10, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601055428/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/10/us/politics/joe-biden-ukraine.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=March 15, 2016 |work=Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing |quote=[Former ambassador to Ukraine John E. Herbst
] : 'By late fall of 2015, the EU and the United States joined the chorus of those seeking Mr. Shokin's removal as the start of an overall reform of the Procurator General's Office. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke publicly about this before and during his December visit to Kyiv' [...] [Assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland] : "[W]e have pegged our next $1 billion loan guarantee, first and foremost, to having a rebooting of the reform coalition so that we know who we are working with, but secondarily, to ensuring that the prosecutor general's office gets cleaned up.' |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/03%2015%2016%20Ukrainian%20Reforms%20Two%20Years%20After%20the%20Maidan%20Revolution%20and%20the%20Russian%20Invasion.pdf |title=Ukrainian Reforms Two Years After the Maidan Revolution and the Russian Invasion Hearing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119210006/https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/03%2015%2016%20Ukrainian%20Reforms%20Two%20Years%20After%20the%20Maidan%20Revolution%20and%20the%20Russian%20Invasion.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |access-date=April 30, 2020 }} There has also been no evidence produced of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden in Ukraine.Multiple sources: - {{cite news |title=Trump: I want to meet my accuser |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/trump-i-want-meet-my-accuser-doc-1kt4vy4 |date=September 30, 2019 |agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=October 1, 2019 |quote=US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he wants and deserves to meet the anonymous whistleblower at the center of the fast-moving scandal that has triggered an impeachment probe against him ... Brandishing what he said were affidavits incriminating Biden's son Hunter over his work at a Ukrainian company, Giuliani said Trump was duty bound to raise the issue with Kiev. Trump and his allies claim Biden, as Barack Obama's vice president, pressured Kiev to fire the country's top prosecutor to protect his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a gas company, Burisma Holdings, accused of corrupt practices. Those allegations have largely been debunked and there has been no evidence of illegal conduct or wrongdoing in Ukraine by the Bidens. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005324/https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/trump-i-want-meet-my-accuser-doc-1kt4vy4 |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |last1=Matthias |first1=Williams |last2=Polityuk |first2=Pavel |title=Zelenskiy opponents say comments about Europeans to Trump could hurt Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-whistleblower-lawmaker-idAFL5N26H3HV |publisher=Reuters |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |quote=Trump pressed Zelenskiy to investigate the business dealings of the son of his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic front-runner to challenge Trump in an election next year. Zelenskiy agreed. Biden's son Hunter worked for a company drilling for gas in Ukraine. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005323/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-whistleblower-lawmaker-idAFL5N26H3HV |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |last1=Isachenkov |first1=Vladimir |title=Ukraine's prosecutor says there is no probe into Biden |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |agency=Associated Press |date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |quote=Though the timing raised concerns among anti-corruption advocates, there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either the former vice president or his son. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005328/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |title=White House 'tried to cover up details of Trump-Ukraine call' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |publisher=BBC News |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |quote=There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930105132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |last1=Timm |first1=Jane |title=There's no evidence for Trump's Biden-Ukraine accusations. What really happened? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/there-s-no-evidence-trump-s-biden-ukraine-accusations-what-n1057851 |publisher=NBC News |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |quote=But despite Trump's continued claims, there's no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of either Biden. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005034/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/there-s-no-evidence-trump-s-biden-ukraine-accusations-what-n1057851 |url-status=live}}*{{cite news |last1=Crowley |first1=Michael |title=Puzzle in Ukraine Crisis: Where's the U.S. Ambassador? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/us/politics/ukraine-ambassador-biden.html |work=New York Times |date=February 11, 2022 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |quote=(No evidence of wrongdoing was found on the part of Hunter Biden or his father. Mr. Trump denied doing anything improper.) |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809010943/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/us/politics/ukraine-ambassador-biden.html |url-status=live}} The Ukrainian anti-corruption investigation agency stated in September 2019 that its current investigation of Burisma was restricted solely to investigating the period from 2010 to 2012, before Hunter Biden joined Burisma in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Ivanova |first1=Polina |last2=Polityuk |first2=Pavel |title=Ukraine agency says allegations against Burisma cover period before Biden joined |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-ukraine-buris/ukraine-agency-says-allegations-against-burisma-cover-period-before-biden-joined-idUSKBN1WC1LV |date=September 27, 2019 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001031306/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-ukraine-buris/ukraine-agency-says-allegations-against-burisma-cover-period-before-biden-joined-idUSKBN1WC1LV |url-status=live}} Shokin, in May 2019, claimed that he was fired because he had been actively investigating Burisma, but U.S. and Ukrainian officials have stated that the investigation into Burisma was dormant at the time of Shokin's dismissal.{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Stephanie |last2=Krasnolutska |first2=Daryna |title=Timeline in Ukraine Probe Casts Doubt on Giuliani's Biden Claim |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-07/timeline-in-ukraine-probe-casts-doubt-on-giuliani-s-biden-claim |publisher=Bloomberg |date=May 7, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917212543/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-07/timeline-in-ukraine-probe-casts-doubt-on-giuliani-s-biden-claim |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ashley |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Rucker |first3=Philip |title=Seven days: Inside Trump's frenetic response to the whistleblower complaint and the battle over impeachment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/seven-days-inside-trumps-frenetic-response-to-the-whistleblower-complaint-and-the-battle-over-impeachment/2019/09/25/14ba426a-dfaa-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001055439/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/seven-days-inside-trumps-frenetic-response-to-the-whistleblower-complaint-and-the-battle-over-impeachment/2019/09/25/14ba426a-dfaa-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html |url-status=live}} Ukrainian and United States State Department sources note that Shokin was fired for failing to address corruption, including within his office.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-anticorruption-effort-in-ukraine-overlapped-with-sons-work-in-country-11569189782|title=Biden's Anticorruption Effort in Ukraine Overlapped With Son's Work in Country|first=Alan|last=Cullison|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=September 22, 2019|url-access=subscription|quote=Messrs. Trump and Giuliani have suggested that Joe Biden pushed for the firing of Ukraine's general prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, in March 2016 to stop an investigation into Burisma. In Ukraine, government officials and anticorruption advocates say that is a misrepresentation{{nbsp}}... Mr. Shokin had dragged his feet into those investigations, Western diplomats said, and effectively squashed one in London by failing to cooperate with U.K. authorities{{nbsp}}... In a speech in 2015, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Otto Pyatt, called the Ukrainian prosecutor "an obstacle" to anticorruption efforts|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-date=October 13, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191013003229/https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-anticorruption-effort-in-ukraine-overlapped-with-sons-work-in-country-11569189782|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49856788 |title=Ukraine ex-minister rejects Trump's Biden claims |date=September 27, 2019 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008101600/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49856788 |url-status=live}}
In July 2019, Trump ordered the freezing of $391 million in military aid{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Fandos |first2=Nicholas |author-link2=Nicholas Fandos |last3=Crowley |first3=Michael |last4=Vogel |first4=Kenneth P. |author-link4=Kenneth P. Vogel |title=Trump Said to Have Frozen Aid to Ukraine Before Call With Its Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/politics/trump-un-biden-ukraine.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927200202/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/politics/trump-un-biden-ukraine.html |url-status=live}} shortly before a telephone conversation with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump asked Zelenskyy to initiate an investigation of the Bidens.{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Asks Ukraine's Leader to 'Do Us a Favor' and Also Urges Inquiry of Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/politics/ukraine-transcript-trump.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927035244/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/politics/ukraine-transcript-trump.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |last3=Leonnig |first3=Carol D. |author-link3=Carol D. Leonnig |last4=Dawsey |first4=Josh |title=Trump offered Ukrainian president Justice Dept. help for Biden investigation, memo shows |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/transcript-of-trumps-call-with-ukrainian-president-shows-him-offering-us-assistance-for-biden-investigation/2019/09/25/16aa36ca-df0f-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927131107/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/transcript-of-trumps-call-with-ukrainian-president-shows-him-offering-us-assistance-for-biden-investigation/2019/09/25/16aa36ca-df0f-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html |url-status=live}} Trump falsely told Zelenskyy that "[Joe] Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution" of his son; Joe Biden did not stop any prosecution, did not brag about doing so, and there is no evidence his son was ever under investigation.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/fact-check-trump-made-false-claim-to-ukrainian-president-to-justify-his-biden-request/index.html |title=Fact check: Trump made false claim to Ukrainian president to justify his Biden request |first1=Daniel |last1=Dale |first2=Marshall |last2=Cohen |date=September 25, 2019 |publisher=CNN |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930014621/https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/fact-check-trump-made-false-claim-to-ukrainian-president-to-justify-his-biden-request/index.html |url-status=live}} The United States House of Representatives initiated a formal impeachment inquiry on September 24, 2019, against Trump on the grounds that he may have sought to use U.S. foreign aid and the Ukrainian government to damage Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.{{cite news |last1=Fandos |first1=Nicholas |author-link1=Nicholas Fandos |title=Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130091426/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html |url-status=live}} Ukrainian prosecutor general Yuriy Lutsenko said in May 2019 that Hunter Biden had not violated Ukrainian law. After Lutsenko was replaced by Ruslan Riaboshapka as prosecutor general, Lutsenko and Riaboshapka said in September and October 2019 respectively that they had seen no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden.{{cite news |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Tracy |last2=Loiko |first2=Sergei |title=Former Ukraine prosecutor says he saw no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-09-29/former-ukraine-prosecutor-says-no-wrongdoing-biden |access-date=October 5, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004170901/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-09-29/former-ukraine-prosecutor-says-no-wrongdoing-biden |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Ukraine to review cases on gas firm linked to Joe Biden's son |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ukraine-reviews-cases-gas-firm-linked-joe-biden-son-191004150913400.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=October 5, 2019 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004215311/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ukraine-reviews-cases-gas-firm-linked-joe-biden-son-191004150913400.html |url-status=live}}
During 2019 and 2020, Republican senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley investigated Hunter Biden's involvement with Burisma, as well as allegations that Democrats colluded with the Ukrainian government to interfere in the 2016 election. The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Republican senator Richard Burr privately expressed concerns to the senators that their inquiries could assist efforts by Russian intelligence to spread disinformation to disrupt American domestic affairs.{{Cite news|last=Desiderio|first=Andrew|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/27/richard-burr-joe-biden-probe-russia-118025|title=Senate Intel chair privately warned that GOP's Biden probe could help Russia|work=Politico|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=October 19, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019205036/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/27/richard-burr-joe-biden-probe-russia-118025|url-status=live}} American intelligence officials briefed senators in late 2019 about Russian efforts to frame Ukraine for 2016 election interference.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/us/politics/ukraine-russia-interference.html|title=Charges of Ukrainian Meddling? A Russian Operation, U.S. Intelligence Says|first1=Julian E.|last1=Barnes|first2=Matthew|last2=Rosenberg|work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 2019|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=March 7, 2020|archive-date=May 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502112610/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/us/politics/ukraine-russia-interference.html|url-status=live}} Johnson said he would release findings in spring 2020, as Democrats would be selecting their 2020 presidential nominee, but instead ramped up the investigation at Trump's urging in May 2020, after it became clear that Joe Biden would be the nominee.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/us/politics/biden-trump-burisma-investigation.html|title=Republicans, Egged On by Trump, Scrutinize Hunter Biden as His Father Surges|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|date=March 5, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=May 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521130052/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/us/politics/biden-trump-burisma-investigation.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/us/politics/trump-biden-subpoena.html|title=Senate Panel, Urged On by Trump, Subpoenas Biden-Related Material|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|date=May 20, 2020|website=The New York Times|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|access-date=July 29, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728202151/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/us/politics/trump-biden-subpoena.html|url-status=live}} Trump tweeted a press report about the investigations, later stating that he would make allegations of corruption by the Bidens a central theme of his re-election campaign. Johnson decided in March 2020 against issuing a subpoena for former Ukrainian official Andrii Telizhenko, a Giuliani associate who had made appearances on the pro-Trump cable channel One America News, after the FBI briefed him about concerns Telizhenko could be spreading Russian disinformation.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/us/politics/senate-subpoena-ron-johnson-ukraine.html|title=Senate Panel Delays Subpoena Vote Over Concerns About Ukraine Witness|first1=Kenneth P.|last1=Vogel|first2=Nicholas|last2=Fandos|author-link1=Kenneth P. Vogel|author-link2=Nicholas Fandos|date=March 11, 2020|website=The New York Times|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801011750/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/us/politics/senate-subpoena-ron-johnson-ukraine.html|url-status=live}} The State Department revoked Telizhenko's visa in October 2020, and CNN reported the American government was considering sanctioning him as a Russian agent.{{cite news |last1=Atwood |first1=Kylie |title=US revokes visa of Giuliani's Ukrainian ally who spread conspiracy theories about the Bidens |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/05/politics/telizhenko-visa-revoked/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=October 5, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205054645/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/05/politics/telizhenko-visa-revoked/index.html |url-status=live }} CNN reported that Vladislav Davidzon, the editor of Ukrainian magazine The Odessa Review, told CNN that in 2018 Telizhenko offered him money to lobby Republican senators in support of pro-Russian television stations in Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/europe/andrii-telizhenko-ukraine-biden-giuliani-intl/index.html |title=A Giuliani ally offered cash to lobby US senators on behalf of pro-Russian TV stations |first=Nina |last=dos Santos |work=CNN |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315004911/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/europe/andrii-telizhenko-ukraine-biden-giuliani-intl/index.html |url-status=live}} When Johnson released the final report on the investigation, it contained no evidence that Joe Biden had pushed for Shokin's removal in order to benefit Hunter or Burisma.{{Cite news|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|date=September 23, 2020|title=Republican Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by Biden|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/us/politics/biden-inquiry-republicans-johnson.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924004731/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/us/politics/biden-inquiry-republicans-johnson.html}}{{Cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=September 23, 2020|title=GOP's Hunter Biden report doesn't back up Trump's actual conspiracy theory — or anything close to it|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/23/gops-hunter-biden-report-doesnt-back-up-trumps-actual-conspiracy-theory-or-anything-close-it/|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924203416/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/23/gops-hunter-biden-report-doesnt-back-up-trumps-actual-conspiracy-theory-or-anything-close-it/}}
In June 2020, former Ukrainian prosecutor general Ruslan Riaboshapka stated that an audit of thousands of old case files he had ordered in October 2019 had found no wrongdoing by Hunter Biden. Riaboshapka was described by Zelenskyy as "100 percent my person" during the July 2019 call in which Trump asked him to investigate Biden.{{Cite news|last=Zhegulev |first=Ilya |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Ukraine found no evidence against Hunter Biden in case audit: former top prosecutor |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-ukraine-idUSKBN23B2RB |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628010433/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-ukraine-idUSKBN23B2RB |url-status=live}}
Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Derkach, an associate of Rudy Giuliani with links to Russian intelligence, released in May 2020 alleged snippets of recordings of Joe Biden speaking with Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko during the years Hunter Biden worked for Burisma.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/ukrainian-lawmaker-releases-leaked-phone-calls-of-biden-and-poroshenko/2020/05/19/cc1e6030-9a26-11ea-b60c-3be060a4f8e1_story.html|title=Ukrainian lawmaker releases leaked phone calls of Biden and Poroshenko |first1=Paul |last1=Sonne |first2=Rosalind S. |last2=Helderman |author-link2=Rosalind S. Helderman |date=May 19, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630225627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/ukrainian-lawmaker-releases-leaked-phone-calls-of-biden-and-poroshenko/2020/05/19/cc1e6030-9a26-11ea-b60c-3be060a4f8e1_story.html |url-status=live}} The recordings, which were not verified as authentic and appeared heavily edited, depicted Biden linking loan guarantees for Ukraine to the ouster of the country's prosecutor general. The recordings did not provide evidence to support the ongoing conspiracy theory that Biden wanted the prosecutor fired to protect his son.{{Cite news |last1=Sonne |first1=Paul |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |last3=Dawsey |first3=Josh |last4=Stern |first4=David L. |author-link2=Rosalind S. Helderman |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Hunt for Biden tapes in Ukraine by Trump allies revives prospect of foreign interference |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/for-months-trump-allies-hunted-for-tapes-of-biden-in-ukraine-now-theyre-turning-up/2020/06/30/f3aeaba8-a67b-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html |access-date=June 30, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en |archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701124302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/for-months-trump-allies-hunted-for-tapes-of-biden-in-ukraine-now-theyre-turning-up/2020/06/30/f3aeaba8-a67b-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html |url-status=live}} Poroshenko denied in June 2020 that Joe Biden ever approached him about Burisma.{{cite web |last1=Bertrand |first1=Natasha |last2=Desiderio |first2=Andrew |author-link1=Natasha Bertrand |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Senate panel demands testimony from ex-Obama officials in revived Biden probe |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/26/senate-hunter-biden-documents-341817 |access-date=June 29, 2020 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628224124/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/26/senate-hunter-biden-documents-341817 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Seddiq |first=Oma |date=June 21, 2020 |title=Former Ukrainian president says Biden never pressed him on Burisma |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/21/ukraine-president-hunter-joe-biden-burisma-331779 |access-date=June 29, 2020 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630053455/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/21/ukraine-president-hunter-joe-biden-burisma-331779 |url-status=live}} The United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Derkach in September 2020, stating he "has been an active Russian agent for over a decade, maintaining close connections with the Russian Intelligence Services". The Treasury Department added Derkach "waged a covert influence campaign centered on cultivating false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election" including by the release of "edited audio tapes and other unsupported information with the intent to discredit U.S. officials".{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/treasury-sanctions-derkach-ukraine-election-interference/index.html |title=Vowing crackdown on Russian meddling, US sanctions Ukrainian lawmaker who worked with Giuliani to smear Biden |first1=Zachary |last1=Cohen |first2=Kylie |last2=Atwood |first3=Marshall |last3=Cohen |publisher=CNN |date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031001312/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/treasury-sanctions-derkach-ukraine-election-interference/index.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1118|title=Treasury Sanctions Russia-Linked Election Interference Actors|date=September 10, 2020|publisher=United States Department of the Treasury|access-date=September 10, 2020|archive-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911000450/https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1118|url-status=live}} Close associates of Derkach were also sanctioned by the Treasury Department in January 2021.{{cite web|last=Forgey|first=Quint|title=Treasury Department announces sanctions tied to Giuliani's Biden attacks|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/11/treasury-department-rudy-giuliani-sanctions-457460|access-date=January 22, 2021|website=Politico|date=January 11, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112013634/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/11/treasury-department-rudy-giuliani-sanctions-457460|url-status=live}} United States intelligence community analysis released in March 2021 found that Derkach was among proxies of Russian intelligence who promoted and laundered misleading or unsubstantiated narratives about Biden "to US media organizations, US officials, and prominent US individuals, including some close to former President Trump and his administration".{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Zachary |last2=Cohen |first2=Marshall |last3=Polantz |first3=Katelyn |title=US intelligence report says Russia used Trump allies to influence 2020 election with goal of 'denigrating' Biden |date=March 16, 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/politics/us-election-intel-report/index.html |access-date=March 18, 2021 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=March 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319003036/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/politics/us-election-intel-report/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Shesgreen |first=Deirdre |title=Russia, Iran aimed to sway 2020 election through covert campaigns, US intelligence reports |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/03/16/us-intel-report-russia-iran-tried-sway-2020-presidential-election/4720051001/ |access-date=March 18, 2021 |date=March 16, 2021 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316213830/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/03/16/us-intel-report-russia-iran-tried-sway-2020-presidential-election/4720051001/ |url-status=live }}
Two Republicans on a Senate investigation committee in 2020 claimed that Russian businessperson Yelena Baturina, the wife of former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov, wire-transferred $3.5 million in 2014 to Rosemont Seneca Thornton, of which Biden had previously been a partner. The Washington Post reported in April 2022 that the partners of Rosemont Seneca Thornton had agreed to dissolve the organization before the 2014 wire transfer, though it continued to be operated by Devin Archer to facilitate real estate transactions for eastern and central Asia investors, while Biden was uninvolved. Archer received the $3.5 million wire from Baturina to purchase property in Brooklyn, New York. The Senate report cited unspecified confidential documents and gave no evidence that Biden personally accepted the funds.{{cite web |last=Bertrand |first=Natasha |author-link=Natasha Bertrand |date=September 28, 2020 |title=Trump sought deals with Moscow mayor |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/28/donald-trump-moscow-mayor-deals-422642 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929023616/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/28/donald-trump-moscow-mayor-deals-422642 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Politico}} Biden's attorney denied the report, saying Biden had no financial relationship with Baturina and no stake in the partnership that received the money, nor did he co-found the partnership.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/senate-gop-report-calls-hunter-bidens-board-position-problematic-but-offers-few-specific-examples-it-changed-obama-administration-policy/2020/09/23/4b66d41e-fd44-11ea-9ceb-061d646d9c67_story.html|title=GOP senators' report calls Hunter Biden's board position with Ukraine firm 'problematic' but doesn't show it changed U.S. policy|first1=Karoun|last1=Demirjian|first2=Tom|last2=Hamburger|first3=Paul|last3=Sonne|date=September 23, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928105306/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/senate-gop-report-calls-hunter-bidens-board-position-problematic-but-offers-few-specific-examples-it-changed-obama-administration-policy/2020/09/23/4b66d41e-fd44-11ea-9ceb-061d646d9c67_story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Examining Trump claim that Hunter Biden got $3.5 million from wife of Moscow ex-mayor |first=Jon |last=Greenberg |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/sep/30/examining-trump-claim-hunter-biden-got-35-million-/ |date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021082505/https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/sep/30/examining-trump-claim-hunter-biden-got-35-million-/ |url-status=live}} However, Trump's White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah repeated the claim, and in a press conference Trump repeatedly asserted that Biden received millions of dollars from the former mayor's wife.
Investigations and federal indictments
{{Main|Weiss special counsel investigation}}
In December 2020, Biden made a public announcement via his attorney that his tax affairs were under federal criminal investigation.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/politics/hunter-biden-tax-investigation/index.html |title=Federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden focuses on his business dealings in China |first1=Evan |last1=Perez |first2=Pamela |last2=Brown |work=CNN |access-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210000532/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/politics/hunter-biden-tax-investigation/index.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/us/politics/hunter-biden-tax-investigation.html |title=Hunter Biden Discloses He Is Focus of Federal Tax Inquiry |first1=Adam |last1=Goldman |first2=Katie |last2=Benner |first3=Kenneth P. |last3=Vogel |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215004026/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/us/politics/hunter-biden-tax-investigation.html |url-status=live}} The New York Times and CNN described the investigation as having started in late 2018 and being related to potential violations of tax and money laundering laws and Biden's business dealings in foreign countries, principally China. The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden had provided legal and consulting services that generated foreign-earned income, citing a Senate Republicans' report that $4.79 million in wire transfers from entities linked to Chinese energy tycoon Ye Jianming and his company, CEFC China Energy, were paying for such services.{{cite web |last1=Areddy |first1=James T. |last2=Duehren |first2=Andrew |title='For Hunter Biden, Family Name Aided Foreign Deals |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=October 11, 2023 |location=Hong Kong |date=December 23, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126094826/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-bidens-family-name-aided-deals-with-foreign-tycoons-11608682462 |url-status=live }} The New York Times reported that FBI investigators had been unable to establish sufficient evidence for a prosecution of potential money laundering crimes, including after the seizure of a laptop belonging to Biden, and so the investigation progressed onto tax issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/09/hunter-biden-under-federal-investigation-over-taxes.html|title=Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden under federal investigation for tax case|first=Dan|last=Mangan|date=December 9, 2020|publisher=CNBC|access-date=December 9, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215004004/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/09/hunter-biden-under-federal-investigation-over-taxes.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Wise|first=Alana|title=Hunter Biden Says He Is Under Federal Investigation For Tax Matter: Report|date=December 9, 2020|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/12/09/944751413/bidens-son-under-federal-investigation-for-tax-matter/|publisher=NPR|access-date=December 10, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210061832/https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/12/09/944751413/bidens-son-under-federal-investigation-for-tax-matter/|url-status=live}} Since October 2021, Hollywood attorney and writer Kevin Morris, who has become an influential adviser/confidant and now financier to Biden, lent Biden more than $6.5 million to pay back taxes, support his family, and fund legal expenses.{{cite news |title=Kevin Morris' loans to Hunter Biden totaled $6.5 million, $1.6 million more than previous estimate |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hunter-biden-kevin-morris-5-million-loans/ |work=CBS News |date=January 23, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Hunter Biden's legal defense has a problem: The patron paying the bills is running out of cash |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/15/hunter-biden-legal-defense-kevin-morris-money-00158237 |work=Politico |date=May 15, 2024}}
The New York Times reported in March 2022 that, since 2018, Biden and possibly others had been under investigation by federal prosecutors in Delaware, with a grand jury convened to subpoena and hear evidence. The investigation examined payments and gifts Biden or his associates had received from foreign interests and whether Biden had violated the law by not registering as a lobbyist under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The Times reported it had acquired emails that were authenticated by people familiar with them and the investigation that appeared to come from a laptop belonging to Biden. One April 2014 email, written by Biden to his business partner as their work with Burisma was about to begin, noted that his father, then the vice president who would soon visit Kyiv, should "be characterized as part of our advice and thinking—but what he will say and do is out of our hands". The email also stated that Burisma officials "need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policymakers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other U.S. laws in the strictest sense across the board". Biden wrote that his father's visit "could be a really good thing or it could end up creating too great an expectation. We need to temper expectations regarding that visit." He also wrote that his employer, the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, could help Burisma through "direct discussions at state, energy and NSC [
A July 2022 report from CNN authenticated emails which showed that Biden was struggling with large debt and overdue tax bills.{{Cite web |last1=Devine |first1=Curt |last2=Glover |first2=Scott |last3=Scannell |first3=Kara |last4=Perez |first4=Evan |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Hunter Biden was repeatedly warned of tax problems, a CNN review of emails shows |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/politics/hunter-biden-emails-invs/index.html |access-date=August 8, 2022 |website=CNN |archive-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804200704/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/politics/hunter-biden-emails-invs/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |work=CNN |title=Watch: Hunter Biden's emails show deep debt, insufficient funds, and overdue taxes |date=July 27, 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/07/27/hunter-biden-emails-debt-overdue-back-taxes-insufficient-funds-investigation-griffin-pkg-lead-vpx.cnn |access-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808213919/https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/07/27/hunter-biden-emails-debt-overdue-back-taxes-insufficient-funds-investigation-griffin-pkg-lead-vpx.cnn |url-status=live }}
In October 2022, The Washington Post reported that federal agents had determined months prior that they had assembled enough evidence for a viable criminal case against Biden to charge him with crimes related to making false declarations during a gun purchase, as well as tax-related crimes. The next step was for Delaware U.S. attorney David C. Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration, to decide on whether to file such charges.{{cite news |title=Federal agents see chargeable tax, gun-purchase case against Hunter Biden |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/06/hunter-biden-tax-gun-charges/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 6, 2022 |first1=Devlin |last1=Barrett |first2=Perry |last2=Stein |accessdate=October 6, 2022 |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006183124/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/06/hunter-biden-tax-gun-charges/ |url-status=live }}
Federal investigators had also been examining the lobbying firm Blue Star Strategies, which Burisma retained while Biden sat on its board, for possible illegal lobbying of American officials. There was no indication Biden was a subject of the investigation. Blue Star employees said in Senate testimony that Biden was included in emails about the firm's work but that he was not particularly involved. One of the firm's co-founders said Biden did not direct its work. Blue Star's work came after Burisma's owner was criticized by the United States State Department, and the firm's founders testified the firm had merely approached officials to determine the government's views of Burisma.{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Betsy Woodruff |last2=Lippman |first2=Daniel |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Sources: Dem lobbying firm under federal investigation for Burisma work |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/03/blue-star-burisma-justice-department-investigation-491681 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329200845/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/03/blue-star-burisma-justice-department-investigation-491681 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |work=Politico}}{{cite news |author1=Evan Perez |author2=Katelyn Polantz |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Federal investigation of Hunter Biden heats up |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/hunter-biden-federal-investigation-heats-up/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331001542/https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/hunter-biden-federal-investigation-heats-up/index.html |archive-date=March 31, 2022}}
On June 20, 2023, in a deal with prosecutors, Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay income tax, and to enter a pretrial diversion program related to a felony gun charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.{{Cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/tax-and-firearm-charges-filed-against-robert-hunter-biden |title=Tax and Firearm Charges Filed Against Robert Hunter Biden |date=June 20, 2023 |website = justice.gov}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/us/politics/hunter-biden-plea-deal.html |title=Hunter Biden to Plead Guilty on Misdemeanor Tax Charges |date=June 20, 2023 |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael |last2=Entous |first2=Adam |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620134513/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/us/politics/hunter-biden-plea-deal.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web| last=Debusmann Jr | first=Bernd | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65965473|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621222229/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65965473|title=Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax crimes and admit gun offence|publisher=BBC News|access-date=June 21, 2023|date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=June 21, 2023}} Prosecutors recommended two years of probation for the tax charges; the gun charge would be dropped at the end of this period if the conditions of the diversion program had been met successfully.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/20/hunter-biden-plea-deal/ |title=Hunter Biden reaches deal to plead guilty in tax, gun case |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Stein |first2=Perry |date=June 20, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620132717/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/20/hunter-biden-plea-deal/ |url-status=live }} Having the gun charge dropped was conditional on Biden remaining drug-free and never being allowed to own a firearm again.{{cite web |last1=Gurman |first1=Sadie |last2=Linskey |first2=Annie |last3=Tau |first3=Byron |title=Hunter Biden's Courtroom Reversal Extends His Legal Limbo, Political Exposure |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-biden-plea-deal-limbo-republicans-749b5187 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=July 28, 2023 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727232234/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-biden-plea-deal-limbo-republicans-749b5187 |url-status=live }} Biden's attorney said the agreement with prosecutors "resolved" the investigation, though the Justice Department said the investigation was "ongoing".
In court on July 26, 2023, federal prosecutors explained that the "ongoing" aspect of the investigation referred to possible charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA); FARA requires that anyone who acts on the behalf of a foreign government, e.g. China or Ukraine, must register with the Department of Justice and file regular reports on their activities for that government.{{cite web |last1=Gurman |first1=Sadie |last2=Linskey |first2=Annie |last3=Tau |first3=Byron |title=Hunter Biden's Courtroom Reversal Extends His Legal Limbo, Political Exposure |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-biden-plea-deal-limbo-republicans-749b5187 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=July 28, 2023 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=July 27, 2023 |quote=In court on Wednesday, prosecutors said there was still the possibility of additional charges against the younger Biden under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires anyone acting on behalf of a foreign government to file reports on their activities with the Justice Department.... The judge asked if the continuing investigation could yield additional charges such as violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. "Yes," prosecutor Leo Wise replied. |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727232234/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hunter-biden-plea-deal-limbo-republicans-749b5187 |url-status=live }} On July 26, the plea deal was rejected by the presiding judge, who cited concerns over immunity Biden might receive from future charges, and gave 30 days to both the government prosecutors and Biden's defense team to provide additional information. Biden changed his plea from "guilty" to "not guilty".{{cite web |last1=McCausland |first1=Phil |last2=Winter |first2=Tom |title=Hunter Biden pleads not guilty after plea deal is derailed |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/hunter-biden-expected-plead-guilty-criminal-tax-case-rcna96232 |website=NBC News |date=July 26, 2023 |access-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726090259/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/hunter-biden-expected-plead-guilty-criminal-tax-case-rcna96232 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Perry |last2=Barrett |first2=Devlin |last3=Viser |first3=Matt |date=August 17, 2023 |title=How a fight over immunity unraveled Hunter Biden's plea deal |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/hunter-biden-plea-deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817182228/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/hunter-biden-plea-deal/ |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
On August 8, Weiss requested appointment as a special counsel in the Biden investigation, which attorney general Merrick Garland granted. Garland announced the appointment on August 11, the same day Weiss announced government and Biden attorneys could not reach agreement on a new plea deal.{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Ryan J. |title=Attorney General Garland appoints a special counsel in Hunter Biden probe |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/attorney-general-garland-appoints-special-counsel-hunter-biden-probe-rcna99447 |publisher=NBC News |date=August 11, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811163152/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/attorney-general-garland-appoints-special-counsel-hunter-biden-probe-rcna99447 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |title=U.S. Attorney Investigating Hunter Biden Is Made a Special Counsel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/11/us/garland-doj-news#garland-weiss-hunter-biden-special-counsel |work=The New York Times |date=August 11, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811162433/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/11/us/garland-doj-news#garland-weiss-hunter-biden-special-counsel |url-status=live }} The Justice Department said on September 6 that Weiss would ask a grand jury to return an indictment of Biden on a gun charge by September 29.{{cite news |last1=Scannell |first1=Kara |title=Special counsel to indict Hunter Biden on gun charges this month, DOJ says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/politics/hunter-biden-gun-charges-indictment/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906202215/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/politics/hunter-biden-gun-charges-indictment/index.html |url-status=live }} On September 14, Biden was officially indicted in Delaware on three federal firearms-related charges: two for making false statements on a firearm application form and one for prohibited possession of a firearm.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-charge-investigation-e5c8ded90ea8c22d2e2e7cb09804b747 |title=Hunter Biden indicted on federal firearms charges in long-running probe weeks after plea deal failed |last=Whitehurst |first=Lindsay |date=September 14, 2023 |work=AP News |access-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116235638/https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-charge-investigation-e5c8ded90ea8c22d2e2e7cb09804b747 |url-status=live}} He was arraigned on October 3 and pleaded not guilty to all charges.{{Cite web |last=Jansen |first=Bart |title=Hunter Biden indicted on federal gun charges for allegedly lying about drug addiction |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/14/hunter-biden-indicted-on-federal-gun-charge/70853729007/ |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918224416/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/14/hunter-biden-indicted-on-federal-gun-charge/70853729007/ |url-status=live }} Legal experts noted that prosecutions for these charges are rare.{{Cite news |last=Thrush |first=Glenn |date=September 15, 2023 |title=The Gun Charges Against Hunter Biden Are Unusual. Here's Why. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/us/politics/hunter-biden-gun-charges.html |access-date=September 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918163642/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/us/politics/hunter-biden-gun-charges.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Ryan |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Legal experts say the charges against Hunter Biden are rarely brought |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/legal-experts-say-charges-hunter-biden-are-rarely-brought-rcna90191 |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918165801/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/legal-experts-say-charges-hunter-biden-are-rarely-brought-rcna90191 |url-status=live }} In January 2024, prosecutors urged a judge to not dismiss Biden's gun charge, revealing that cocaine residue was found in his gun pouch.{{Cite web |last1=Richer |first1=Alanna Durkin |last2=Long |first2=Colleen |date=2024-01-16 |title=Cocaine residue was found on Hunter Biden's gun pouch in 2018 case, prosecutors say |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-charges-cocaine-87f74ce87edf60b933225d736c4e1c4e |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117211718/https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-charges-cocaine-87f74ce87edf60b933225d736c4e1c4e |url-status=live }}
On December 7, 2023, Biden was indicted in California on nine tax charges, including three felony and six misdemeanor offenses. The indictment reads that "The Defendant engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019." Biden's lawyer said that Biden had repaid his taxes in full prior to the indictment.{{cite news |last1=Pitas |first1=Costas |last2=Whitcomb|first2=Dan|date=December 7, 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/doj-files-new-criminal-charges-against-hunter-biden-cnn-2023-12-08/ |title=DOJ files new criminal charges against Hunter Biden |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Reuters |access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208021444/https://www.reuters.com/legal/doj-files-new-criminal-charges-against-hunter-biden-cnn-2023-12-08/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Whitehurst |first=Lindsay |date=December 8, 2023 |title=Hunter Biden is indicted on 9 tax charges, adding to gun charges in a special counsel investigation |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-charges-special-counsel-75b2aa05f247535677454ff2dfa7c71f |access-date=December 13, 2023 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212165012/https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-charges-special-counsel-75b2aa05f247535677454ff2dfa7c71f |url-status=live }} On January 11, 2024, Biden pleaded not guilty to the tax charges.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/11/hunter-biden-arraignment-tax-charges/ |title=Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to tax charges, gets June trial date |first1=Perry |last1=Stein |first2=Devlin |last2=Barrett |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 11, 2024|accessdate=January 11, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Lybrand |first=Holmes |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to federal tax charges |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/11/politics/hunter-biden-federal-court-appearance/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111120927/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/11/politics/hunter-biden-federal-court-appearance/index.html |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |accessdate=January 11, 2024 |work=CNN}} The same day, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi scheduled the trial for June 20, 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-11/hunter-biden-pleads-not-guilty-to-us-tax-charges-in-california |title=Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Tax Charges in California |first1=Rachel |last1=Graf|first2=Maxwell |last2=Adler |first3=David |last3=Voreacos|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=January 11, 2024 |accessdate=January 11, 2024 |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111212218/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-11/hunter-biden-pleads-not-guilty-to-us-tax-charges-in-california|url-status=live}} The trial was later delayed to September 5, 2024, due to the "needs of the defendant" in preparing for his Delaware trial on firearms charges in June.{{cite news |last=Hawkinson |first=Katie |date=May 22, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden's trial on felony tax charges delayed until September |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hunter-biden-tax-trial-date-b2549831.html |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=The Independent}} Biden repeatedly sought to dismiss both tax and gun charges against him, without success.{{Cite web |title=Hunter Biden loses bid to get tax-dodging charges dismissed |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/hunter-biden-loses-bid-to-get-tax-dodging-charges-dismissed/ |website=Courthouse News | date = April 2, 2024}}{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Judge denies Hunter Biden's bid to dismiss gun charges |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/09/hunter-biden-gun-charges-00157160 |website=Politico}}
In August 2024, prosecutors alleged that Biden agreed to lobby on behalf of a Romanian businessman seeking to "influence U.S. government agencies" while his father was vice president. The businessman, Gabriel Popoviciu, was under criminal investigation in Romania at the time and hired Biden to assist in fighting his criminal charges through the US government. Prosecutors sought to introduce evidence from Biden's work with Popoviciu as part of his charges on tax evasion.{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden was hired by Romanian businessman trying to 'influence' US agencies, prosecutors say |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-taxes-special-counsel-romanian-businessman-9c1b15a548df02935e2bfa856e485ada |website=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2024 |title=Romanian oligarch hired Hunter Biden to influence US policy, special counsel says |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/romanian-oligarch-hired-hunter-biden-influence-us-policy/story?id=112659953 |website=ABC}} A pre-trial hearing for the tax indictment which involved Biden's lawyers would be held on August 21, 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/hunter-biden-s-lawyers-appear-in-court-ahead-of-september-tax-trial-217655877990|title=Hunter Biden's lawyers appear in court ahead of September tax trial|publisher=NBC News|date=August 21, 2024|accessdate=August 21, 2024}}
=Firearms trial and convictions=
A final pre-trial hearing for the gun charges was held on May 24, 2024.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-case-trial-61ae47f6c9296f02d1462d82b1a47897 |title=Hunter Biden gun trial set for June 3 could last up to 2 weeks amid disputes over evidence |first1=Claudia |last1=Lauer |first2=Lindsay |last2=Whitehurst |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 24, 2024 |accessdate=May 24, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Grumbach |first1=Gary |last2=Stand |first2=Rebecca |last3=Hayes |first3=Owen |last4=Marquez |first4=Alexandra |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Judge in Hunter Biden's gun charges case sets rules for evidence |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hunter-biden-attend-pre-trial-hearing-delaware-gun-charges-case-rcna153913 |accessdate=May 24, 2024 |work=NBC News}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/hunter-biden-trial-06-03-24/index.html |title=Hunter Biden's trial on federal gun charges |first1=Holmes |last1=Lybrand |first2=Marshall |last2=Cohen |first3=Kate |last3=Grise|publisher=CNN|date=June 3, 2024|accessdate=June 3, 2024}} During the final hearing, Judge Maryellen Noreika ruled that prosecutors could not refer to his upcoming California tax trial, child support proceedings in Arkansas, his discharge from the Navy, or include statements which Biden made at a July 2023 hearing where his plea deal collapsed. However, the prosecution was permitted to bring up Biden's drug use, portions of his memoir, and a summary of data from his laptop, phone, and iPad.
Biden's trial began on June 3, 2024, on charges of unlawfully possessing a gun as a drug user, lying on a federal form when he bought the gun, and making a false statement about information required to be collected by a federally licensed gun dealer. The charges stemmed from a gun purchased and possessed by Biden in October 2018. During the trial, three of Biden's former partners testified regarding Biden's drug usage and gun purchase.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/03/hunter-biden-gun-trial-preview-00161181 |title=Hunter Biden's gun trial starts today. Here's what to know. |publisher=Politico|date=June 3, 2024}} On June 11, Biden was found guilty on three felony charges for federal gun violations.{{Cite web |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden convicted on all 3 charges at federal gun trial |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/hunter-biden-trial-06-11-24#h_96baefde09c15e387cacd5439675d55e |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=CNN}}{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Perry |last2=Barrett |first2=Devlin |last3=Viser |first3=Matt |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/06/11/hunter-biden-guilty-whats-next/ |title=Hunter Biden found guilty in gun trial. What it means and what's next |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 11, 2024 |access-date=June 11, 2024}} The conviction made Biden the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal trial.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/11/hunter-biden-gun-trial-guilty-verdict-00162694 |title=Hunter Biden found guilty on federal gun charges |first1=Betsy Woodruff |last1=Swan|first2=Josh|last2=Gerstein|publisher=Politico|date=June 11, 2024 |accessdate=June 11, 2024}} Due to his conviction on felony charges, Biden's license to practice law in Washington, D.C. was suspended.{{cite news |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden's DC law license suspended due to gun case conviction |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/politics/hunter-biden-law-license-suspended/index.html |work=CNN}} Biden was scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2024, which did not occur due to him being pardoned by his father on December 1.{{cite web |date=1 December 2024 |title=President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/joe-biden-issue-pardon-son-hunter-biden-rcna182369 |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=NBC News}}
=Tax indictment and guilty pleas=
On September 5, 2024, Biden's defense lawyer Abbe Lowell revealed that Biden would change his plea from not guilty to guilty in the federal tax case.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-trial-justice-department-6873692c030244b450e27826e7097946 |title=Hunter Biden intends to change not guilty plea in his federal tax case, defense attorney says |first1=Amy|last1=Taxin|first2=Deepa|last2=Bharath|first3=Claudia|last3=Lauer|first4=Alex|last4=Veiga|publisher=Associated Press|date=September 5, 2024|accessdate=September 5, 2024}} Biden had been indicted with three felony charges– one tax evasion count and two counts of filing false returns – and six misdemeanor charges.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/09/05/hunter-biden-plea-criminal-tax-trial/75087147007/ |title=Hunter Biden proposes to accept sentencing and avoid criminal tax trial |first=Aysha|last=Bagchi|publisher=USA Today |date=September 5, 2024 |accessdate=September 5, 2024}} It was not immediately clear if the presiding Judge Mark C. Scarsi would accept this plea proposal, which would be regarded as an Alford plea.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/hunter-biden-intends-plead-guilty-federal-tax-charges-rcna169621 |title=Hunter Biden intends to change his plea in federal tax case to avoid a trial |first1=Sarah |last1=Fitzpatrick |first2=Dareh |last2=Gregorian |first3=Katie| last3=Wall|publisher=NBC News|date=September 5, 2024|accessdate=September 5, 2024}} Under this proposed plea agreement, Biden would have accepted both a sentence and the strength of evidence against him, but also maintained his innocence.{{cite news |url=https://people.com/hunter-biden-plea-tax-trial-8706980 |title=Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges at the Last Minute, Aiming to Avoid Another Trial and Accept Sentence |first=Raven |last=Brunner |publisher=People |date=September 5, 2024 |accessdate=September 5, 2024}} Later in the day, it was reported that this plea offer would not be accepted by the prosecution.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/hunter-biden-intends-plead-guilty-federal-tax-case-nbc-news-reports-2024-09-05/ |title=US prosecutors oppose Hunter Biden plea offer in tax case |first=Jackie |last=Luna |publisher=Reuters |date=September 5, 2024 |accessdate=September 5, 2024}} Initially, Judge Scarsi would neither accept the initial plea offer or call off the trial, but also did not make a final ruling and would opt to make a decision about the plea offer at a later time.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/05/politics/hunter-biden-case/index.html |title=Judge punts ruling on Hunter Biden's offer to change plea in tax case to later date |first1=Paula |last1=Reid |first2=Marshall |last2=Cohen |first3=Evan |last3=Perez |first4=Casey|last4=Gannon|publisher=CNN|date=September 5, 2024|accessdate=September 5, 2024}}
Prosecutors said they would reject an Alford plea.{{cite news |last1=Ogilvie |first1=Jessica |last2=Viser |first2=Matt |last3=Stein |first3=Perry |title=Hunter Biden pleads guilty in tax case, avoiding second criminal trial |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/09/05/hunter-biden-alford-guilty-plea-taxes/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 5, 2024}} However, Scarsi would accept a guilty plea by the end of the day, with Biden pleading guilty to all nine charges.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hunter-biden-guilty-verdict-tax-evasion-trial/ |title=Hunter Biden pleads guilty to all 9 charges in tax evasion case before trial in Los Angeles |first1=Erica |last1=Brown |first2=Caitlin|last2=Yilek|publisher=CBS News |date=September 5, 2024|accessdate=September 5, 2024}} During his plea hearing, Biden responded "Yes" after Scarsi asked him "Do you agree you committed every element of the charges in the indictment?"
Biden was scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2024 and he could have faced up to 17 years in prison. Former federal prosecutor, Tom Dupree, told CBS News he expected the judge to impose a sentence of fewer than five years. President Biden, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, First Lady Jill Biden, and White House spokesperson Andrew Bates repeatedly stated that the president would decline to pardon Hunter or commute his sentence.
=Pardon of criminal offenses{{Anchor|Pardon of Hunter Biden}}=
File:2024-12-01 Biden pardon Hunter Biden.jpg
On December 1, 2024, President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son. The pardon covered all federal offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, and included his tax charges, gun charges, and any other potential charges within that time.
In an official White House statement from President Biden, he said that he believed his son was "selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted", and blamed political pressure for the failure of a plea deal for Hunter.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-12-02 |title=Statement from President Joe Biden |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/01/statement-from-president-joe-biden-11/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=The White House}}{{Cite web |last=Morin |first=Rebecca |date=2024-12-01 |title=President Joe Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/01/president-joe-biden-hunter-biden-pardon/76693183007/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=USA TODAY}} He concluded by saying "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."
The New York Times reported that the plea deal fell apart due to the presiding judge questioning its unusual construction, which violated a basic tenet of federal guilty pleas against having side deals in the plea agreement.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=Judge Scuppered Hunter Biden Plea Deal, Not Political Pressure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/us/politics/biden-pardon-political-pressure.html|access-date=2024-12-02 |website=The New York Times|first=Devlin|last=Barrett}} In court filings subsequent to the pardon, special counsel Weiss stated "there was none and never has been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case".{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5017976-hunter-biden-special-counsel-dismiss |title=Special counsel objects to dismissing Hunter Biden tax case after pardon |work=The Hill |first=Ella |last=Lee |date=December 2, 2024|access-date=December 3, 2024}} Judge Scarsi stated that President Biden's characterizations "stand in tension with the case record" and that the Constitution does not "give the president the authority to rewrite history[.]"{{Cite web |date=4 December 2024 |title=Judge in Hunter Biden tax case calls president's pardon statement an attempt to 'rewrite history' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/judge-hunter-biden-case-calls-presidents-pardon-statement-attempt-rewr-rcna182825/ |website=NBC}}
The scope of the pardon was unusually broad and legal experts could recall only Richard Nixon as someone given similar terms for a pardon, for a term between 1969 and 1974.{{Cite news |date=2 December 2024 |title=The extraordinary breadth of Hunter Biden's pardon |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/02/hunter-biden-presidential-pardon-comparisons/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |date=2 December 2024 |title=We haven't seen a pardon as sweeping as Hunter Biden's in generations |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/02/hunter-biden-pardon-nixon-00192101 |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=Politico}} The breadth of the pardon includes Hunter Biden's "entire tenure on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, as well as much of his other international work, including in China."{{Cite web |last1=Klein |first2=Marshall |last2=Cohen |first1=Betsy |date=2024-12-02 |title=President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/01/politics/hunter-biden-joe-biden-pardon/index.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=CNN}}
The pardon received bipartisan criticism from members of Congress as harming the justice system.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2024 |title=Biden's pardon of his son Hunter rattles the political world |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5016921-bidens-pardon-of-his-son-hunter-rattles-the-political-world/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |work=The Hill}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-01 |title=Biden pardons his son Hunter on gun and tax charges despite previously saying he wouldn't |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-pardons-his-son-hunter-on-gun-and-tax-charges-despite-previously-saying-he-wouldnt |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=PBS News}} In the months leading up to Hunter's scheduled sentencing, the President had made repeated statements that he would not use the pardon authority for his own son. He and his staff continued to state that there would be no pardon for Hunter as late as November, although internal staff discussions affirmed that the option for a pardon would remain on the table even as Biden publicly stated otherwise.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2024 |title=Joe Biden pardons his son, Hunter Biden |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hunter-biden-padon/ |access-date=1 December 2024 |website=CBS News}}
Hunter issued the following statement in response to the pardon:
I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport, I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.{{Cite web |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Kanno-Youngs |first2=Zolan |date=December 1, 2024 |title=President Pardons His Son, Hunter Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/01/us/hunter-biden-pardon-live#biden-pardon-son |access-date=December 1, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}
=Laptop files=
{{main|Hunter Biden laptop controversy}}
File:Biden takes presidential oath of office, 2021 (50911775498).jpg, at their father's inauguration, January 2021. Discovery of Hunter Biden's laptop was an October surprise prior to the 2020 election.{{cite web |last=Prokop |first=Andrew |date=March 25, 2022 |title=The return of Hunter Biden's laptop |url=https://www.vox.com/22992772/hunter-biden-laptop |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=Vox |language=en |quote=no evidence has emerged to back up suspicions from former intelligence officials, backed by Biden himself, that the laptop's leak was a Russian plot. |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327135904/https://www.vox.com/22992772/hunter-biden-laptop |url-status=live }}]]
On October 14, 2020, twenty days prior to the 2020 United States presidential election, the New York Post published an article based on content provided to the publication by Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former chief strategist Steve Bannon. The article concerned what the Post said was a laptop computer that had belonged to Hunter Biden and that was allegedly left for repairs at a Wilmington, Delaware, computer shop. According to the narrative in the Post article, this device contained an email that referenced a "meeting" between Joe Biden and Vadym Pozharskyi, a Burisma advisor.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/14/hunter-bidens-alleged-laptop-an-explainer/ |title=Hunter Biden's alleged laptop: an explainer |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=October 15, 2020 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015001532/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/14/hunter-bidens-alleged-laptop-an-explainer/ |url-status=live }}
The article's veracity was strongly questioned at the time by many mainstream media outlets as well as dozens of current and former intelligence officials for possibly being a Russian disinformation campaign.{{cite news |last=Benveniste |first=Alexis |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/18/media/new-york-post-hunter-biden-reliable/index.html |title=The anatomy of the New York Post's dubious Hunter Biden story |work=CNN |date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019005507/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/18/media/new-york-post-hunter-biden-reliable/index.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Bertrand|first=Natasha |author-link=Natasha Bertrand |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020034222/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |website=Politico}} (As of March 25, 2022, Vox reported that there was no evidence to corroborate the intelligence officials' suspicions that the laptop leak was part of a "Russian plot".)
In January 2024, federal prosecutors stated that they had possession of a laptop computer which Hunter Biden left at the computer store and confirmed that the device contained files also found in cloud backups to Biden's Apple account.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Marshall |date=2024-01-16 |title=Special counsel says Hunter Biden's claim of right-wing bias is 'fiction designed for a Hollywood script' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/16/politics/hunter-biden-special-counsel-response/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118220013/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/16/politics/hunter-biden-special-counsel-response/index.html |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=CNN}} In June 2024, the laptop and its contents were utilized as evidence during a federal court trial of Hunter Biden for firearms charges. FBI investigators testified at the trial, confirming the authenticity of the laptop, and stating that they had cross-referencing texts, emails, and messages found on the laptop with Apple and had verified the serial number on the laptop. Prosecutors also introduced the invoice from the repair shop as evidence.{{cite news |date=June 4, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden trial highlights: FBI agent testifies about Hunter Biden's drug use and large cash withdrawals |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/live-blog/hunter-biden-trial-live-update-rcna155305 |work=NBC News}}{{cite news |date=June 4, 2024 |title=Prosecutors introduce infamous laptop as evidence |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/hunter-biden-gun-trial/prosecutors-introduce-infamous-laptop-as-evidence-110826798?id=110723981 |work=ABC News}}
Biden was deposed by the House Judiciary and Oversight committees on February 28, 2024, which discussed emails found on the laptop. Biden stated during the deposition that he did not recall sending the laptop for repairs.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02/29/congress/hunter-biden-impeachment-inquiry-house-republicans-transcript-00144343|title=In testy interview with GOP, Hunter Biden says father was not involved in business deals|first=Jordain|last=Carney|publisher=Politico|date=February 29, 2024|accessdate=February 29, 2024|archive-date=March 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302050203/https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02/29/congress/hunter-biden-impeachment-inquiry-house-republicans-transcript-00144343|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-impeachment-joe-biden-transcript-congress-50acadad1afc1efc1426828edb1b3ad9 |title=Takeaways from Hunter Biden's combative deposition with Republican lawmakers|date = March 1, 2024| work = Associated Press}}
In February 2023, Hunter Biden's attorneys wrote to the Justice Department National Security Division asking that they criminally investigate "individuals for whom there is considerable reason to believe violated various federal laws in accessing, copying, manipulating, and/or disseminating Mr. Biden's personal computer data". A similar letter was sent to the Attorney General of Delaware. The letters named Giuliani, Bannon, Mac Isaac (owner of the Wilmington computer repair shop where the laptop was abandoned), and others.{{cite news |title=Hunter Biden asks for criminal probe into Trump allies for 'theft' of data from laptop |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/hunter-biden-asks-criminal-probe-trump-allies-laptop-rcna68703 |publisher=NBC News |date=February 1, 2023 |first1=Sarah |last1=Fitzpatrick |first2=Dareh |last2=Gregorian |access-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201235227/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/hunter-biden-asks-criminal-probe-trump-allies-laptop-rcna68703 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Viser |first1=Matt |title=Hunter Biden's lawyers, in newly aggressive strategy, target his critics |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/01/hunter-biden-lawyers-urge-investigation-of-critics/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 1, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529113313/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/01/hunter-biden-lawyers-urge-investigation-of-critics/ |url-status=live }} The special counsel assigned to the case later described Hunter Biden's claim of right-wing bias as "fiction designed for a Hollywood script".
Another event resulting from discovery of the laptop occurred in January 2023: an anonymous Twitter account posted a rental application found on the laptop, leading to a false claim that in 2018 Hunter Biden had paid rent while residing at his father's Delaware home, where classified documents had been found. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee that was investigating the Biden family, inquired whether it was evidence that Hunter Biden illicitly provided money from his foreign business activities to his father. The document was determined to be a quarterly rental payment for office space at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C.{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |last2=Usero |first2=Adriana |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/21/how-hunter-biden-conspiracy-theory-grew-lone-tweet-big-megaphone/ |title=How a Hunter Biden conspiracy theory grew, from lone tweet to a big megaphone |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2023 |access-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121080927/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/21/how-hunter-biden-conspiracy-theory-grew-lone-tweet-big-megaphone/ |url-status=live }}
=Navy Reserve=
Biden's application for a position in the U.S. Navy Reserve was approved in May 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-son-hunter-discharged-from-navy-reserve-after-failing-cocaine-test-1413499657|title=Biden's Son Hunter Discharged From Navy Reserve After Failing Cocaine Test|last1=Nelson|first1=Colleen McCain|date=October 16, 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|last2=Barnes|first2=Julian E.|issn=0099-9660|access-date=May 17, 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503004516/https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-son-hunter-discharged-from-navy-reserve-after-failing-cocaine-test-1413499657|url-status=live}} At age 43, Biden was accepted as part of a program that allows a limited number of applicants with desirable skills to receive commissions and serve in staff positions.{{cite news |last=Ziezulewicz |first=Geoff |date=October 25, 2019 |title=The people Priebus beat out to become an ensign |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/10/25/the-people-priebus-beat-out-to-become-an-ensign/ |work=Military Times |location=Springfield, VA |access-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229144253/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/10/25/the-people-priebus-beat-out-to-become-an-ensign/ |url-status=live}} Biden received an age-related waiver and a waiver for a past drug-related incident; he was sworn in as a direct commission officer by his father in a White House ceremony.
Results of a routine urinalysis taken on Biden's first weekend of reserve duty revealed cocaine in his system. He was discharged administratively in February 2014.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/518884-biden-hits-trump-over-military-losers-remark-defends-son/ |title=Biden hits Trump over military 'losers' remark, defends son |first=Timothy R. |last=Homan |date=September 29, 2020 |website=The Hill|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001003543/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/518884-biden-hits-trump-over-military-losers-remark-defends-son|url-status=live}} Biden attributed the result to having smoked a cigarette that he had asked a group of men outside a store to give him, claiming the cigarette contained cocaine as well as tobacco. He did not appeal the discharge, stating that he thought it unlikely the panel would believe his explanation given his history of drug addiction. Biden also stated that he did not appeal due to the likelihood that this would result in the press becoming aware of the discharge; however, it was eventually disclosed to The Wall Street Journal by a Navy official.
Work as an artist
In February 2020, The New York Times reported that Biden had been painting as an "undiscovered artist" in his Hollywood Hills home. The report also displayed some of his paintings, including "Untitled #4 (a study in ink)" and "Untitled #3 (a signed work)".{{cite news |author= |date=February 28, 2020 |title=There's a New Artist in Town. The Name Is Biden. |first=Adam |last=Popescu |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/arts/design/hunter-biden-art.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228101009/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/arts/design/hunter-biden-art.html |archive-date=February 28, 2020}}
Biden's art dealer, Georges Bergès, hosted a private viewing for Biden in Los Angeles in fall 2021, followed by an exhibition in New York.{{cite news |last=Kazakina |first=Katya |date=June 14, 2021 |title=We Spoke to Hunter Biden About His New Life as a Full-Time Artist, and His Personal Quest for 'Universal Truth' Through Painting |work=Artnet News |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hunter-biden-gallery-show-1979790 |url-status=live |access-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615234852/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hunter-biden-gallery-show-1979790 |archive-date=June 15, 2021}} Biden's paintings were put up for sale for as much as $500,000 per painting, with Kevin Morris purchasing $875,000 worth of his art.{{Cite news | last=Viser | first=Matt | title=Hunter Biden's paintings have sold for a total of $1.5 million | date=January 23, 2024 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/23/hunter-biden-paintings-sold-15-million/ | newspaper=Washington Post }} Another buyer was Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, a prominent California Democratic Party donor who was appointed to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad by Joe Biden. Business Insider was unable to verify how much Hirsh Naftali spent on the art, nor whether the purchase occurred before or after her appointment. An ethicist interviewed by the news website said that the purchase was ethically problematic, particularly if it occurred before her appointment, as "it might be perceived as a quid pro quo."{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/hunter-biden-joe-artwork-berges-gallery-elizabeth-hirsh-naftali-2023-7 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |first=Mattathias |last=Schwartz |date=July 24, 2023 |title=Exclusive: Hunter Biden's gallery sold his art to a Democratic donor 'friend' who Joe Biden named to a prestigious commission |work=Business Insider |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812234239/https://www.businessinsider.com/hunter-biden-joe-artwork-berges-gallery-elizabeth-hirsh-naftali-2023-7 |url-status=live |quote=Bruce Weinstein, a professional ethicist and ethics trainer, told Insider that the timing of Hirsh Naftali's purchase was significant. "If it was done after her appointment, and she likes the painting, it's less of an issue," he said. "It's more of an issue if she's deciding to buy it beforehand. Then it might be perceived as a quid pro quo." }} The purchases provoked concerns about possible conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency.{{Cite news |last1=Bowley |first1=Graham |last2=Pogrebin |first2=Robin |date=August 13, 2021 |title=A Gallery Sells Hunter Bidens. The White House Says It Won't Know Who's Buying. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/arts/design/hunter-biden-art-white-house.html |access-date=October 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008064020/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/arts/design/hunter-biden-art-white-house.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Vazquez |first=Maegan |date=October 9, 2021 |title=Hunter Biden's private LA art show renews conflict-of-interest concerns |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/09/politics/hunter-biden-los-angeles-art-show/index.html |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009203942/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/09/politics/hunter-biden-los-angeles-art-show/index.html |url-status=live }}
According to court filings by Biden, between December 2021 and December 2023, he sold approximately $1.5 million of his art.{{cite news |last1=Lubin |first1=Rhian |title=Hunter Biden reveals his dire financial situation after selling one piece of art this year and lackluster book buys|quote=His income before December 2023, according to the documents, came from sales of his artwork and his memoir Beautiful Things. “In the 2 to 3 years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces for art at an average price of $54,481.48,” Biden said in the filing. “But since then I have only sold 1 piece of art for $36,000.” |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/hunter-biden-finances-art-sales-laptop-lawsuit-b2710363.html |access-date=March 6, 2025 |work=The Independent |date=March 6, 2025}} From December 2023 to March 2025, he sold $36,000 of art.
Presidency of Joe Biden
During his father's presidency, Hunter emerged as one of six key individuals who insulated Joe from scrutiny and acted as an intermediary between him and others.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2025 |title=How Biden’s Inner Circle Protected a Faltering President |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/politics/biden-age.html |work = The New York Times }} After a poor presidential debate performance by Joe in June 2024 caused intensified public concern about his age and fitness for the presidency, Hunter helped Joe with speech preparation and began joining meetings with the president and his staffers.{{Cite web |date = 2 July 2024|title=White House: Hunter Biden helped with Biden speech prep Monday |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4752458-hunter-biden-advises-president-biden/ |work = The Hill }} Hunter maintained daily, often hourly contact with his father on calls. Joe increasingly relied on Hunter for advice, and Hunter emerged as one of the strongest voices in Joe's circle urging him not to drop out of his reelection campaign.{{Cite web |date = 22 July 2024|title=Biden’s Family Tells Him to Keep Fighting as They Huddle at Camp David |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/us/politics/biden-debate-anxious-democrats.html |work = The New York Times }}{{Cite web |date = 2 July 2024|title=Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings as he stays close to the president post-debate |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/hunter-biden-white-house-meetings-president-debate-rcna159975 |work = NBC }}{{Cite web |date = 20 July 2024|title=Biden family grapples with pressure on their patriarch to step aside|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/20/biden-family-grapples-biden-calls-withdraw/|work = The Washington Post }}{{Cite web |date = 9 July 2024|title=Concerns as Hunter Biden acting as ‘gatekeeper’ to US president|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/07/09/concerns-as-hunter-joe-biden-gatekeeper-us-president-trump/|work = The Telegraph }}
Hunter had been a regular presence in public White House events, but his increased involvement in Biden's presidency and campaign led to surprise and concern from White House staffers. After Joe's poor debate performance, Hunter advocated for Joe to fire some of his top staffers, including Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer. Hunter also began acting as a "de facto gatekeeper" for access to the president.{{Cite web |date = 7 July 2024|title=Behind the Curtain: Unbendable Biden vs. breaking-point Dems|url=https://www.axios.com/2024/07/07/biden-democrats-drop-election-campaign|work = Axios }}
=Litigation=
Between 2023 and 2024, Hunter privately sued numerous individuals, organizations, and the U.S. Government alleging various instances of invasion of privacy and defamation.
In September 2023, Biden filed suit against the IRS, claiming unlawful disclosures of his tax return information in relation to two IRS employees who provided information to members of Congress.{{cite news |last1=Mosk |first1=Matthew |title=IRS whistleblowers ask judge to dismiss Hunter Biden's lawsuit against the tax agency |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irs-whistleblowers-hunter-biden-lawsuit-against-irs/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=CBS News |date=March 17, 2024}} The D.C. District Court dismissed his claim under the Privacy Act in September 2024, and Biden dropped the suit altogether in 2025.{{Cite web |date = 1 May 2025|title=Hunter Biden Voluntarily Drops IRS Tax Return Disclosure Suit|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/hunter-biden-voluntarily-drops-irs-tax-return-disclosure-suit|work = Bloomberg Law }}
In 2023, Biden sued Garrett Ziegler's Marco Polo organization, accusing the group of invasion of privacy for publishing 128,000 of his emails that were recovered from his lost laptop computer.{{cite news |last1=Granville |first1=Samantha |title=Hunter Biden says he can't afford to continue laptop-related lawsuit |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9d8gyx075o |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=BBC News |date=March 6, 2025}} In March 2025, Biden sought to have the case dismissed due to his worsening personal financial situation and inability to continue to pay for his own legal representation.
In 2024, Biden sued Rudy Giuliani alleging Giuliani was responsible for the "total annihilation" of his privacy due to his involvement in releasing data from his laptop computer. He dropped the lawsuit shortly thereafter.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Kanishka |title=Hunter Biden agrees to drop lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, court records show |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hunter-biden-agrees-drop-lawsuit-against-rudy-giuliani-court-records-show-2024-06-14/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=Reuters |date=June 14, 2024}} The same year, he sued Fox News for airing images taken from the laptop, but dropped the lawsuit without explanation the following month.{{cite news |last1=Folkenflik |first1=David |title=Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox, while network scores separate court victory |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/g-s1-12676/hunter-biden-fox-news-lawsuit-nina-jankowicz-disinformation |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=NPR |date=July 22, 2024}} Three months later, however, he resurrected the lawsuit in state court. In a statement, Fox News described the second lawsuit as "devoid of any merit".{{cite news |last1=Freedman |first1=Robert |title=Former Fox CLO named in Hunter Biden lawsuit |url=https://www.legaldive.com/news/former-fox-clo-Dinh-named-in-hunter-biden-revenge-porn-lawsuit/730052/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=Legal Dive |date=October 16, 2024}}
Later life
Following the presidency of Joe Biden, according to The Daily Beast, Hunter fell "on hard times".{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=David |title=Hunter Biden Is Homeless and Millions in Debt After L.A. Fires |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/hunter-biden-is-homeless-and-millions-in-debt-after-la-fires/ |access-date=March 6, 2025 |work=The Daily Beast |date=March 6, 2025}} The prior year — in 2024 — his law license had been suspended, NBC News noting at the time that it was unclear what impact the suspension would have on his livelihood.{{cite news |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |title=Hunter Biden's law license suspended in Washington, D.C., after criminal conviction |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/hunter-bidens-law-license-suspended-washington-dc-criminal-conviction-rcna158829 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=NBC News |date=March 6, 2025}} In January 2025, his rental home was damaged and left uninhabitable during the Palisades Fire and he had difficulty finding new housing, resulting in him experiencing homelessness. By this point, he was several million dollars in debt and his income severely impacted by flagging interest in his memoir, which was selling less than 200 copies per month. In court filings, Biden averred that he had anticipated earning money from invitations for paid speaking engagements, but no such invitations had materialized.{{cite news |last1=Fry |first1=Hannah |title=Hunter Biden’s lawsuit in jeopardy after rental home damaged in Palisades fire, financial woes mount |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-06/hunter-biden-lawsuit-drop-rental-home-damaged-fire |access-date=March 6, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 6, 2025}}
In March 2025, Hunter's Secret Service detail was withdrawn on the direction of Donald Trump. Prior to the end of his term, Joe Biden had ordered an extended period of post-presidency protection for Hunter.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |title=Trump says he's ending Secret Service protection for Biden's adult children |url=https://www.kcci.com/article/trump-ends-secret-service-biden-children/64212316 |access-date=March 17, 2025 |work=KCCI-TV |agency=Associated Press}}
Personal life
=Relationships=
File:Beau biden funeral wilminton (cropped).jpeg
In 1993, Biden married Kathleen Buhle. They have three daughters: Naomi (named after Biden's sister),{{Cite magazine|first=Emily|last=Burack|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a41867005/naomi-biden-facts/|title=Joe Biden's Granddaughter Naomi Biden Is Living at the White House|date=November 21, 2022|magazine=Town & Country|access-date=December 11, 2023|archive-date=July 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731015315/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a41867005/naomi-biden-facts/|url-status=live}} Finnegan, and Maisey. The couple formally separated in October 2015, and divorced in 2017.{{cite web |last1=Fishman |first1=Margie |title=Divorce filing details split of Kathleen, Hunter Biden |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2017/03/02/kathleen-biden-files-divorce-hunter/98638454/ |website=Delaware Online |access-date=July 19, 2023 |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729012042/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2017/03/02/kathleen-biden-files-divorce-hunter/98638454/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=Tomlinson|first=Hugh|date=January 13, 2022|title=Hunter Biden's ex-wife details his 'devastating' affair with brother's widow in memoir|newspaper=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/hunter-bidens-ex-wife-details-his-devastating-affair-with-brothers-widow-in-memoir-h6pqfwjwp|access-date=January 14, 2022|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114051344/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hunter-bidens-ex-wife-details-his-devastating-affair-with-brothers-widow-in-memoir-h6pqfwjwp|url-status=live}} Buhle's 2022 memoir If We Break documents her account of the relationship.{{Cite news |last=Heller |first=Karen |date=June 14, 2022 |title=Hunter Biden's ex opens up about why she stayed — and why she left |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/06/14/kathleen-buhle-memoir/ |access-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109234133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/06/14/kathleen-buhle-memoir/ |url-status=live }}
Biden began a relationship with his brother's widow Hallie Olivere Biden in 2016.{{cite magazine |first=Diana |last=Pearl |url=https://people.com/politics/hallie-bidens-father-says-he-supports-her-relationship-with-hunter-biden-her-late-husbands-brother/ |title=Hallie Biden's Father Says He Supports Her Relationship with Hunter Biden, Her Late Husband's Brother |magazine=People |date=March 2, 2017 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003203447/https://people.com/politics/hallie-bidens-father-says-he-supports-her-relationship-with-hunter-biden-her-late-husbands-brother/ |url-status=live}} The relationship ended in 2019.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/hunter-and-hallie-biden-break-up |title=Hunter Biden Has Reportedly Broken Up with His Late Brother's Wife |first=Tina |last=Nguyen |date=May 1, 2019 |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502144004/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/hunter-and-hallie-biden-break-up |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hunter-biden-hallie-gun-trial-b2558150.html |title=The ex, the wife and the widow: Who's who in the Hunter Biden trial|date=June 6, 2024 |work = The Independent}}
Between 2017 and 2018, Biden also had a romantic relationship with Zoë Kestan.
Biden has a fourth daughter, born in August 2018 in Arkansas, to Lunden Alexis Roberts.{{cite news |url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2020/jan/08/judge-signs-order-declaring-paternity-hunter-biden-case/811239/ |website=Texarkana Gazette |title=Judge signs order declaring paternity in Hunter Biden case |date=January 7, 2020 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429032855/https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2020/jan/08/judge-signs-order-declaring-paternity-hunter-biden-case/811239/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Breuninger |first1=Kevin |last2=Mangan |first2=Dan |date=January 27, 2020 |title=Hunter Biden agrees to pay child support to Arkansas woman, avoids contempt hearing |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/27/joe-biden-son-hunter-biden-agrees-to-temporary-child-support-for-child.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012155658/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/27/joe-biden-son-hunter-biden-agrees-to-temporary-child-support-for-child.html |archive-date=October 12, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2020 |work=CNBC |language=en}} Biden initially denied that the child was his, but a DNA test, conducted as part of a paternity suit filed in May 2019 by Roberts, confirmed he is the father. The lawsuit was settled in March 2020 after Biden agreed to pay Roberts $20,000 a month in child support.{{cite web |title=Hunter Biden settles child support case with Arkansas woman |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-child-support-arkansas-paternity-89fb7080985efe52c5c3bc94c37d6ac1 |website=Associated Press |access-date=July 21, 2023 |language=en |date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721053234/https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-child-support-arkansas-paternity-89fb7080985efe52c5c3bc94c37d6ac1 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=De La Garza |first=Erik |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/hunter-biden-paternity-case-ends-in-settlement-with-arkansas-woman |work=Courthouse News Service |title=Hunter Biden Paternity Case Ends in Settlement With Arkansas Woman |date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130104758/https://www.courthousenews.com/hunter-biden-paternity-case-ends-in-settlement-with-arkansas-woman/|url-status=live}} Biden filed a motion in September 2022 to reduce his child support payments, on the basis of reduced income; Roberts opposed this request and also petitioned the Arkansas court to change the child's surname to Biden, so that his daughter might benefit from associations with Biden's family.{{cite web |last1=McFadin |first1=Daniel |title=Mother of Hunter Biden's daughter asks court to change her name to Biden |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/dec/29/mother-of-hunter-bidens-daughter-asks-court-to/ |website=Arkansas Online |access-date=July 21, 2023 |language=en |date=December 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606163254/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/dec/29/mother-of-hunter-bidens-daughter-asks-court-to/ |url-status=live }} In June 2023, Biden and Roberts settled the dispute. As part of the settlement, Biden agreed to give several of his paintings to his daughter and pay an undisclosed monthly amount in child support until the daughter turns 18. Biden also agreed to assist with college tuition. Roberts agreed to drop her petition to change their daughter's surname.{{cite news |last=Gregorian |first=Dareh |title=Hunter Biden settles long-running child support case in Arkansas |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/hunter-biden-settles-long-running-child-support-case-arkansas-rcna91937 |website=NBC News |accessdate=June 11, 2024 |date=June 29, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Viser |first1=Matt |title=Hunter Biden reaches deal in child support case |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/29/hunter-biden-child-support-payments-deal/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=July 21, 2023 |date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629201931/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/29/hunter-biden-child-support-payments-deal/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Marshall |title=Hunter Biden settles Arkansas child support case |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/29/politics/hunter-biden-lunden-roberts-arkansas-child-support-case/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=July 21, 2023 |language=en |date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718142127/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/29/politics/hunter-biden-lunden-roberts-arkansas-child-support-case/index.html |url-status=live }} The matter received significant attention in the media.{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |title=Hunter Biden's Daughter and a Tale of Two Families |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/us/politics/hunter-biden-daughter-arkansas.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=July 21, 2023 |date=July 1, 2023 |archive-date=July 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720232144/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/us/politics/hunter-biden-daughter-arkansas.html |url-status=live }}
Biden married South African filmmaker Melissa Cohen in May 2019, within a week of first meeting her.{{cite news |first=Meredith |last=Newman |date=July 1, 2019 |url=https://delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/07/01/hunter-biden-talks-his-addiction-i-darkness/1615964001/ |title=Hunter Biden talks about his addiction, 'I was in that darkness' |work=The News-Journal |location=Wilmington, Delaware |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703021818/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/07/01/hunter-biden-talks-his-addiction-i-darkness/1615964001/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Heil |first1=Emily |title=Hunter Biden's messy personal life is back in the news. Will it cause political headaches for his dad? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/12/hunter-biden-married-los-angeles-woman-after-split-with-his-brothers-widow/?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 12, 2019 |access-date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=June 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613011426/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/12/hunter-biden-married-los-angeles-woman-after-split-with-his-brothers-widow/?noredirect=on |url-status=live}} Their son, named Beau in honor of Biden's brother, was born in March 2020 in Los Angeles.{{cite magazine|last=Carlson|first=Adam|title=Joe Biden's Son Hunter & His Wife Welcome a Son Less Than a Year After Whirlwind Wedding: Report |date=April 1, 2020|url=https://people.com/parents/hunter-biden-wife-melissa-gives-birth-son-report/ |magazine=People |access-date=April 30, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411051335/https://people.com/parents/hunter-biden-wife-melissa-gives-birth-son-report/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/parents/joe-biden-s-baby-grandson-beau-was-adorable-inauguration-t206415 |title=Joe Biden and baby grandson share precious moment at inauguration — and his name is Beau|last=Stump|first=Scott|date=January 21, 2021 |website=Today|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121143428/https://www.today.com/parents/joe-biden-s-baby-grandson-beau-was-adorable-inauguration-t206415 |url-status=live}}
=Drug and alcohol abuse=
Biden has abused drugs and alcohol throughout his adult life, which he has detailed in his 2021 memoir.{{cite news |first=Darlene |last=Superville |date=April 20, 2021|title=Hunter Biden details lifelong addiction struggle in memoir |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-ukraine-firm-memoir-beautiful-things-40d98f7edf2e72f84ba2f12856327c5e |access-date=October 6, 2021|website=Associated Press |language=en|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006010200/https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-ukraine-firm-memoir-beautiful-things-40d98f7edf2e72f84ba2f12856327c5e |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Biden |first=Hunter |date=April 4, 2021 |title=Hunter Biden on family tragedies and the drug addiction that nearly destroyed him |language=en |work=The Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/hunter-biden-family-tragedies-drug-addiction-son-joe-biden-jnzhfpph7 |access-date=January 14, 2022 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114051352/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hunter-biden-family-tragedies-drug-addiction-son-joe-biden-jnzhfpph7 |url-status=live}} He believes his addiction issues are linked to episodes of family loss he suffered,{{cite web |last1=Neumann |first1=Sean |title=Hunter Biden Says His Addiction Issues Stemmed from 'Serious Trauma' of Mom's 1972 Car Crash Death |url=https://people.com/politics/hunter-biden-says-addiction-stems-from-trauma-of-mother-1972-death/ |website=people.com |publisher=People Magazine |access-date=October 11, 2023 |language=en |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929160032/https://people.com/politics/hunter-biden-says-addiction-stems-from-trauma-of-mother-1972-death/ |url-status=live }} beginning with the 1972 motor vehicle accident that killed his mother and sister.{{cite web |title=Hunter Biden on addiction: My life is not a tabloid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56641577 |website=BBC News |access-date=October 6, 2021 |date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006010200/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56641577 |url-status=live }} Biden said that his family never talked much with him about the accident, and this allowed the emotional trauma he felt to remain unresolved; it worsened following the death of his brother, Beau. Over the past two decades, Biden has been in multiple substance abuse rehabilitation programs, each followed by an interval of sobriety followed by relapse. At his worst, Biden stated that he was "smoking crack every 15 minutes".{{cite web |last1=Oliver |first1=David |title=Hunter Biden says he was 'smoking crack every 15 minutes', more jaw-dropping moments from memoir 'Beautiful Things' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/03/31/hunter-biden-memoir-he-opens-up-hallie-biden-crack-addiction/4826035001/ |website=USA TODAY |access-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006010153/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/03/31/hunter-biden-memoir-he-opens-up-hallie-biden-crack-addiction/4826035001/ |url-status=live }}
The $11 million Biden and his firm were paid from 2013 to 2018 fueled his addiction. In his memoir, he wrote that the money "turned into a major enabler during my steepest skid into addiction" and "hounded me to spend recklessly, dangerously, destructively. Humiliatingly. So I did." He had an intervention in early 2019.{{cite news|date=April 5, 2021 |title=Through Decades Of Addiction, Hunter Biden Says His Family Never Gave Up On Him |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/05/983385027/hunter-biden-says-his-family-never-gave-up-on-him |first1=Scott |last1=Simon |first2=James |last2=Doubek |first3=Samantha |last3=Balaban |first4=Ed |last4=McNulty |work=Morning Edition |publisher=NPR|archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006010153/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/05/983385027/hunter-biden-says-his-family-never-gave-up-on-him |url-status=live }}
= Memoir =
Biden released Beautiful Things, a memoir of the trauma of the accident that claimed his mother and sister, and his later addiction struggles, on April 6, 2021.{{Cite magazine |last1=Shaffer |first1=Claire |date=February 4, 2021|title=Hunter Biden Announces Memoir 'Beautiful Things,' Out in April |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/hunter-biden-beautiful-things-memoir-1123580/ |access-date=February 5, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204162624/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/hunter-biden-beautiful-things-memoir-1123580/ |url-status=live}} The New York Times described the book as "equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict's howl".{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Elisabeth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/podcasts/amanda-gorman-hunter-biden-narrated-articles.html |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Hunter Biden's Memoir: 7 Takeaways From 'Beautiful Things' |date=April 3, 2021 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402154044/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/podcasts/amanda-gorman-hunter-biden-narrated-articles.html |url-status=live}}
References
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External links
{{Commons}}
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{{Hunter Biden}}
{{Joe Biden}}
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Category:Biden administration controversies
Category:Boies Schiller Flexner people
Category:Catholics from Delaware
Category:Children of presidents of the United States
Category:Children of vice presidents of the United States
Category:Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences alumni
Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.
Category:Lawyers from Wilmington, Delaware
Category:Military personnel from Delaware
Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election
Category:People associated with the 2024 United States presidential election
Category:People with traumatic brain injuries
Category:People pardoned by Joe Biden
Category:Trump–Ukraine scandal