WASHINGTON – Hunter Biden’s art dealer in Manhattan said Tuesday that he never worked with the White House on an ethics pact to ensure buyers remained anonymous, adding that the main buyers were acquaintances of the first son, contrary to claims previous aides to President Biden.
Georges Bergès also revealed that, in addition to the lack of alleged anti-corruption safeguards, he actually met and spoke on the phone with the president while representing his son, the House Oversight Committee said in a closed-door reading of a statement.
The art dealer testified that Hunter, 53, knew who bought about 70% of his art, including Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, who obtained works from the first son before and after he obtained a prestigious presidential appointment.
Bergès revealed that he personally interacted with Joe Biden on multiple occasions, including at a closed-to-the-press White House wedding for Hunter’s daughter Naomi in 2022.
The high-stakes testimony came as the Oversight Committee leads an impeachment inquiry into whether Biden Sr. was corruptly involved in the foreign businesses of his son and his brother James while he was vice president.
Hirsh Naftali, who made repeated visits to the White House during the period in question, signed off on a $42,000 sale in February 2021, prior to his July appointment by Joe Biden to the US Heritage Preservation Commission in the Foreigner, and then another for $52,000 in December 2022.
Bergès also confirmed that the first son knew that Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who met Hunter at a political fundraiser in December 2019 before funding his tax payments and living expenses, was his main patron, and bought art worth $875,000 in a January 2023 deal.
First son Hunter Biden’s Manhattan art dealer, Georges Bergès, shared details Tuesday about buyers of the first son’s rookie works. Stephen Yang
“The Biden White House appears to have misled the American people by facilitating an ethical agreement governing the sale of Hunter Biden’s art,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement. “Hunter Biden’s gallerist never had any communication with the White House about such an agreement to ensure there was any kind of ethical compliance, and he provided information to the committee that reveals how Hunter Biden’s amateur art career is an ethical nightmare.
“The vast majority of Hunter Biden’s art has been purchased by Democratic donors, one of whom was appointed by President Biden to a prestigious commission after purchasing Hunter Biden’s art for tens of thousands of dollars shortly after the inauguration. inauguration of Joe Biden,” Comer added. “The White House has a lot of explaining to do about how to deceive the American people.”
The White House had no immediate comment on Bergès’ testimony. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred questions to the White House counsel’s office during her regular briefing.
Bergès said Hunter, 53, actually knew who bought about 70% of his art, including Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali.
It was not immediately clear whether Bergès provided complete information about the buyer after previously declining to do so.
Bergès also told committee members during closed-door testimony that Hunter was introduced to Bergès by Hollywood producer Lanette Phillips, who has hosted fundraisers for Biden’s father.
Hunter Biden has sold at least $1.3 million in art as of last July, according to Business Insider.
The Post previously reported that Hunter sold five prints for $75,000 each, for a total of $375,000, at a Hollywood art show in October 2021 that was controversially attended by then-Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. then President Biden’s nominee to be ambassador to India.
The existence of an alleged ethics agreement whereby Hunter Biden would remain in the dark about buyer information was first reported in July 2021 by the Washington Post and the framework was repeatedly cited by the then-White House press secretary. , Jen Psaki.
The Washington Post, citing two Biden advisers, wrote that “White House officials have helped craft a deal under which purchases of Hunter Biden’s artwork, which could be priced as high as $500,000, would be “They will keep confidential even from the artist himself, in an attempt to avoid ethical problems that could arise when a member of the presidential family tries to sell a product with a highly subjective value.”
Psaki did not dispute the article in a briefing the next day when a reporter asked her: “Did the White House play any role in crafting the sales agreement with the New York gallery to protect the buyers or the identity of the buyers?” finals?”
Bergès also confirmed that Hunter knew that Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who met Hunter at a political fundraiser in December 2019, was his main patron and purchased $875,000 worth of art in a January 2023 deal. Daniel William McKnight
The then-White House spokesman responded that “a system has been established that allows Hunter Biden to work in his profession within reasonable safeguards… All interactions related to the sale of art and pricing will be handled by a professional gallery owner, adhering to the highest industry standards. And any offer outside the normal course would be rejected outright. And the gallerist will not share information about buyers or potential buyers, including their identities, with Hunter Biden or the administration.”
Weeks later, Psaki put some distance between the administration and the supposed deal.
“We have talked at length about the agreements, which are not White House agreements; They are agreements between Hunter Biden’s representatives and that we certainly heard about, ”he said in August 2021.
Hirsh Naftali has denied purchasing Hunter’s art to curry favor with his father, and said in a November statement that “any suggestion that his art purchase was unusual or in any way inappropriate” was false.
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