House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer on Thursday criticized subpoenas and transcribed interview requests from eight more Biden family associates, including Hunter Biden’s art dealer, a day after subpoenaing the first son and the first brother, James Biden.
Comer (R-Ky.) is specifically seeking statements from Soho gallerist George Bergès and art patron Elizabeth Naftali, as well as Biden cronies Eric Schwerin and Mervyn Yan.
The panel also requests transcribed interviews with Carol Fox, trustee of Americore Health, LLC; associate Joey Langston, Ukrainian-American businessman John Hynansky and associate Jason Galanis.
Comer is leading House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which began in September and has involved the House Oversight Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
“Today’s subpoenas represent another step in holding President Biden accountable. “House Republicans are committed to doing the oversight work that the American people deserve,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a statement.
Comer cited Hunter Biden’s art dealer. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
investigating loans
Most of the four transcribed interview requests concern loans received by members of the Biden family. Of particular interest is Americore’s Fox.
The rural hospital chain raised the curiosity of Republican investigators about its financial dealings with James Biden.
The now-defunct trader was responsible for at least $600,000 in loans received by the president’s brother, according to records obtained by the panel.
James Biden received those loans from the financially distressed company “based on representations that his last name, ‘Biden,’ could ‘open doors’ and that he could obtain large investment from the Middle East based on his political connections,” according to the statement. bankruptcy records.
In March 2018, Joe Biden received a $200,000 check from James Biden, described as a “loan payment,” on the same day James Biden received that amount from the hospital chain, records show.
Georges Berges outside his gallery, Georges Berges Gallery.William Farrington Hunter Biden views his artwork at George Berges Gallery in SoHo.Stephen Yang
The art of Hunter Biden
This latest batch of subpoenas also takes aim at Hunter Biden’s expensive arts businesses, with subpoenas directed at Bergès and Naftali.
The panel had repeatedly requested a transcribed interview with Bergès to investigate sales of the first son’s art, but the Manhattan art dealer refused to agree. Comer had repeatedly threatened a subpoena in response.
The paintings of the scandal-plagued first son retail for between $75,000 and $500,000 and have been featured in at least two solo exhibitions at Bergès’ galleries.
Hunter Biden raked in at least $375,000 for five prints sold at a Hollywood art show in 2021 and in total earned at least $1.3 million in art sales, according to a July report from Business Insider.
Republican investigators have expressed interest in determining the identities of those buyers to examine potential conflicts of interest, but Bergès has sought to keep that information confidential.
Naftali, a Democratic donor, was identified as one of the donors by Business Insider.
Visitor records show she has visited the Biden White House at least 13 times, and in July 2022, about eight months after Hunter’s first art exhibition, the president appointed her to the prestigious Commission for the Preservation of the United States Heritage Abroad.
Hunter Biden recently wrote an op-ed accusing congressional investigators of weaponizing his addiction and personal struggles.Paul Morigi
hunter’s partners
The subpoenas against Schwerin and Yan highlight the panel’s long-standing interest in finding connections between the first son’s business partners and Joe Biden.
Schwerin is an old friend of Hunter and is known to have visited the White House or the Naval Observatory on numerous occasions during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.
He served as managing director of the now-defunct investment firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors, which Hunter Biden helped co-found, although the two may have met while working at the Commerce Department during the Clinton administration.
President Biden rejected allegations of wrongdoing and mocked the impeachment inquiry.Getty Images
“Materials [IRS whistleblowers] Provided it is confirmed that Eric Schwerin played a significant role in Hunter Biden’s financial dealings and apparently had direct interactions with Joe Biden,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Yan, who was reportedly previously subpoenaed to produce financial records, likely has information about Hunter Biden’s dealings with Chinese energy company CEFC.
Reaction
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has called the investigation “partisan” and even demanded that newly appointed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) quash the investigation.
“This is yet another political stunt intended to distract from the blatant failure of Rep. Comer and his MAGA allies to prove a single one of their wild and now debunked conspiracies about the Biden family,” Lowell said.
The White House has long criticized the investigations into the first family and the impeachment inquiry, insisting that the president never inappropriately meddled in his son’s business affairs.
On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre argued during a briefing that the subpoenas against Hunter and James Biden were based on “a smear campaign” and that Comer was conducting a “baseless investigation.” ”.
Comer has remained steadfast in his work.
“A trove of bank records, text messages, emails, and a transcribed interview with Biden family associate Devon Archer show that the Bidens and their business partners sold access to the highest levels of our government, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of the interests of the United States. ”the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
“Americans across the country have made it clear to President Joe Biden, the Biden family and their associates that the job is done.”
On Sunday, Comer predicted that “this is going to be a great week” and publicly supported the president’s impeachment.
It is rare for Congress to subpoena the children and immediate family members of a sitting president.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn