Hunter Biden Requested State Department Help for Burisma Deal While Joe Biden Was VP, Records Reveal

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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, sought assistance from the U.S. State Department in 2016 to secure a business deal for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father served as Vice President. Recently released documents reveal that Hunter contacted the U.S. Embassy in Rome, attempting to leverage his political connections to advance Burisma's interests in Italy. This new evidence adds fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Biden family's business dealings and their possible conflicts of interest.

The documents, which were released by the State Department only after multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, show that Hunter Biden reached out to U.S. Ambassador John Phillips and other embassy officials, seeking their support for a proposed energy project in Italy. At the time, Hunter served on Burisma’s board, a position that had already drawn significant scrutiny due to his father’s role in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Ukraine.

Hunter’s correspondence reportedly included requests for introductions to Italian business contacts and government officials who could facilitate the deal. The ambassador acknowledged receiving a letter from Hunter but claimed he had no recollection of taking any action in response. In fact, officials within the embassy were reportedly hesitant to involve themselves in the matter, recognizing the potential risks of aligning U.S. government resources with Burisma’s business objectives​.

The timing of the document release has raised eyebrows, as it came just days after President Joe Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election. This has led some Republican lawmakers to question whether the release was intentionally delayed to protect the President during his campaign. The State Department, however, has denied any such coordination, insisting that the release was part of a routine process and had been planned well before Biden’s announcement​.

The revelation has intensified the scrutiny on Hunter Biden’s business activities, which have been a point of contention for years. Critics argue that Hunter’s involvement with Burisma and other foreign entities demonstrates a pattern of leveraging his father’s political influence for personal gain. This episode mirrors other instances where Hunter has been accused of trading on the Biden name to secure lucrative deals, often in regions where his father had significant diplomatic influence​.

Despite the controversy, the Burisma deal that Hunter was pursuing in Italy ultimately did not come to fruition. Nonetheless, the episode is indicative of the broader concerns that have plagued the Biden family, particularly regarding potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals acting on behalf of foreign entities in the U.S. to disclose their activities to the federal government. Hunter Biden has faced numerous accusations of flouting these requirements, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing​.

As the 2024 election cycle progresses, the implications of this story could resonate more deeply, especially as the Republican-led House Oversight Committee continues its investigations into the Biden family’s business dealings. The committee has already highlighted this new evidence as part of what they claim is a broader pattern of corruption during Joe Biden's tenure as Vice President. This scrutiny is expected to intensify as more details emerge from ongoing investigations​.

These revelations come at a time when public trust in political figures is already strained, and they are likely to further polarize the national discourse on ethics in government. As more information comes to light, the Biden administration may find it increasingly challenging to distance itself from these allegations.

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