Recent reports from The New York Times reveal that Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, sought assistance from the US State Department in 2016 for a deal involving a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, while his father was vice president. Hunter Biden, who was a board member at Burisma at the time, reached out to the US ambassador to Italy regarding regulatory approval for a geothermal project in Tuscany.
The documents released by the State Department in response to a public records request shed light on Hunter Biden's efforts to facilitate a meeting between Burisma and the president of the Tuscany region. However, the project never came to fruition, and there is uncertainty about whether the US Embassy actively supported Burisma's endeavors.
Despite the outreach, a lawyer for Hunter Biden clarified that no official requests were made to the US government, and the interactions were limited to seeking introductions in Italy. President Joe Biden was reportedly unaware of his son's communications with the US Embassy in Italy on behalf of Burisma during his tenure as vice president.
These revelations come amidst ongoing legal challenges faced by Hunter Biden, including allegations of tax evasion and foreign lobbying. Prosecutors have not charged him with any foreign lobbying crimes, but investigations into his business dealings continue. The upcoming trial in September will delve into Hunter Biden's controversial foreign activities, particularly during his father's time in office.
Republican scrutiny of Hunter Biden's connections to Burisma has persisted over the years, with attempts to link the president to his son's business affairs. However, recent developments, including the dismissal of charges against an FBI informant involved in a bribery claim related to Burisma, have complicated these narratives.
