This week, House Republicans demanded documents regarding what they believe are relatives of President Joe Biden’s efforts to “profit from being near the White House.”
“Reports regarding President Biden’s family members attempting to profit from their proximity to the White House have been disturbing and recurring,” House Oversight Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and other Republicans wrote in a letter. “Unfortunately, these reports of President Biden using his former official positions of public trust to swell the coffers of his family members are widespread, and any hope the pattern of family self-dealing would finally stop when he assumed the presidency has been dashed,”
The group requested documents from the White House Counsel’s Office and National Archives and Records Administration.
They mentioned the White House as having helped to create an arrangement that Hunter Biden, his son, will sell pieces he created for up to $500,000 but not reveal the identities of the buyers.
They wrote that the prices of these paintings were set by someone who had no training or experience as an artist and raised questions about the authenticity or connection to the White House.
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that the arrangement was “after careful consideration” and that Hunter Biden can continue to practice his profession with reasonable safeguards.
In January, Psaki stated that the White House policy forbids Biden’s name from being used in connection to commercial activities that suggest or in anyway… it could reasonably be understood that he endorses or supports them.”
They also pointed out that Biden’s sister is planning to publish a book about her experience as president “whisperer”, and that Frank Biden, the brother of Biden, promoted their relationship in an ad that ran on the same day that the president was inaugurated.
Biden’s tenure as vice president saw Frank Biden promote the sibling relationship in 2011, while Hunter Biden flew to China with his father in 2013, while he was creating a Chinese equity fund.
The legislators want documents and messages pertaining to the 2013 and 2016 trips to Mexico as well as any security incidents that occurred on Air Force Two during those same trips.
