House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer denounced the subpoena and copied interview requests to eight other Biden family associates on Thursday, including art dealer Hunter Biden, a day after subpoenaing James Biden’s first son and first brother.
Comer (R-Ky.) specifically sought input from Soho gallerist George Bergès and art patron Elizabeth Naftali, as well as Biden cronies Eric Schwerin and Mervyn Yan.
The panel is also seeking transcribed interviews with Carol Fox, trustee at Americore Health, LLC; associate Joey Langston, Ukrainian-American businessman John Hynansky, and associate Jason Galanis.
Comer led the Republican Party’s impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which began in September and has taken on the House Oversight Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.
“Today’s subpoena represents another step in holding President Biden accountable. Members of the House of Representatives are committed to doing the oversight work that the American people deserve,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a statement.
Immigrants subpoena art dealer Hunter Biden..CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Investigate loans
Most of the four transcribed interview requests related to loans received by members of the Biden family. An interesting one is American Fox.
The rural hospital chain is raising the curiosity of Republican investigators about its financial dealings with James Biden.
The since-defunct operator is responsible for at least $600,000 in loans received by the president’s brother, according to records obtained by the panel.
James Biden was given a loan from the financially troubled firm “based on the assertion that his last name, ‘Biden,’ could ‘open doors’ and that he could secure large investments from the Middle East based on his political connections,” per bankruptcy records.
In March 2018, Joe Biden received a $200,000 check from James Biden — described as a “loan repayment” — the same day James Biden received the amount from the hospital chain, records show.
Georges Berges outside his gallery Georges Berges Gallery.William Farrington Hunter Biden holds a viewing of his artwork at the George Berges Gallery in SoHo.Stephen Yang
Art by Hunter Biden
This latest set of subpoenas also targets Hunter Biden’s high-value art business, with subpoenas directed at Bergès and Naftali.
The panel has repeatedly obtained transcribed interviews with Bergès to investigate the sale of the first child’s art, but the Manhattan art dealer has refused to comply. Comer has repeatedly threatened subpoenas in response.
Paintings by the scandal-plagued eldest son range in asking price from $75,000 to $500,000 and have been featured in at least two solo shows at the Bergès gallery.
Hunter Biden accrued at least $375,000 for five prints sold at a Hollywood art show in 2021 and overall has earned at least $1.3 million in art sales, according to a July report by Business Insider.
Republican investigators have expressed an interest in ascertaining the identity of those buyers to check for any possible conflicts of interest, but Bergès has sought to keep the information confidential.
Naftali, a Democratic donor, was identified as one of the donors by Business Insider.
Visitor logs show he has visited the Biden White House at least 13 times, and in July 2022 — about eight months after Hunter’s first art show — the president appointed him to the prestigious Commission for the Preservation of American Heritage Abroad.
Hunter Biden recently wrote an op-ed accusing congressional investigators of weaponizing his addiction and personal struggles. Paul Morigi
Hunter’s partner
The subpoenas against Schwerin and Yan highlight the panel’s longstanding interest in finding connections between the eldest son’s business partner and Joe Biden.
Schwerin is a longtime friend of Hunter who is known to have stopped by the White House or the Naval Observatory on several 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 found together — though the pair may have met while working at the Commerce Department during the Clinton administration.
President Biden has rejected allegations of misconduct and mocked the impeachment inquiry.Getty Images
“Ingredients [IRS whistleblowers] provided confirming that Eric Schwerin played a significant role in Hunter Biden’s financial affairs and appeared to have direct interactions with Joe Biden,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Yan, who has reportedly been subpoenaed for financial records before, is likely to have insight into Hunter Biden’s dealings with Chinese energy firm CEFC.
Reaction
Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has denounced the investigation as “partisan,” and has even demanded that newly appointed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) drop the investigation.
“This is yet another political stunt intended to divert attention from the apparent failure of Rep. Comer and his MAGA allies to prove their wild and now discredited conspiracy about the Biden family,” Lowell said.
The White House has long denounced the investigation into the first family and the impeachment inquiry, insisting that the president has never improperly interfered 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 stood by his work.
“The numerous bank records, texts, emails and transcribed interviews with Biden family member Devon Archer all show the Bidens and their business partners sold access to the highest levels of our government, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of American interests. ,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
“Americans across the country have made it clear to President Joe Biden, the Biden family, and their friends that the show is up.”
On Sunday, Comer hinted that “this is going to be a big week,” and publicly advocated impeachment of the president.
It is rare for Congress to summon children and instruct family members of a sitting president.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
