Hunter Biden reached out to the U.S. ambassador to Italy for assistance regarding a project a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, was pursuing while his father, President Joe Biden, was vice president. Hunter, who sat on Burisma’s board in 2016, asked for help with the company’s geothermal project in Italy, which was facing regulatory obstacles, as per The New York Times. This development may intensify Republican scrutiny of Hunter’s foreign business engagements, which have been a focal point of GOP investigations into the Biden family. The news emerges ahead of Hunter Biden’s upcoming federal trial on charges of tax evasion related to income from Burisma and other overseas ventures.
Court documents revealed prosecutors’ intent to present evidence at the trial about Hunter Biden’s business affairs, including dealings with a Romanian entrepreneur seeking to influence U.S. government policies during Joe Biden’s vice presidency. Hunter Biden’s legal counsel defended his plea to the ambassador for Burisma, describing it as legitimate and solely aimed at arranging an introduction for the company’s representatives with the president of Italy’s Tuscany region, with no follow-up requests or involvement sought in the U.S.
Concerns were reportedly expressed by embassy officials about Hunter Biden’s entreaty, cautioning against making overly promising commitments. The White House stated that President Joe Biden was unaware during his tenure as vice president of his son’s communication with the embassy on behalf of Burisma. John R. Phillips, the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, stated that while he did not recall Hunter Biden’s letter specifically, he would have provided a response out of courtesy, albeit while avoiding entanglement in such matters.
Despite Hunter Biden’s efforts, Burisma’s venture in Italy did not come to fruition, and it remains uncertain if the embassy provided any assistance to the company. An upcoming trial in Los Angeles accuses Hunter Biden of evading over $1.4 million in taxes over four years, a period in which he has acknowledged battling drug addiction. Hunter’s legal team intends to argue that his substance abuse impaired his decision-making faculties and ability to form intent for the alleged crimes. In a separate case, the President’s son faces a conviction for falsifying information on a gun-purchase form, potentially leading to a lengthy prison term, although as a first-time offender, he might receive a milder sentence or avoid incarceration entirely.