Biden’s St. Croix getaways spark ethics concerns

President Joe Biden and his family landed in St. Croix on Thursday for what could be their final unpaid vacation before his term ends, staying at a luxurious beachfront villa owned by wealthy businesspeople Bill and Connie Neville.

The president’s pattern of accepting free stays from affluent supporters has raised ethics concerns and criticism over unreported gifts.

Biden, 82, along with First Lady Jill Biden and their daughter Ashley, arrived on Air Force One and were whisked away to the Neville’s deluxe property, featuring an in-ground pool, beach access, and stunning ocean views. Although the White House has not confirmed their accommodations, the family has stayed at the same villa for previous post-Christmas celebrations, including during Biden’s vice presidency.

A History of Free Stays with Wealthy Donors

The Nevilles, who own a software company and attended Biden’s first state dinner in 2022, are just one example of the affluent hosts providing free accommodations to the president. Biden’s penchant for unpaid stays extends to billionaire hosts like private equity magnate David Rubenstein, who welcomed the Bidens for four Thanksgivings at his Nantucket estate, and climate investor Tom Steyer, whose Lake Tahoe home hosted the family last summer.

In August, Biden also spent five days at the California ranch of medical technology billionaire Joe Kiani, whose significant government contracts during the Biden administration stirred Republican scrutiny.

Critics argue these vacations create the appearance of impropriety, with concerns about donors gaining access and influence. Federal ethics laws require the disclosure of gifts, but the Biden administration maintains these stays fall into a gray area due to ambiguous reporting rules.

A Pattern of Omission Raises Questions

Ethics watchdogs and Republican critics have slammed Biden’s failure to disclose these stays on annual financial forms, a potential violation of federal law. Mark Paoletta, a former Trump administration lawyer, called the omissions part of the “Biden family’s long history of grift and corruption.”

Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer from the George W. Bush administration and now a Democrat, said the lack of transparency undermines the Democratic Party’s image as the “party of the people.” He also warned that intentionally omitting such gifts could carry legal consequences, including prison time under federal law.

Double Standards and Backlash

Republicans have accused the media of a double standard, comparing the scrutiny faced by conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas over undisclosed trips with billionaire Harlan Crow to the relative silence surrounding Biden’s vacations.

“It makes it very hard for those of us critical of the Supreme Court justices to defend this behavior,” Painter remarked.

As Biden enjoys his St. Croix retreat, critics continue to question whether these trips are simply luxurious getaways—or a symptom of deeper ethical issues.