Leading House Republicans are questioning a perceived change in the White House's narrative concerning President Biden's awareness of his son Hunter's international business activities. They are demanding transparency on whether this shift suggests the President knew more than he previously disclosed.
In a letter to White House Counsel Stuart Delery, Representatives Elise Stefanik, Jim Jordan, James Comer, and Jason Smith highlighted a June 29th statement by White House spokesperson Ian Sams, which said, "As we have said many times before, the president was not in business with his son." The representatives argue this statement contrasts with prior assertions that President Biden had no knowledge of and never discussed his son's business dealings.
This perceived change in messaging prompted the GOP lawmakers to pose a series of questions to the White House, including whether they are now acknowledging President Biden's awareness of Hunter Biden's foreign business activities, the extent of this awareness, the nature of the President's involvement, and whether he received any financial compensation.
The representatives referenced ongoing committee investigations into potential connections between the Biden family and various domestic and international business transactions, as well as alleged misconduct by the Department of Justice in obstructing the investigation into Hunter Biden's tax affairs. They emphasized the Biden family's receipt of payments "without any apparent legitimate services rendered," raising concerns about ethical implications and potential violations of national security laws.
Furthermore, the lawmakers cited a 2017 WhatsApp message from Hunter Biden to a Chinese business associate at CEFC, a Chinese energy company. In this message, Hunter Biden allegedly stated that he and his father would ensure repercussions for unfulfilled commitments. The representatives questioned whether the Justice Department has an active investigation into this message.
Underscoring the importance of public trust, the representatives stressed the need to ensure the President is not compromised by foreign influences. They have given the White House Counsel until July 27th to respond to their inquiries.
