Hunter Biden Sought Assistance from US Government for lucrative energy project in Italy

[Social Media]

 

In a revelation that has stirred the political landscape, newly released records have shown that Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, sought assistance from the U.S. government for a business venture in Italy while his father was serving as vice president. The records, which had been withheld by the Biden administration for years, reveal that Hunter Biden wrote to the U.S. ambassador to Italy in 2016, seeking support for Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company where he served as a board member.

 

The release of these records has come at a time when Hunter Biden is facing scrutiny over his business dealings, particularly with foreign entities. The records indicate that embassy officials in Italy were cautious about the request made by Hunter Biden. A Commerce Department official stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Rome expressed reservations, stating, "I want to be careful about promising too much." The official further added, "This is a Ukrainian company and, purely to protect ourselves, U.S.G. should not be actively advocating with the government of Italy without the company going through the D.O.C. Advocacy Center." The acronyms refer to the United States government and a Department of Commerce program that supports American companies in foreign business dealings.

 

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden's lawyer, clarified the nature of his client's request. According to Lowell, Hunter Biden asked several people, including the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, John R. Phillips, if they could facilitate an introduction between Burisma and the president of the Tuscany region of Italy, where Burisma was pursuing a geothermal project. "No meeting occurred, no project materialized, no request for anything in the U.S. was ever sought, and only an introduction in Italy was requested," Lowell stated, describing the outreach as a "proper request."

 

The State Department has not released the actual text of Hunter Biden's letter to the ambassador. A White House spokesperson stated that President Biden, who was vice president at the time, was not aware of his son's outreach to the U.S. Embassy in Italy on behalf of Burisma. The release of these documents to The New York Times followed President Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race, and as Hunter Biden prepares for a trial on charges of evading taxes on millions of dollars in income from Burisma and other foreign businesses.

 

Hunter Biden has not been charged with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which mandates that individuals disclose when they lobby the U.S. government on behalf of foreign interests. However, in a court filing last week, prosecutors suggested that they might have considered adding a FARA charge. They indicated that they had evidence of Hunter Biden reaching out to the State Department on behalf of a different foreign client, a real estate magnate facing corruption charges in Romania. Despite this, Hunter Biden did not register under FARA as a lobbyist for the Romanian developer or Burisma.

 

The outreach to the U.S. Embassy in Rome on behalf of Burisma, which had not been previously reported, mirrors other instances where Hunter Biden has been criticized for allegedly leveraging his father's political influence to advance his foreign business interests. This particular episode was uncovered in emails released by the State Department to The New York Times in response to a request for public records from U.S. Embassy officials in Romania related to efforts by Hunter Biden and other Americans to assist the real estate developer. One of the officials mentioned in the request had previously worked for the State Department in Italy before being reassigned to the embassy in Romania.

 

The request for these records was initially filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in June 2021. However, the State Department took nearly eight months without releasing any records, prompting The New York Times to file a lawsuit.

 

After approximately 18 months, the department moved to close the case after releasing thousands of pages of records, none of which provided insight into Hunter Biden's outreach to the U.S. government. The Times challenged the thoroughness of the search, noting that the department had not produced responsive records contained in a cache of files connected to a laptop that Hunter Biden had abandoned at a Delaware repair shop. The department eventually resumed the search and began periodic releases of documents, but it wasn't until the week after President Biden withdrew from the presidential race that significant documents related to Hunter Biden were released.

 

A State Department spokeswoman suggested that the timing of the release was coincidental, pointing out that the department had released batches of documents in each of the preceding three months before the documents revealing Hunter Biden's outreach to the U.S. Embassy in Rome were made public. A source familiar with the timing of the release indicated that the release of the Italy documents had been planned by the State Department weeks before President Biden's decision to withdraw from the race and that it had been cleared by the White House the week before the president made his decision.

 

The State Department has a reputation for being slow in releasing public records. At the end of the fiscal year 2022, it had a backlog of nearly 19,000 FOIA requests, some of which dated back many years, making it the third largest backlog in the federal government, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. The department's productions are managed by a growing team of career public servants, not political appointees, which makes it unlikely that the department could have timed the release of potentially damaging records to coincide with President Biden's decision to drop out of the race, given that the news of his decision was closely held until the last minute.

 

Despite this, the records are likely to fuel suspicions among Republicans, who have long spotlighted Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings as a stain on his father's political career. These suspicions were further validated last week when prosecutors hinted at Hunter Biden's potential legal exposure. "This is, I think, the biggest political corruption scandal in our history's lifetime," said Representative James R. Comer, a Kentucky Republican and the chairman of the Oversight and Accountability Committee, during an appearance on Newsmax. He made this statement following the prosecutors' filing regarding Hunter Biden's outreach on behalf of his Romanian client.

 

Although Representative Comer's committee had previously released several reports chronicling Hunter Biden's work for foreign companies, it had not produced any evidence related to his outreach to the U.S. Embassy in Italy. A Burisma official declined to comment on the matter. A businessman involved in the project indicated that the outreach was initiated at the request of Burisma when the company or its partners were experiencing difficulties in securing regulatory approval for a geothermal energy project in Tuscany.

 

Emails from Hunter Biden's laptop cache reflect these difficulties. In one email, sent by one of his associates to an Italian businessman who claimed to have ties to Enrico Rossi, the president of the Tuscany regional government at the time, the associate wrote, "Burisma is hoping that some of its executives can get a meeting with the president to discuss their geothermal business in Tuscany." The email, dated July 2016, was accompanied by a letter from Hunter Biden to Mr. Rossi. Around the same time, Hunter Biden was reportedly asking Ambassador Phillips to reach out to Mr. Rossi, according to State Department records and interviews.

 

In one email, a Commerce Department official noted, "The Ambassador already replied to one letter from Mr. Biden. He may be shopping for more support than he got here." Mr. Rossi, in an interview, stated that he never met with Hunter Biden and did not recall the U.S. Embassy reaching out to him about the project.

 

While the letter Hunter Biden sent to Ambassador Phillips is mentioned in the correspondence, The New York Times was unable to review its contents as the State Department appears to have redacted it in its entirety. The department cited exemptions that allow for the withholding of records that would compromise individual privacy, attorney-client privilege, or the government's deliberative process.

 

In an interview, Ambassador Phillips said he did not recall Hunter Biden writing to him about Burisma, but noted that he received a significant number of letters. "If Mr. Biden had written me, I certainly would pay attention to it," he said. "Out of courtesy, I'd probably make sure he got a response of some sort, but not necessarily from me. And I wouldn't even want to encourage it because I wouldn't get us involved in something like that." He emphasized that he tried to avoid creating the perception that well-connected individuals received special treatment.

 

Tuscany, known for its access to geothermal power, has become a competitive space for companies looking to enter the energy market. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. Embassy ever advocated on behalf of Burisma. Ultimately, the project never progressed to the drilling stage in Tuscany, according to a person involved in the effort.

 

Credit: NYT  2024-08-15

 

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

[thesetat2013]

Looks like soon Biden may be facing some legal troubles of his own. Although, if Harris wins the election any proof of Biden aiding the son will disappear or be downplayed. Let's hope this all can be drawn out into view so the correct decisions can be made by the people as to whom they will vote for. I am most certain that currently Biden is teaching Harris what she needs to know to get her elected. As well as how to hide anything nefarious from the public. 

[Emdog]

Maybe I missed it: what illegal action are they accusing Biden of?

"...Hunter Biden asked several people, including the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, John R. Phillips, if they could facilitate an introduction between Burisma and the president of the Tuscany region of Italy, where Burisma was pursuing a geothermal project."

I believe the business world calls that sort of behavior 'networking'. Happens among big wigs, movers and shakers all the way down to someone asking friend to help get a part time job at a coffee shop.

Last time I looked, introductions were still legal.

[suspectdevice]

2 hours ago, Emdog said:

Maybe I missed it:

Missed it or ignored the obvious. The Biden family, Burisma, Ukraine, Vice President, millions of dollars. 

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, Emdog said:

Maybe I missed it: what illegal action are they accusing Biden of?

"...Hunter Biden asked several people, including the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, John R. Phillips, if they could facilitate an introduction between Burisma and the president of the Tuscany region of Italy, where Burisma was pursuing a geothermal project."

I believe the business world calls that sort of behavior 'networking'. Happens among big wigs, movers and shakers all the way down to someone asking friend to help get a part time job at a coffee shop.

Last time I looked, introductions were still legal.

What don't you understand about the fact that just because all the alleged evidence produced by the House Subcommittee assigned to the investigation ended up coming with nothing. Don't you understand that absence of evidence is actually proof of guilt?

[placeholder]

16 minutes ago, suspectdevice said:

Missed it or ignored the obvious. The Biden family, Burisma, Ukraine, Vice President, millions of dollars. 

Pavlovian triggers for right wingers in denial of the fact that allegations concerning these points have all been shot down. 

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

"No meeting occurred, no project materialized, no request for anything in the U.S. was ever sought, and only an introduction in Italy was requested,"

Also known as a "Nothing Burger."

[BusyB]

 

Hunter appears to have been an extremely stupid, entitled little scionbrat who has not made his father's life easier. If all this is proven he really deserves to get whacked good and hard with serious jail time. (like the Trump).  Maybe he'll learn - apparently he's in recovery.

 

Fortunately his Pa was astute enough to put firewalls between him and his errant son's activities. Let the Reps yap all they want. Sad bunch really nowadays. 

Edited August 15 by BusyB

[BusyB]

5 hours ago, placeholder said:

Pavlovian triggers for right wingers in denial of the fact that allegations concerning these points have all been shot down. 

 

It's all they've got. A shadow of the former party. G-op? LOL Gang of lunatic backside lickers.

Edited August 15 by BusyB

[BusyB]

7 hours ago, Emdog said:

Maybe I missed it: what illegal action are they accusing Biden of?

"...Hunter Biden asked several people, including the U.S. ambassador to Italy at the time, John R. Phillips, if they could facilitate an introduction between Burisma and the president of the Tuscany region of Italy, where Burisma was pursuing a geothermal project."

I believe the business world calls that sort of behavior 'networking'. Happens among big wigs, movers and shakers all the way down to someone asking friend to help get a part time job at a coffee shop.

Last time I looked, introductions were still legal.

 

Yes. But like one holds cops to higher standards of honesty, family members of people in power should rightly be held to higher levels of discretion and prudence - at least by decent and honorable people who have a basic inclination to Christian values.

 

Me getting a friend an office job is not even going to undermine a company, much less the reputation of state and constitution.

 

Hunter has been a stupid entitled brat who traded invidiously on his Pa's name. Typical addict really from what's been shared in courts.

Edited August 15 by BusyB

[riclag]

God forbid all the Cover ups of hbiden be exposed.

 

Perhaps there wouldn’t be a conversation now if the wesponized government agencies did their job to begin with!

1.Laptop from Hell cover up .

2. IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS expose the DOJ purposely delaying the trial of biden to avoid statue of limitations 

implications that could of incriminated 

bidens dad.

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4152046-gop-releases-transcript-from-fbi-agent-involved-in-hunter-biden-investigation/

 

[candide]

11 minutes ago, riclag said:

God forbid all the Cover ups of hbiden be exposed.

 

Perhaps there wouldn’t be a conversation now if the wesponized government agencies did their job to begin with!

1.Laptop from Hell cover up .

2. IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS expose the DOJ purposely delaying the trial of biden to avoid statue of limitations 

implications that could of incriminated 

bidens dad.

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4152046-gop-releases-transcript-from-fbi-agent-involved-in-hunter-biden-investigation/

 

Weaponized by whom? It was under Trump/Barr. 😀

 

It's completely incoherent.

Edited August 15 by candide

[stevenl]

11 minutes ago, riclag said:

God forbid all the Cover ups of hbiden be exposed.

 

Perhaps there wouldn’t be a conversation now if the wesponized government agencies did their job to begin with!

1.Laptop from Hell cover up .

2. IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS expose the DOJ purposely delaying the trial of biden to avoid statue of limitations 

implications that could of incriminated 

bidens dad.

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4152046-gop-releases-transcript-from-fbi-agent-involved-in-hunter-biden-investigation/

 

Republicans did their best and came up with nothing. Does that tell you anything?

[impulse]

5 hours ago, placeholder said:

What don't you understand about the fact that just because all the alleged evidence produced by the House Subcommittee assigned to the investigation ended up coming with nothing. Don't you understand that absence of evidence is actually proof of guilt?

They came up with plenty, if you bother to read their reports.  But impeachment is a political process and the Dems wouldn't convict Biden if he walked across the White House lawn with a bloody machete in one hand and a severed head in the other.  Plus, they looked at Kamala, who's next in line.  Best insurance against impeachment an old man with a limited memory could possibly hope for.

 

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

They came up with plenty, if you bother to read their reports.  But impeachment is a political process and the Dems wouldn't convict Biden if he walked across the White House lawn with a bloody machete in one hand and a severed head in the other.  Plus, they looked at Kamala, who's next in line.  Best insurance against impeachment an old man with a limited memory could possibly hope for.

 

They came up with so much that not enough Republicans would support them filing for impeachment. It is to laugh.

[gargamon]

Who cares? Might as well be talking about Hillary's email servers. 

[suspectdevice]

9 hours ago, placeholder said:

Pavlovian triggers for right wingers in denial of the fact that allegations concerning these points have all been shot down. 

Pavlovian response from desperate Dums! Yet Hunter who know zilch about the energy industry went to the gov where his papa is vp! There is a MO there!

[suspectdevice]

4 hours ago, stevenl said:

Republicans did their best and came up with nothing. Does that tell you anything?

Yep FBI collusion.

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, suspectdevice said:

Yep FBI collusion.

Another conspiracy theorist.

[radiochaser]

3 hours ago, gargamon said:

Who cares? Might as well be talking about Hillary's email servers. 

The only thing I can think of about why she wasn't arrested was, political connections. 
"The server Clinton used as secretary of state contained "several dozen emails containing classified information determined by the [intelligence community] element to be at the CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET/SAP levels," the inspector general, Charles McCullough, wrote in the letter, which was first reported by Fox News. "SAP" stands for special access programs, which carry a classification level higher than top secret."

When I was in the Army Security Agency (ASA), there were people who had Top Secret clearances, that took Confidential level classified study materials out of a secure compound.  They were given permission by some instructors to do so.   

Some instructors were given courts martials. loss of rank, loss of pay (fines), and jail time.  Some were given Article 15's resulting in loss of rank, loss of pay, and their Top Secret clearances.  The students were given Article 15's , loss of pay, possibly rank, and also lost their clearances.   

 

The people that lost their clearances were transferred to the Department of the Army (ASA was technically part of the National Security Agency) which probably meant going to Vietnam as an infantry soldier. 

[placeholder]

7 hours ago, suspectdevice said:

Yep FBI collusion.

Because MAGA supporters know that the Justice Dept had plotted to investigate Trump, William Barr and John Duirham made a prolonged and desperate effort to find evidence of  FBI collusion to prosecute Trump. They found nothing. Now you raise another allegation unbacked by evidence, Good luck with that.

[placeholder]

7 hours ago, suspectdevice said:

Pavlovian response from desperate Dums! Yet Hunter who know zilch about the energy industry went to the gov where his papa is vp! There is a MO there!

Remember Devon Archer, one of Biden's partners and the guy who Republicans believed had the info to bring Hunter Biden down? Had you followed the testimony of Archer before the House Subcommittee, you would know that Hunter Biden told Archer that he was playing on the belief of Burisma officials that the had influence with his father but really had none. Just another unfounded allegation.

[suspectdevice]

On 8/15/2024 at 10:06 PM, placeholder said:

Remember Devon Archer, one of Biden's partners and the guy who Republicans believed had the info to bring Hunter Biden down? Had you followed the testimony of Archer before the House Subcommittee, you would know that Hunter Biden told Archer that he was playing on the belief of Burisma officials that the had influence with his father but really had none. Just another unfounded allegation.

Well he would say that! And he also told the truth on his gun application.....