Hunter ‘high’ when he used father’s name
HUNTER BIDEN has claimed that he was “high or drunk” when he used his father’s name to pressure a Chinese business associate.
The 54-year-old son of Joe Biden, the US president, made the statement before congressional committees yesterday as part of an impeachment investigation into his father. It appears to be a major admission by his team, who previously said the screenshots of Whatsapp messages had been faked.
While negotiating a six-figure energy deal in 2017, Hunter Biden reportedly told Henry Zhao that he was “sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled”.
He continued: “If I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.”
A Congressional report claims a Chinese energy conglomerate sent $5.1 million (£4 million) to accounts linked with Mr Biden in the days that followed.
House Republicans began an inquiry into Joe Biden in September 2023, claiming he used his political connections to enrich himself through his son’s business dealings. However, it is yet to find any evidence of corruption.
In the behind-closed-doors hearing, Mr Biden “admitted that he was high or drunk when he sent the ‘sitting here with my father’ Whatsapp message, sent it to the wrong recipient, and is now embarrassed by the message”.
The readout of his deposition, reported by The New York Post, added Mr Biden “confirmed that his dad was not sitting next to him”. However, Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for the president’s son, claimed last year that the messages – published by whistleblowers in the IRS – were “complete fakes”.
Jim Jordan, who chairs the House judiciary committee, signalled that Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China would be a key focus of questioning. “We’ll probe this Chinese energy company,” Mr Jordan told Fox News ahead of the hearing.
In prepared remarks delivered to the hearing, Hunter Biden rejected suggestions that his father had been involved in his business ventures. “I did not involve my father in my business,” he said. He went on to criticise the inquiry as a “baseless and destructive political charade” that relied on “innuendo, distortion and sensationalism”.