A newly released letter reveals that Hunter Biden, while his father Joe Biden was Vice President, sought assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Italy for Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that employed him.
According to The New York Times, in a June 2016 letter written on Burisma letterhead, Hunter Biden requested then-American ambassador to Italy John R. Phillips to facilitate meetings with an Italian official.
The purpose of these meetings was to address regulatory issues related to geothermal energy projects Burisma aimed to develop in Italy. Ambassador Phillips responded in a letter, indicating he had enlisted the help of an official at the Commerce Department.
READ: FBI Docs Show Burisma Execs Questioned Hunter Biden’s Intelligence
Hunter Biden’s letter specifically asked Phillips for “support and guidance in arranging a meeting for representatives from Burisma with the President of Tuscany Region, Mr. Enrico Rossi.” He described it as “a wonderful opportunity to introduce geothermal projects led by Burisma Group, to highlight their social and economic benefits for local communities and develop a common action plan.”
The Times reported that the request reportedly caused unease among some embassy officials at the time. Phillips stated that he didn’t have a close relationship with Hunter Biden and didn’t recall the specific letter, but acknowledged that such requests would typically warrant his attention.
A representative for Hunter Biden told the NYT that Hunter Biden was expressing “heartfelt appreciation for courtesy and comfort” shown to him and his family during a 2015 Biden family trip to Rome, during which he met Phillips.
READ: Biden Admin’s Ties To Ukraine Go Deeper Than Hunter And Burisma
Hunter Biden’s attorney previously told the NYT that the 2016 letter was a “proper request, which was no different than hundreds of similar requests for introductions that businesses make to ambassadors every year.”
A White House spokesperson for Joe Biden told the NYT in mid-2024 that Joe Biden was unaware of his son’s request to the ambassador. The geothermal projects that Hunter Biden sought assistance for ultimately did not proceed.
Some additional background information:
- Burisma paid Hunter Biden approximately $80,000 per month despite his lack of energy sector experience, a salary that was significantly reduced in March 2017.
- Concerns were raised within the Obama administration about potential conflicts of interest due to Hunter Biden’s role at Burisma while Joe Biden advocated for anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.
- Congressional Republicans investigated alleged Biden family influence peddling, finding that Hunter Biden and his associates earned millions from foreign entities, including those in Ukraine, China, and Romania, during and after Joe Biden’s vice presidency.
- Joe Biden pardoned Hunter Biden for federal gun and tax convictions, as well as for potential crimes dating back to 2014, the year Hunter Biden joined Burisma.
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