OPINION:
President Biden has some explaining to do. Thanks to a lawsuit by the Southeastern Legal Foundation, the National Archives was forced to reveal the existence of at least 82,000 pages worth of covert emails then-Vice President Joe Biden sent using fake names as a means of evading detection under freedom of information laws. The content of these missives remains sealed — for the moment.
The National Archives has been slow-walking release of the full text, unwilling to produce anything substantial for over 14 months, prompting the watchdog group’s legal action.
Under monikers including Robin Ware, JRB Ware, Robert L. Peters and Celtic, Mr. Biden passed along notes relevant to his son Hunter’s business endeavors, raising questions about the depth of the father’s involvement in the son’s questionable overseas dealings. Mr. Biden has feigned ignorance of those schemes, though evidence of direct involvement accumulates at a rapid pace.
Last week, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, Kentucky Republican, produced what in other circumstances would be considered a smoking gun. As part of the committee’s inquiry into Biden family banking records, investigators turned up a $40,000 “loan repayment” check to Joseph R. Biden Jr. signed by sister-in-law Sara Biden.
The funds underlying that check followed a convoluted path, the sort of path crooks often take when they seek to launder ill-gotten gains. Mr. Comer and his staff followed this financial journey, providing receipts at every step of the way, ultimately leading to CEFC China Energy, a firm with ties to the ruling Communist Party. CEFC employed both Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s brother James.
In March 2017, a matter of weeks after Mr. Biden stepped down as vice president, CEFC began distributing $3 million to Rob Walker, a business partner of Hunter and James Biden. Over the course of several months, millions more was promised to the Bidens and their associates, but not delivered. Hunter responded by threatening his CEFC contact.
“I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,” Hunter wrote in a WhatsApp message to CEFC associate Raymond Zhao. The former vice president’s son added, “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.”
The message was received, and by August that year, CEFC distributed $5 million to Hudson West III, a company formed by Hunter and an official from CEFC. Hunter wired $150,000 out of that account to a company formed by James and Sara. Sara withdrew $50,000 from that account, and, less than a week later, she wrote the check to brother-in-law Joe for $40,000.
Added light will likely be shed on Mr. Biden’s entanglement in his son’s escapades as more of the surreptitious emails are released. As these emails may also prove entirely innocuous — the consistent White House denials suggest this is the case — there’s no reason not to be forthcoming. The National Archives must stop dragging out the process and ensure the public has access to all relevant information, without redaction.
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