When Hunter Biden signed a December 2020 contract with gallery owner George Bergés to sell his artwork, the president’s son requested to know the names of the buyers — a highly unusual ask in the art world.
Mr. Bergés also contradicted claims by the White House in 2021 that he helped put safeguards in place to prevent ethics violations from selling the art.
“I do remember being surprised,” he said, “because I hadn’t had any communication with the White House about an agreement.”
Mr. Bergés said he spoke to President Biden when he was a guest at the White House wedding of Hunter Biden’s daughter Naomi and later when the president called him to congratulate Mr. Bergés’ daughter “for finishing camp.”
According to his testimony in the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden, among the buyers disclosed to Hunter Biden was Elizabeth Naftali, a Democratic donor who paid $42,000 for one of the pieces.
A year later, she was appointed by President Biden to the prestigious U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.
Hunter Biden signed a second contract with Mr. Bergés in September 2021 that shielded the names of buyers, but he learned the buyers’ identities for at least 70% of the $1.5 million in sales of his abstract mixed media paintings, House investigators estimate based on Mr. Bergés testimony earlier this month.
Mr. Bergés said he represents and sells the work of 15 artists and only one, Hunter Biden, required him to “disclose who the buyers were,” he told lawmakers.
“Normally, the gallerist does not let the artist know who the collectors are,” Mr. Bergés, who no longer represents Hunter Biden’s art portfolio, testified.
According to a transcript of his closed-door testimony reviewed by The Washington Times, Mr. Bergés disclosed Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris spent $875,000 on Hunter Biden’s artwork in early 2023.
Mr. Morris, who is currently backing a documentary film about Hunter Biden, purchased the art after giving the president’s son more than $5 million to pay personal expenses and back taxes owed to the IRS.
Rather than paying a commission to Hunter Biden for the artwork, Mr. Morris kept $525,000 as repayment for IRS debt and other loans, Mr. Bergés said.
It was an unusual payment arrangement, Mr. Bergés said, and he did not recall providing a tax form to Hunter Biden for the sale of the artwork or whether he filed taxes on the hefty commission.
Mr. Bergés told House investigators he first met Hunter Biden through a mutual friend, Lanette Phillips, a Hollywood producer and Democratic donor who hosted at least one fundraiser that was attended by President Biden.
Mr. Bergés sold the first piece of Hunter Biden’s artwork on Dec. 11, 2020, a few weeks after Mr. Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election.
Ms. Phillips also introduced Mr. Bergés to Ms. Naftali, who on Feb. 17, 2021, paid $42,000 for a Hunter Biden creation titled “Mother and Daughter.”
Mr. Biden appointed Ms. Naftali to the art commission on July 1, 2022. A few months later, she bought another piece of Hunter’s artwork for $52,000.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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