Hunter Biden asked for US help for Burisma project
- Hunter Biden requested U.S. help for a Ukrainian gas company project.
- The requests were made while Joe Biden was vice president.
- The actions have raised concerns and political scrutiny.
In 2016, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, reached out to the U.S. ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, seeking assistance for Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company where he served on the board. Newly released records indicate that Burisma was struggling to secure regulatory approval for a geothermal project in Tuscany. Hunter's lawyer defended the outreach as a "proper request," aimed at facilitating an introduction to regional officials. However, the White House clarified that President Biden was unaware of his son's actions at the time. The letter's contents remain largely redacted, and there is no evidence that the embassy took action on Hunter's request. U.S. officials expressed caution regarding the involvement of the government in private business matters. The project ultimately did not materialize, and Hunter Biden is now facing a trial in California for alleged tax evasion related to his income from Burisma and other foreign ventures. The timing of the document's release has sparked Republican claims of potential corruption, suggesting that Joe Biden's political influence may have been leveraged for Hunter's business dealings. This comes as Hunter prepares for trial, where his defense may argue that his struggles with addiction impaired his judgment during the period in question. The ongoing scrutiny of Hunter Biden's business activities continues to fuel political debates, particularly as he faces significant legal challenges.