The gas tycoon and the vice president’s son: The story of Hunter Biden’s foray into Ukraine
By Paul Sonne ,
Michael Kranish and
Matt Viser
September 28 at 8:08 PM
While there's no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, something I sincerely doubt could be said of Trump's business selling (and double-selling, and triple-selling) condos to Russians, there's no more question in my mind than in Kerry's stepson's, that Hunter's decision was just plain wrong.
Other reporting has it that Hunter claims Joe's only comment was, "I hope you know what you're doing," which would be similar language, but, like telling a girl when you look at her time stands still ... doesn't have the same impact as telling her she's got a face that would stop a clock.
Hunter taking a job helping out a Ukrainian oligarch, like taking a job helping out Trump ... I'm looking at you, too, Kurt Volker ... was always going to leave him looking dirty as soon as anyone started paying attention. In an act of brazen crony capitalism not matched since Dubya, Hunter lent his last name to a money launderer.
That's a fact, and due diligence would have turned it up. So he either didn't do due diligence, or he accepted the position regardless.
Political relatives' business practices have always had a tendency to embarrass their kin. Sometimes they can do something about it, but mostly, they just have to live with the smears, expecting people of good faith to assign blame where it belongs.
By Paul Sonne ,
Michael Kranish and
Matt Viser
September 28 at 8:08 PM
When then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son joined the board of an obscure Ukrainian gas company half a decade ago, it was a stunning coup for its owner, a former Ukrainian minister working to remake the company’s image as he faced a money-laundering investigation.
For Hunter Biden, the job came with risks: Ukraine was in the throes of political upheaval, and there was building scrutiny of former government officials profiting in the lucrative gas industry. His father was the face of the Obama administration’s effort to get Ukraine to crack down on corruption.
The region was so unsettled that one of Hunter Biden’s investment firm partners at the time — former secretary of state John F. Kerry’s stepson — believed that joining the board of Burisma Holdings was a bad idea and ended his business relationship with Biden and another partner, his spokesman told The Washington Post.
For Hunter Biden, the job came with risks: Ukraine was in the throes of political upheaval, and there was building scrutiny of former government officials profiting in the lucrative gas industry. His father was the face of the Obama administration’s effort to get Ukraine to crack down on corruption.
The region was so unsettled that one of Hunter Biden’s investment firm partners at the time — former secretary of state John F. Kerry’s stepson — believed that joining the board of Burisma Holdings was a bad idea and ended his business relationship with Biden and another partner, his spokesman told The Washington Post.
While there's no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, something I sincerely doubt could be said of Trump's business selling (and double-selling, and triple-selling) condos to Russians, there's no more question in my mind than in Kerry's stepson's, that Hunter's decision was just plain wrong.
“Why didn’t Joe Biden tell Hunter, ‘Come off it. What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ ” said Oliver Bullough, a British journalist on the advisory board of the Anti-Corruption Action, or AntAC, a nonprofit in Ukraine.
Other reporting has it that Hunter claims Joe's only comment was, "I hope you know what you're doing," which would be similar language, but, like telling a girl when you look at her time stands still ... doesn't have the same impact as telling her she's got a face that would stop a clock.
Hunter taking a job helping out a Ukrainian oligarch, like taking a job helping out Trump ... I'm looking at you, too, Kurt Volker ... was always going to leave him looking dirty as soon as anyone started paying attention. In an act of brazen crony capitalism not matched since Dubya, Hunter lent his last name to a money launderer.
That's a fact, and due diligence would have turned it up. So he either didn't do due diligence, or he accepted the position regardless.
Political relatives' business practices have always had a tendency to embarrass their kin. Sometimes they can do something about it, but mostly, they just have to live with the smears, expecting people of good faith to assign blame where it belongs.
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