Former Hunter Biden Business Partner Tells Congress He Sold 'Illusion Of Access' To Father Joe Biden
Devon Archer, who worked with Hunter Biden on the board of Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma starting in 2014, swore in his Congressional testimony Monday that President Joe Biden never had direct involvement in the pair's financial dealings, though Hunter would put the elder Biden on speakerphone during meetings to impress clients and fellow business associates. Of course, Republican members of the Oversight Committee were unimpressed by the testimony, with Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona telling the press directly after the interview with Archer that "I think we should do an impeachment inquiry," in regards to the question of Joe Biden's possible involvement with the business dealings.
Biggs also stated that Archer had testified that Burisma would have gone out of business earlier than they did had the Biden brand not been involved in the situation: "People would be intimidated to legally mess with Burisma because of the Biden family brand," the lawmaker said. GOP Chairman of the Oversight Committee Rep. James Comer elaborated that "Joe Biden was 'the brand' that his son sold around the world to enrich the Biden family."
In a statement following Devon Archer's voluntary interview with the Congressional representatives, his attorney Matthew Schwartz told the media that "We are aware that all sides are claiming victory following Mr. Archer's voluntary interview today...But all Devon Archer did was exactly what he said he would: Show up and answer the questions put to him honestly and completely. Mr. Archer shared the truth with the committee, and we will leave to them and others to decide what to do with it."
Testimony Follows 2019 Tip To FBI Alleging Joe Biden's Involvement In Bribery Scheme
The whole Congressional inquiry stems from an unverified tip given to the FBI in 2019 that alleged the existence of a bribery scheme involving now-President Joe Biden back when he was Vice President. The entire claim detailed that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor so as to stop their investigation into the Burisma company, because son Hunter Biden was on the board.
In response to this week's testimony from Devon Archer, White House spokesperson Ian Sams stated that the information given by Archer in the extended interview failed to deliver the House Republicans' promised "bombshell evidence": "It appears that the House Republicans’ own much-hyped witness today testified that he never heard of President Biden discussing business with his son or his son’s associates, or doing anything wrong," Sams said to the press. Indeed, Archer had long been seen as a key witness in the inquiry due to his close proximity to Hunter Biden for years on the Burisma board. The GOP is attempting to directly connect President Joe Biden to son Hunter's international business transactions, alleging that he may have been bribed during his possible involvement.
This isn't the only legal snafu currently entangling Hunter Biden—the embattled son of the President is also currently facing federal tax charges and a charge relating to possession of a firearm.