Ex-Burisma lawyer belatedly registers as foreign lobbyist following Biden inquiries
A Lawyer Representing Burisma Chairman Retroactively Registers as a Foreign Agent
A lawyer who previously represented the embattled chairman of Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that employed Hunter Biden, has recently registered retroactively as a foreign agent for Burisma. John Buretta, the lawyer in question, disclosed his work for Mykola Zlochevsky, the former head of Burisma, in documents filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Questions Arise Regarding Hunter Biden’s Failure to Register
This late filing, which occurred more than seven years after the fact, raises concerns about why Hunter Biden, who also worked for Burisma and Zlochevsky during that time, has not registered under FARA. Buretta’s work involved defending Zlochevsky against corruption investigations from both the Ukrainian government and U.S. authorities.
Details of Buretta’s Representation
Buretta’s law firm stated that he was initially hired in January 2016 to represent Mykola Zlochevsky in relation to potential investigations by U.S. governmental authorities. The scope of his representation later expanded to include Burisma Holdings Limited and ongoing investigations in Ukraine, continuing until April 2017. Buretta had meetings with three Obama administration officials in March 2016 and sent a letter to another official in September 2016.
Disclosure Prompted by DOJ Discussion
Buretta’s law firm, Cravath, Swaine, & Moore, decided to file a retroactive registration and disclosure after discussions with the Department of Justice regarding FARA’s scope. The registration covers legal services provided to two former clients in March and September 2016, with a supplemental statement terminating the registration as of September 2016.
Contrasting FARA Enforcement
The Trump administration enforced FARA violations more rigorously, prosecuting individuals like Paul Manafort for failing to register as foreign agents. Manafort and others were not allowed to file retroactive disclosures to avoid criminal charges. However, Blue Star Strategies, another firm involved in the Burisma corruption investigation, was permitted to submit retroactive FARA filings after being investigated for violating the foreign lobbying law.
Hunter Biden’s FARA Investigation
IRS whistleblowers revealed that Hunter Biden was under investigation for FARA violations, but he has not been charged with a foreign lobbying crime. Initially, Hunter Biden presented his work for Burisma as legal in nature, but evidence from his abandoned laptop and witness testimony suggest that his position on the board was more influenced by his last name and connections in Washington, D.C.
The Department of Justice has not provided any comments on the matter.
What are the potential legal repercussions for Hunter Biden’s failure to register as a foreign agent while working for Burisma?
The recent revelation that a lawyer who represented the chairman of Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that employed Hunter Biden, has retroactively registered as a foreign agent has raised eyebrows and fueled questions regarding Hunter Biden’s failure to do the same.
John Buretta, the lawyer in question, recently disclosed his work for Mykola Zlochevsky, the former head of Burisma, in documents filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This registration comes more than seven years after Buretta provided legal representation for Zlochevsky.
It is important to note that Buretta’s work involved defending Zlochevsky against corruption investigations from both the Ukrainian government and U.S. authorities. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions surrounding Hunter Biden’s role in Burisma and his potential need to register as a foreign agent.
As Hunter Biden also worked for Burisma during the same timeframe as Buretta’s representation of Zlochevsky, the failure to register under FARA presents a concerning issue. FARA is a critical piece of legislation designed to ensure transparency and accountability in interactions between individuals or organizations acting on behalf of foreign entities and the U.S. government. By registering as a foreign agent, individuals are required to disclose their activities, relationships, and transactions with foreign principals.
The retroactive registration by Buretta raises questions about the legal and ethical obligations surrounding Hunter Biden’s previous work for Burisma. It is important to determine whether Hunter Biden should have registered as a foreign agent given his involvement with a foreign company like Burisma. Failure to do so potentially raises concerns about potential undisclosed foreign influence or interactions.
The discovery of Buretta’s late filing as a foreign agent for Burisma sheds light on an aspect of the broader discussion surrounding Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. This new information merits further scrutiny and underscores the need for transparency and adherence to established legal frameworks.
It remains to be seen whether Hunter Biden will also retroactively register as a foreign agent under FARA. The failure to do so thus far has only added to the already controversial nature of Hunter Biden’s former role in Burisma and his connections to foreign entities.
As the discussions surrounding the Biden family and Burisma continue to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that every individual involved adheres to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The late registration by Buretta as a foreign agent for Burisma raises important questions that require thorough investigation and examination.
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