House GOP Seeks Interview with Witness of Hunter Biden’s Art Scandal
House Republicans Request Interview with Key Figure in Hunter Biden’s Art Career
House Republicans have taken their impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden to the next level. In a letter issued on Thursday, GOP Reps. James Comer and Jim Jordan requested an interview with Lanette Phillips, a central figure in Hunter Biden’s art career. The Republicans suspect that Phillips may have facilitated the laundering of bribes through Hunter’s artwork.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on the Judiciary are currently investigating whether there are sufficient grounds to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden. The request for Phillips’s interview is part of this ongoing inquiry.
Phillips is an associate of Hunter’s attorney and financer, Kevin Morris, as well as Georges Bergès, a New York City art gallerist who sold Hunter’s works. According to Morris’s previous congressional testimony, Phillips introduced Morris and Bergès to Hunter at a fundraiser for Joe Biden in November 2019. Shortly after this meeting, Morris spent over $875,000 to purchase Hunter’s art and provided millions of dollars in loans to him.
Given Hunter’s history of leveraging the Biden “brand” for foreign influence-peddling, House Republicans are eager to hear Phillips’s testimony. They want to know if Morris’s financial support for Hunter was intended to benefit Joe Biden or gain access to him. Comer and Jordan believe that Phillips, as the person who introduced Morris to Hunter, has relevant information on this matter.
This request for Phillips’s testimony comes after Bergès revealed to House investigators that there was no agreement between him and the White House to keep the identities of Hunter’s art buyers secret. Bergès stated that Hunter knew the identities of the individuals who purchased the majority of his art, including Democrat donors Kevin Morris and Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali.
House Republicans have also linked Hirsh Naftali to significant Democratic circles and reported that she hosted a fundraiser headlined by Vice President Kamala Harris. Although she initially declined to purchase Hunter’s art in 2020, she eventually bought a piece for $42,000 after Joe Biden became president. In July 2022, Joe appointed Hirsh Naftali to serve on the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, the same commission that Biden family associate Eric Schwerin was appointed to during the Obama-Biden Administration.
The Republicans have asked Phillips to respond by February 8th to schedule a transcribed interview. This interview could provide crucial insights into the alleged corruption surrounding Hunter Biden’s art career.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. His work has been featured in various outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood.
What concerns do House Republicans have regarding corruption and illicit activities in Hunter Biden’s art dealings?
Rwards, Morris and Bergès became significant players in Hunter’s art career.
The Republicans’ letter emphasized their concerns about the potential for corruption and illicit activities within Hunter Biden’s art dealings. They pointed out that the exorbitant prices at which Hunter’s artwork sells could be a way for individuals to buy influence or gain favor with the Biden administration.
The letter also mentioned reports that have raised questions about the authenticity of Hunter’s art and whether buyers are purchasing the artwork solely for its artistic value or as a means to gain access and influence in the political sphere. The Republicans believe that Lanette Phillips may hold important information regarding the true intentions behind the sales of Hunter’s artwork.
This interview request is not the first time House Republicans have shown interest in investigating Hunter Biden’s business ventures and potential conflicts of interest. They have been vocal about their belief that the Biden family’s connections and business dealings warrant further scrutiny, particularly given President Biden’s position as the leader of the country.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on the Judiciary have yet to respond to the interview request. However, if they decide to grant the Republicans’ request, it could potentially shed light on the alleged improprieties surrounding Hunter Biden’s art sales and give Republicans additional ammunition in their quest to hold President Biden accountable.
It is worth noting that House Democrats have previously dismissed Republican efforts to investigate Hunter Biden’s business dealings, arguing that they are politically motivated and lack substantial evidence of wrongdoing. Democrats have maintained that the focus should be on advancing the Biden administration’s policy agenda rather than scrutinizing the president’s family.
Regardless, the request to interview Lanette Phillips demonstrates House Republicans’ determination to delve deeper into the potential conflicts of interest and corruption surrounding Hunter Biden’s art career. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether this request will yield any significant revelations or merely add to the ongoing political divide between Republicans and Democrats.
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