Emails indicate ex-Weiss prosecutor aided Burisma’s messaging in Hunter Biden probe.

Redacted Emails Suggest Close Biden Associate Involved in Shaping Stories

Recently released redacted emails from then-Vice President ‌Joe Biden’s office have⁢ raised questions ⁤about the involvement of ​a close ⁢Biden⁤ family⁢ associate in shaping stories related to Hunter ‌Biden’s work for Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Alexander Mackler, who served‌ as a legal counsel⁢ to ‍Joe Biden at the ​time, later worked in the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office during the initial stages‍ of the Hunter Biden criminal investigation.

In one email from December 8, 2015, Mackler ⁣and Joe Biden’s then-Communications Director Kate Bedingfield appeared to discuss a story published in the⁣ New York Times⁣ about Hunter ‌Biden’s role ‌at Burisma.⁤ However, the⁢ entire email was redacted by the Biden administration.

In the days leading up⁣ to the unflattering New York Times story⁤ and another on ⁢the same topic in the Wall ‍Street Journal, Mackler was copied on discussions​ about how to respond. Some of those emails were also redacted.

The House⁢ Oversight Committee Chairman, James Comer, has demanded unredacted versions‍ of these emails from the​ National⁤ Archives. ⁤Comer has expressed concerns that the National Archives may be ⁣withholding certain communications between Joe Biden’s political aides and Hunter Biden’s⁤ business associates.

Emails from December 2015 reveal that Bedingfield collaborated with‌ Eric Schwerin, one⁤ of Hunter ⁢Biden’s ⁣closest business partners, to craft a response from Joe Biden’s office to reporters inquiring about Burisma. Schwerin even provided input on ⁣Bedingfield’s draft⁢ statements and offered guidance on how to soften a story about Hunter⁣ Biden’s work.

Private emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop indicate that Schwerin was simultaneously coordinating with a Burisma executive, ⁢Hunter Biden, and their business partner, Devon Archer, while working on the response with Joe Biden’s⁣ office.

Mackler’s involvement in ​internal discussions about Hunter Biden’s Burisma‌ work‍ in 2015⁢ is significant because he later⁣ joined a ‌prosecutorial team investigating the same work. The criminal investigation, supervised by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, examined the details of ​how Hunter Biden and his business partners ⁢earned millions of ​dollars from Burisma and how they utilized the funds.

It remains unclear whether Mackler recused himself from the‌ Hunter Biden⁣ case before leaving Weiss’s office. However,⁣ emails ‍from Hunter Biden’s‌ laptop suggest that Mackler considered Hunter​ Biden‍ a close friend and maintained regular contact with him.

Timing and Context

The timing of the National Archives emails is noteworthy.​ In December ‍2015, Joe Biden ‍was scheduled ‍to visit Ukraine for high-profile meetings with Ukrainian‍ leaders. During this visit, he delivered a speech in ​Kyiv, emphasizing the ​need for Ukraine to combat corruption.⁤ The press coverage surrounding his visit focused​ on how Hunter Biden’s position on the Burisma board could undermine Joe⁤ Biden’s credibility⁤ on the⁤ issue.

During this ​time, Mackler was⁣ in private contact with Hunter Biden while ⁣still serving in the vice president’s office. In November 2015, Mackler reached out to Hunter Biden using a private email‍ address, seeking his thoughts​ on Joe Biden’s plans after⁢ leaving the ⁣vice⁣ presidency.

Furthermore, when the‍ flurry of ⁢emails regarding negative press about Hunter ⁤Biden and ‍Burisma emerged⁤ in early ​December ‍2015, Hunter Biden was in Dubai meeting with Burisma executives.

According to ⁢testimony to the‌ Oversight Committee, Burisma executives pressured Hunter ⁤Biden ⁤to “call D.C.” about the Ukrainian investigations into alleged corruption at the company during his visit to Dubai.

While ⁢it was initially stated that Hunter Biden and Burisma executives⁤ stepped⁣ away ‌from​ a meeting to call Joe Biden, it was later clarified that‌ the exact nature of the ⁤call was uncertain.

These redacted emails and⁣ their context shed light on the close⁢ coordination ⁢between‍ Joe ‌Biden’s political aides and Hunter Biden’s business associates, ‌as ⁤well ‌as ⁢the potential influence on‌ shaping stories related to ​Hunter ​Biden’s work for Burisma.

Source: The Washington⁤ Examiner