The Biden administration's Office of Ethics does not appear to have approved the appointment of one of Hunter Biden's arts patrons to the government committee she will serve starting in 2022.
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has no records related to Elizabeth Hirsch Naftali, the Democratic donor and Biden appointee who purchased Hunter Biden's art, OGE said in August 2021. He spoke to the Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project in response to the Open Records Act (FOIA). request. (Related: Hunter Biden flees committee hearing after surprise appearance)
Feuer's reply:
The Heritage Oversight Project's FOIA request targeted any emails that mentioned Naftali from the email addresses of key legal personnel within OGE.
President Joe Biden appointed Naftali joined the U.S. Overseas Heritage Preservation Commission in July 2022 and is currently one of the commission's members. member.
According to the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Mr. Naftali purchased $42,000 worth of Hunter Biden's art shortly after Biden took office as president in January 2021, according to Mr. Biden's junior art dealer Georges Bergès. told lawmakers. James Comerreleased a statement Tuesday summarizing Berges' deposition.
Kamel's statement said Berges had no contact with the Biden administration, despite assurances from the White House that an agreement had been reached with Berges to ensure that Hunter's art deals were handled ethically. I testified.
“The majority of Hunter Biden's art has been purchased by Democratic donors, one of whom purchased Hunter Biden's art for tens of thousands of dollars shortly after Joe Biden's inauguration, and then purchased it by President Biden. The White House has a lot of work to do when it comes to misleading the American people.'' Comer said.
washington post report In 2021, White House officials are working on an ethics agreement under which Mr. Bergès will negotiate the sale of his eldest son's art, hide the identity of the purchaser from him, and avoid charges that may be extravagant or otherwise suspicious. I ended up rejecting the offer. Comer's statement said Berges told lawmakers that Hunter Biden knew the names of the individuals who purchased “approximately 70% of the value of his art.”
In July 2021, then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters there was a “system” in place for Hunter Biden's art purchases.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 26, 2023. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to petty tax evasion on July 26 after an agreement with federal prosecutors fell apart. In a Delaware court. Biden's surprise withdrawal from last month's settlement agreement came after Judge Mariellen Noreika raised questions about the complex agreement that also resolved separate firearms charges against the president's son, according to US media reports. (Photo by Ryan Corrado/AFP) (Photo by Ryan Corrado/AFP via Getty Images)
“After careful consideration, I can say that we have established a system that will allow Hunter Biden to enter the profession within reasonable safeguards,” Psaki said. “Of course, he has the right to pursue an artistic career, just as the president's children have the right to pursue careers. However, all interactions regarding art sales and pricing are will be handled by professional gallerists in accordance with industry standards. And offers that deviate from the normal course will be summarily rejected.”
Naftali spent an additional $52,000 on Hunter Biden's art in December 2022, after he was appointed to the commission, Berges testified.She didn't buy Hunter Biden's art until his father became president, but the New York Times dedicated a story Hunter's artistic endeavor took place almost a year ago.
Hunter Biden's fixer and Democratic donor Kevin Morris also purchased his eldest son's art.
“It's clear that the White House has not been honest with the American people regarding Hunter Biden's artistic endeavors,” Mike Howell, director of the Heritage Oversight Project, told the Daily Caller.
“In this case, someone who wasn't interested in Joseph Biden's work before he became president suddenly bought Hunter Biden's work and then was appointed to a fancy committee,” he said. added. “The White House has said that ethics lawyers are working hard on this issue, but the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has written that it has absolutely nothing on Elizabeth Naftali.”
The oversight committee subpoenaed Naftali for a private deposition in November.
