The White House announced in July 2021 that a “system” had been “established” to ensure the identities of those who purchased Hunter Biden's work remained anonymous for ethical reasons.
But his eldest son's art dealer testified that a new agreement to block the disclosure of Mr. Biden's art buyers was not set up for months after that statement, and that his eldest son did not know the identities of about 70% of his buyers. He said that he had done so.
George Burgess, Biden's art dealer, participated in a closed-door transcribed interview earlier this month before both the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Art dealer reveals Hunter Biden knew 'sugar brother' was top buyer, calls ethics pledge 'fake': Comer
Fox News Digital reviewed the transcript of Berges' interview.
Georges Bergès attends the SNOW JOB “Defying Gravity” exhibition at Route NYC on October 30, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
During their interview, House investigators showed Berges a July 9, 2021 statement from then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
“After careful consideration, a system has been established that will allow Mr. Hunter Biden to enter the profession within reasonable safeguards,” she said. “All communications regarding art sales and pricing will be handled by a professional gallery adhering to the highest industry standards. Regular court offers will be summarily rejected.”
Psaki added that “the gallery does not share information about buyers or prospective buyers, including their identities, with Hunter Biden or the administration, which provides a significant level of protection.”
Many are joking that the cocaine found in the White House may belong to the president's son Hunter Biden. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
When pressed further, Psaki emphasized, “It would be difficult for an anonymous person that we don't know, that Hunter Biden doesn't know, to have any influence. So that's protection.”
However, as of a July 2021 White House statement, Berges instead agreed to an agreement requiring Hunter Biden to “disclose to Hunter Biden who the purchasers of his art are.” He testified that he was connected to Berges said the deal was agreed in December 2020.
Hunter Biden's art buyer was supposed to be anonymous, according to a statement from then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in July 2021. (Getty Images | AP Newsroom)
Berges said it wasn't until September 2021 that a new deal with Hunter Biden was struck. The contract stated that “the gallery will not disclose the names of purchasers of the artist's work to the artist or the artist's agent.”
However, Berges stressed that there was no “agreement involving the White House” and that Hunter Biden knew the identities of about 70% of the buyers of his artwork.
Hunter Biden gallerist tells lawmakers he never spoke to White House about painting: source
Meanwhile, Berges testified that he spoke with President Biden both by phone and in person.
Berges told lawmakers that he spoke with the president “at Mr. Hunter's White House wedding, where his daughter was getting married.”
Georges Bergès attends Dr. Gina Sam's Resident Magazine Cover Party at Georges Bergès Gallery on September 20, 2018 in New York City. (Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan, via Getty Images)
Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi Biden was married at the White House on November 19, 2022.
“My daughter just finished camp and she called me to congratulate her on finishing camp, so I answered the phone,” Berges said of his phone conversation with the president.
Berges' testimony came after the House formally launched an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
The investigation is being led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith.
From left: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ga.). , Kentucky) speaks to reporters after Hunter Biden ignores Congressional subpoena. To appear privately for a deposition. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Republicans will investigate foreign currency received by the Biden family and determine whether President Biden was involved in the family's overseas transactions and whether the Biden administration “delayed or obstructed a criminal investigation against the president's son Hunter or otherwise The investigation is currently investigating whether he was involved in the “measures allegedly taken to obstruct the government.” Biden is implicated in funds the Biden family received from foreign sources. ”
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Republican investigators have indicated they have doubts about whether Hunter Biden's art career, which began in recent years, led to a conflict of interest between wealthy buyers and the White House.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement earlier this month, “The Biden White House misled the American public about promoting an ethics agreement governing the sale of Hunter Biden's art. “This agreement is a sham,” he said.
