Quick Hit:
According to Just The News, The FBI has known since 2016 about Hunter Biden’s involvement in a $120 million deal with a Ukrainian oligarch during Joe Biden’s vice presidency, according to recently disclosed documents.
Key Details:
- Hunter Biden’s team planned a venture funded by Burisma’s owner, Nykola Zlochevsky.
- The FBI obtained documents detailing this plan during a 2016 securities fraud investigation.
- The information was revealed by former business partner Devon Archer to the House Oversight Committee.
Diving Deeper:
The FBI learned as early as 2016 that Hunter Biden and his partners were working on a venture involving a $120 million investment from Nykola Zlochevsky, the controversial owner of Burisma Holdings. Documents obtained by Just the News reveal that this information, kept from the public for eight years, was uncovered during an investigation of securities fraud nearly a decade ago.
These documents, totaling 3.39 million, were recently handed over to the House Oversight Committee by Hunter Biden's former business partner, Devon Archer, as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden's conduct. The new evidence indicates that the deal was being orchestrated while Hunter Biden was on Burisma's board and Joe Biden was vice president, overseeing U.S.-Ukraine policy.
The memos show that Hunter Biden was to serve on the board of a new company called Burnham Energy Security LLC, incorporated in Liechtenstein, and funded by Zlochevsky. The venture was planned to be capitalized in 2015 and aimed to transform Burisma into a global energy leader. Hunter Biden’s involvement was seen as essential for "credibility" purposes, according to Vadym Pozharskyi, Zlochevsky’s lieutenant.
However, the deal encountered obstacles. In September 2015, Hunter Biden's business associate, Jason Galanis, was arrested for securities fraud. Simultaneously, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt pressured Ukrainian prosecutors to pursue corruption charges against Zlochevsky. This prompted Burisma to hire Blue Star Strategies, a Democrat-friendly lobbying firm, to mitigate the fallout.
Despite the setbacks, internal emails and testimonies reveal efforts to leverage Hunter Biden's connections to shield Burisma from scrutiny. Archer testified that Burisma sought help from Washington to counter the pressure from Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was later dismissed after Vice President Joe Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees.
The ambitious project aimed to acquire rights to explore hydrocarbons within Ukraine's Yuzivska Block and expand globally. Hunter Biden’s role was instrumental in securing these international ventures, underscoring the influence of his political connections. However, the plan ultimately fell apart due to the fraud case involving Galanis and escalating legal troubles for Burisma.
Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, did not respond to requests for comment from Just the News. The revelations highlight the intricate web of business dealings and political connections during Joe Biden's vice presidency, raising questions about the extent of Hunter Biden's influence and the transparency of these arrangements.