Key points from the Devon Archer transcript
Devon Archer’s Testimony Reveals Complicated Picture of Hunter Biden’s Business
Devon Archer, the former business partner of Hunter Biden, recently provided hours of testimony to the House Oversight Committee. The transcript of his closed-door interview, released on Thursday, sheds light on a narrow scope of topics that were negotiated by his attorneys. The transcript has sparked competing summaries from both Republicans and Democrats, painting a more complex picture of Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in his son’s business and the motivations behind Burisma’s decision to hire Hunter Biden.
Biden Attorneys Intervened
Prior to the interview, Archer’s attorney, Matthew Schwartz, informed lawmakers that he had received a warning from “Mr. Biden’s attorney” over the weekend. The identity of the Biden family member’s attorney was unclear, but Schwartz mentioned concerns about “Mazars-type issues in the questioning.” This warning referred to a Supreme Court case involving President Trump and congressional document requests. Schwartz stated that he would interject if questions strayed from the agreed-upon topics. The fact that ”Mr. Biden’s lawyer” was mentioned as the catalyst for the warning is noteworthy.
During the interview, Schwartz objected to certain lines of questioning, including topics related to Elena Baturina, a Russian oligarch, and Gabriel Popoviciu, a Romanian businessman. These objections indicate the sensitivity surrounding these individuals and their connections to Hunter Biden.
The Value of Hunter Biden’s Connections
Archer acknowledged that Hunter Biden’s value to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company on whose board both Archer and Hunter Biden served, was his powerful family connections. Archer stated, “It’s pretty obvious if you’re the son of a vice president” when explaining why Burisma would be interested in hiring Hunter Biden. He also discussed emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop, in which Hunter Biden suggested taking credit for arranging a government visit to Ukraine by Joe Biden. Archer believed that leveraging the Biden “brand” helped him and Hunter Biden earn more through their joint venture, Rosemont Seneca.
Archer also revealed that Burisma saw Hunter Biden’s presence on their board as a shield from scrutiny. He stated that people would be intimidated to “mess with them… legally” if Hunter Biden was associated with the company.
Unregistered Foreign Lobbying Claims
Archer’s testimony fueled claims of illegal foreign lobbying by Hunter Biden. He acknowledged that Hunter Biden was acting as a lobbyist for Burisma and that his powerful name played a role in the company seeking his assistance. Archer discussed various actions taken by Hunter Biden on behalf of Burisma that appeared to be lobbying efforts, including helping the chief executive secure a visa using government relationships.
Conflicting Answers on Key Ukraine Call
Archer gave conflicting answers about a crucial phone call involving Hunter Biden, Burisma executives, and possibly Joe Biden. Initially, Archer claimed that Hunter Biden called his father during the call. However, after a break in the interview, Archer changed his answer and stated that he did not know who the call was made to. The uncertainty surrounding the recipient of the call is significant because it could contradict Joe Biden’s claims of non-involvement in Hunter Biden’s business affairs.
Archer Intentionally Left Out of the Loop
Archer repeatedly stated that he was intentionally left out of conversations involving Joe Biden and other U.S. government officials. This limited his ability to provide insight into the full extent of Joe Biden’s alleged participation. Archer’s claim suggests that deeper interactions may have occurred, but he is not the best witness to speak about them.
Possibility of Joe Biden Joining the Business
Archer did not dispute a question about whether he and Hunter Biden discussed the possibility of Joe Biden joining one of their Chinese ventures as a paid advisor after leaving office. This admission leaves open the possibility that Joe Biden was considering a role in Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings after his vice presidency ended.
Scrutiny Led to Hunter Biden Leaving Chinese Venture
Archer revealed that Hunter Biden left a board position for a Chinese investment vehicle after conservative author Peter Schweizer exposed his involvement in a book. This suggests that Hunter Biden took public perception into account when making decisions about his foreign business dealings.
Bribery Allegation Addressed
Archer discussed an allegation that Hunter Biden and himself received payments from Burisma in exchange for protecting its chief executive and growing the business. While Archer assumed the payments referred to him and Hunter Biden, he did not believe Joe Biden directly received a bribe. He suggested that the Ukrainian officials were likely bragging and that such behavior is common in Ukraine and Russia.
Devon Archer Received Immunity
Archer’s attorney revealed that he testified to a grand jury in Delaware under an immunity order. This immunity suggests that Archer was shielded from prosecution for illegal activity in exchange for his testimony about Hunter Biden’s business affairs. The lack of charges related to foreign lobbying violations or other alleged crimes in this case raises questions about the handling of the investigation.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
Now loading...