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.