A lawyer just registered as a foreign agent for work he conducted eight years ago for Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, when Hunter Biden was on the board.
The disclosure raises questions about whether Hunter Biden could face FARA charges in the future that could complicate his father President Joe Biden’s re-election run.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires law firms and lobbyists to disclose work with any foreign clients.
Attorney John Buretta said he worked on behalf of former Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky in 2016, during the time the CEO was under investigation by Ukraine and also the U.S. for corruption.
Buretta decided to file a FARA disclosure eight years later following ‘discussions’ with the Department of Justice, according to a spokesperson for his law firm Cravath, Swaine, & Moore.
The news isn’t great for Hunter, who has been accused by Republicans of violating FARA along with money laundering, racketeering, wire fraud and other crimes. He is also currently facing gun and tax crime charges filed by DOJ prosecutor David Weiss and his investigation remains open.
Hunter and Zlochevsky’s relationship has been detailed in an internal FBI document claiming Joe and his son were part of a $10 million bribery scheme with the CEO.
Biden was pictured visiting Morris at his home on December 27
Former Burisma CEO Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter ‘was stupid,’ and his (Zlochevsky’s) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board ‘so everything will be okay.’
According to the documents filed by Buretta’s firm, he was retained in January 2016 to represent Mykola Zlochevsky ‘in connection with possible investigations by governmental authorities in the United States.’
It went on to say that Buretta met with three U.S. government officials in March 2016 and sent a letter to the officials in September.
‘In these interactions, Mr. Buretta identified his clients and presented facts relevant to potential U.S. and Ukrainian investigations, including information from a UK proceeding involving his clients,’ the filing states.
According to the conversation between a confidential source and Burisma CFO Vadim Pojarski in 2015, Hunter Biden was hired onto the company’s board to ‘protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.’
Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky told the source: ‘It costs 5 (million) to pay one Biden, and 5 (million) to another Biden.’
Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter ‘was stupid,’ and his (Zlochevsky’s) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board ‘so everything will be okay.’
The form goes on to allege that the $10 million total was used in exchange for the then-Vice President’s influence in getting a senior prosecutor fired.
Burisma was looking to spend up to $30 million on a U.S.-based oil and gas company. However, at the time, it was also the subject of a criminal investigation by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, which the company knew ‘would have a substantial negative impact on Burisma’s prospective IPO in the United States.’
When asked about the investigation, the form states that Zlochevsky replied: ‘Don’t worry Hunter will take care of all of those issues through his dad.’
Later, then-Vice President Joe Biden made a public statement that Shokin was ‘corrupt, and that he should be fired/removed from office.’
Shokin was eventually removed not long after Biden’s public statements.
Earlier Friday, Republicans announced they will formally begin proceedings to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress next week.
The move comes weeks after Hunter defied a subpoena requiring him to sit for a closed-door deposition as part of their impeachment investigation into whether President Joe Biden was connected to or profited from his son’s shady business deals.
‘Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,’ House Oversight Committee Republicans wrote on X Friday.
‘Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law,’ the lawmakers said. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10 at 10 a.m. ET.
Attorney John Buretta said he worked on behalf of former Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky in 2016 , during the time the CEO was under investigation by Ukraine and also the U.S. for corruption
Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter ‘was stupid,’ and his (Zlochevsky’s) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board ‘so everything will be okay’
Hunter Biden shockingly showed up Capitol Hill on the morning of his mandatory deposition to acknowledge ‘mistakes’ he made due to his crack cocaine addiction while blasting Republicans investigating him for ‘turning his ‘dad’s love into darkness’
The House Judiciary Committee will also hold a markup.
Hunter appeared outside of the Capitol in December to deliver a dramatic tirade slamming ‘shameless’ Republicans, and declared that he would be skipping his deposition.
Republicans said that his ‘obstruction’ of their investigation has forced them to take the president’s son to court to compel his cooperation – or he will face jail time.
If Hunter is held in contempt of Congress by a committee vote, his case would be referred to the Biden-led Department of Justice. If DOJ agrees to prosecute the case, which is unlikely, he could face up to 12 months jail time or a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.
GOP leadership held a vote to formalize their ongoing impeachment inquiry into Joe on December 13.
The 221-212 party-line vote opened the door for the GOP to get more evidence about schemes that have seen the Biden family get millions from countries including China, Ukraine and Romania.
And the Bidens will now have more of their bank records, mortgage details, emails, text messages and mobile phones subpoenaed, along with anything else Congress wants to see.
The first son also said his father was ‘not financially involved’ in his controversial business dealings and that there was no evidence because it ‘did not happen.’
Comer and Jordan questioned what Hunter meant when that his father was not ‘financially’ involved in his dealings.
‘Exactly how was Joe Biden involved?’ they questioned in the statement. ‘Evidence shows Joe Biden met with Hunter’s business associates and his name was at the center of the family business strategy.’
Hunter was subpoenaed by Republicans last month along with James Biden, the president’s brother, and Biden family associate Rob Walker. Attorneys for James have been in touch with the committee and they are working on scheduling a time for his closed-door testimony.
Hunter Biden made a shock appearance on Capitol Hill where he defiantly declared that his father is innocent of corruption allegations and accused Republicans of being ‘shameless’ for trying to impeach him.
Hunter delivered an emotional public statement in which he tore into the ‘unrelenting Trump attack machine’ and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for showing naked photos of him in Congress.
Hunter admitted making ‘mistakes’ in his life due to his crack cocaine addiction but went on to blast Republicans investigating him and accused them of ‘turning my dad’s love into darkness.’
Republicans have threatened to begin the process of holding Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress if he doesn’t show up for his impeachment probe deposition at 9.30am on Wednesday
Speculation is swirling around Washington D.C. over whether the first son will show up for his closed-door interview in the GOP investigation into his father’s involvement in foreign business deals
Hunter said: ‘I am here today to acknowledge I have made mistakes in my life. I’m also here today to correct how the MAGA right has portrayed me for political purposes.
‘In the depths of my addiction I was extremely irresponsible with my finances,’ he admitted.
‘But to suggest that is grounds for an impeachment inquiry is beyond the absurd.’
Hunter spoke outside of the Senate side of the Capitol hours before a planned Republican vote to formalize the ongoing impeachment inquiry into his father.
He said: ‘It’s shameless. There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen.’
Speculation had been swirling around Washington, D.C., over whether the first son would show up for his closed-door interview in the GOP investigation led by Oversight Chairman James Comer into his father’s involvement in his foreign business deals.
Hunter accused House Republicans of warping his relationship with his father.
They turned ‘my dad’s love into darkness,’ he said.
Later, after Hunter skipped the deposition, Comer said there were ‘mountains of evidence’ against him and he does not get to dictate the terms of his subpoena.
‘We expect to depose the president’s son, and then we would be happy to have an open hearing,’ Comer said.
‘I don’t know anyone in more trouble than Hunter Biden and he just got in more trouble today.’
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said that ‘we’re here to get the facts’ and in his long experience of conducting investigations, that is done behind closed-doors first.
Hunter Biden arrived on the Senate side of the Capitol on Wednesday morning with his attorney Abbe Lowell
Lawmakers were kept in the dark about whether Hunter would show up or skip his testimony – with Comer telling reporters 30 minutes before his arrival: ‘I’ll let you know when I know.’
Comer has presented a case to his fellow Republicans which he says tracks over 20 shell companies set up by Biden family members to funnel in over $25 million in foreign cash – cashing in on the family name while Joe was the sitting vice president.
Hunter refuted those accusations in his statement, including those relating to Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company where he sat on the board.
He said: ‘Let me state as clearly as I can, my father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with the Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home and abroad and certainly not as an artist.
‘During my battle with addiction my parents were there for me. They literally saved my life.
‘They helped me in ways that I will never be able to repay, and of course, they would never expect me to.’
Hunter Biden speaks on Capitol Hill
The first son delivers his statement
He went on to slam the Republicans investigating his finances and who are attempting to tie his business dealings to Joe.
‘For six years MAGA Republicans, including members of the house committees who are in a closed-door session right now, have impugned my character, invaded my privacy, attacked my wife, my children, my family and my friends,’ Hunter continued in his short address in front of the Capitol.
‘They have ridiculed my struggle with addiction, they have belittled my recovery and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass and damage my father who has devoted his entire public life to service.’
Hunter Biden spent a staggering $872K on prostitutes, porn and sex club memberships and took $1.6 M from ATMs
He named the three investigating Republicans – Comer, Jordan and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith.
They ‘distorted the facts by cherry-picking lines from a bank statement, manipulating texts I sent, editing the testimony of my friends and former business partners, and misstating personal information that was stolen from me.
‘There is no fairness or decency in what these Republicans are doing. They have lied over and over,’ the president’s son said.
The 53-year-old was charged with evading $1.4 million in taxes last month.
Comer and Jordan have said Hunter has ‘no choice’ but to comply after they issued him a subpoena compelling him to appear for a private deposition.
‘If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on Dec. 13, 2023, the committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,’ they said.
Hunter’s lawyer Abbe Lowell has insisted the deposition should be out in the open, claiming Republicans have ‘demonstrated time and again it uses closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort, the facts and misinform the American public’.
Even the moderate and Biden district Republicans were onboard with authorizing the inquiry – and insisted it does not put them in a bind of being obligated to hold a vote on impeaching the president further down the line.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer slammed Hunter Biden for not testifying
‘With anything with due process, there’s there’s a chance for all outcomes to occur,’ Rep. John Garcia, R-Calif., who represents a district Biden won in 2020, told DailyMail.com.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy had declared the inquiry open in October, but now Republicans say they needed a vote to fully green-light the probe due to White House ‘stonewalling.’
Speaker Mike Johnson insisted they were not under any obligation to push through with impeaching the president just by opening an inquiry.
‘We’re not going to prejudge the outcome of this,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s not a political calculation. We’re following the law.’