Hunter Biden’s dealings with Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, have long been a subject of interest and speculation. A recent report sheds new light on how the younger Biden attempted to tackle a looming corruption investigation into the company, which had generously provided him a board seat.
While most are familiar with the subsequent termination of Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin’s probe into Burisma — and then-Vice President Joe Biden’s role in the matter — what preceded these events is less well-known.
Newly revealed emails from a laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden unveil his efforts to rally support stateside, preventing the investigation from moving forward. In 2014, when the winds of investigation began to pick up, Hunter solicited assistance from his then-law firm, Boies, Schiller, & Flexner. His aim? To gather intelligence on the potential reshuffling within the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office. Heather King, a partner at the firm, confirmed that efforts were being made in this direction.
However, the plot thickened in 2015. As Prosecutor Shokin intensified his scrutiny, Hunter introduced Burisma to Blue Star Strategies, a consulting agency with ties to the Clinton administration. An email correspondence with Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi reveals the central goal: shutting down any pursuits against Burisma’s owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, within Ukraine’s borders.
Though documents didn’t directly reference a lobbying effort targeting the State Department, an email from Eric Schwerin to Hunter clarified this was part of the bigger picture. Their strategy eventually attracted federal notice, leading Blue Star to submit Foreign Agents Registration Act paperwork in 2021.
Moreover, Devon Archer, another Burisma board member, insinuated to a House committee the possibility of Hunter seeking his father’s assistance around 2015. Although the specific request was veiled in phrases like “Can DC help?”, the underlying intent seemed clear.
Adding more depth to the narrative, Shokin communicated to Fox News that his termination was a direct result of Vice President Biden’s pressure. This pressure, he claimed, was due to his probing into Burisma, despite him adequately performing his duties. Furthermore, reports suggest that Archer met with then-Secretary of State John Kerry shortly before Shokin’s dismissal.
To unpack this: connections were sought, pressure was applied, and strategies were laid down. This tale provides another layer to the ongoing discussions about Hunter Biden’s overseas endeavors, and the interplay between business and politics.
