(Washington Examiner) Hunter Biden’s secretive finances will be center stage in a small Arkansas courtroom on Monday, where a judge has ordered President Joe Biden’s son to appear in person as part of a child support battle with the mother of one of his daughters.
Clinton Lancaster, a lawyer for the mother, Lunden Alexis Roberts, argued to the court in December that “the defendant is attempting to stifle discovery into his financial affairs while simultaneously reducing his child support obligation on the claim that he now earns less income.”
Republicans have long contended Hunter Biden’s lucrative business dealings in Ukraine and China indicate he may have committed crimes related to foreign lobbying or money laundering, although multiple recent reports have indicated U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump-appointed holdover and the Delaware prosecutor overseeing the case, may have narrowed his focus to Hunter Biden potentially committing tax fraud and lying on a federal gun form when purchasing a revolver.
The child between Hunter Biden and Roberts was born in Arkansas in August 2018. The child was conceived while he was in a relationship with Hallie Biden, his brother, Beau Biden’s widow.
A judge said in January 2020 that the court “finds the results of the DNA tests indicate with near scientific certainty that the defendant is the biological father of the child in this case.” Hunter Biden settled with Roberts for $2.5 million in 2020, but the case was later reopened.
Hunter Biden has been ordered to attend a May 1 hearing at the courthouse in Batesville, Arkansas, by the circuit judge overseeing the case. Judge Holly Lodge Meyer was elected to her position for a term beginning January 2019.
Lancaster told the court Roberts has “asked for detailed information about the defendant’s works of ‘art’ and the purchasers of the same.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Hunter Biden’s art dealer, George Berges, in February asking for information about the younger Biden’s alleged success in the art world.
Comer asked Berges to provide all communications between his gallery and the White House, as well as all documents related to the high-dollar sales of Hunter Biden’s artwork.
Lancaster also wrote that “it is widely known … that the defendant failed to fully report his income on his tax returns and that a California lawyer paid up to $2 million dollars toward the defendant’s tax liability.”
Representatives for Hunter Biden said last year that he had paid off a roughly $2 million past-due tax bill. He allegedly did so by taking out a $2 million loan from Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who has been helping with shaping his media narrative and his legal strategies.
Lancaster further told the court that “the public has a right to know what is happening in this case with a very high-profile financial wizard such as the defendant, who gains seats on foreign boards and allegedly raises billions (with a ‘B’) of dollars in Chinese investments.”
Comer told Hunter Biden in February to provide the committee with all records of his interactions with Chinese businessman Jonathan Li. Hunter Biden would go on to be a longtime 10% stakeholder in BHR Partners, formed along with Li, with the firm investing in several controversial Chinese companies that have been sanctioned by the United States.
The president’s son pursued business deals in China and elsewhere during and after his father’s tenure as vice president, raking in millions thanks to these associations.
Hunter Biden and his associated businesses are believed to have received at least $5 million in payments from Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC in 2017 and 2018, and CEFC deputy Patrick Ho also agreed to pay Hunter Biden a $1 million retainer. Hunter referred to Ho as “the f***ing spy chief of China” in a May 11, 2018, voice recording.
Lancaster also told the court that Roberts has “sought information about whether the defendant was or has ever been registered” as a foreign agent, calling this “relevant … especially in light of his service to Burisma.”
Hunter Biden held a lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy giant Burisma while his father was vice president.
