Comer Demands Ethics Investigation and Committee Hearing on Hunter Biden’s Artwork
WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) called on the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) to launch an investigation into the White House’s secret agreement governing the sales of Hunter Biden’s artwork and also led Republican lawmakers in demanding a hearing to examine the suspicious activity.
Despite Hunter Biden having no training as an artist, the prices sought for his paintings range between $75,000 and $500,000. The White House’s agreement governing the sale of Hunter Biden’s artwork appears to keep buyers’ identities secret, raising both ethics and national security concerns. Additionally, Hunter Biden’s gallerist, Georges Bergès, has received over half a million dollars in federal loans and has admitted that he seeks to become the “lead guy in China” for art.
“Hunter Biden and his accomplices both within and outside the White House believe they are insulated from oversight and accountability,” wrote Ranking Member Comer to OGE Director Emory Rounds. “As the entity that ‘oversees the executive branch ethics program’ which ‘works to prevent financial conflicts of interest to help ensure government decisions are made free from personal financial bias,’ the Office of Government Ethics is in a prime position to investigate the ethics agreement between the White House, Mr. Biden, and the Bergès Gallery. I therefore urge you to open an investigation into this matter.”
Ranking Member Comer has repeatedly requested all documents and communications between the Georges Bergès Gallery and the White House, but the gallery has not provided any to the committee. Ranking Member Comer and Republican lawmakers have called on Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) to hold a hearing to review the White House’s agreement with Hunter Biden and the Georges Bergès Gallery.
“The American people deserve answers regarding the nature and profitability of Hunter Biden’s art sales. They are also entitled to know the extent to which Mr. Biden interacts with his father and any connections he has or cultivates in the White House,” wrote the Republican lawmakers to Chairwoman Maloney. “We call on you to hold a hearing to question Mr. Biden and his gallerist, Georges Bergès, as well as White House counsel responsible for crafting the agreements shrouding the purchasers of Mr. Biden’s art in secrecy, as well as ethics experts […] to evaluate these transactions. This matter is not going away—in fact it appears to be worsening—and it is imperative the Committee on Oversight and Reform evaluate this serious breach of ethics to help guide any potential necessary changes in federal ethics law.”
The letter to Director Rounds can be found here and the letter to Chairwoman Maloney can be found here.