Comer: Hunter’s Art Dealer Hiding Information and Obstructing Congressional Oversight

Once again calls on Georges Bergès to appear for a transcribed interview and provide all information related to the anonymous purchasers of Hunter Biden’s art

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is again pressing Georges Bergès, owner of the Georges Bergès Gallery, to provide information related to Hunter Biden’s anonymous, high-dollar art transactions. Mr. Bergès has refused to provide any information to date about who is buying Hunter Biden’s art. In a letter Mr. Bergès’s attorney, Chairman Comer renews his request for Mr. Bergès to provide information and appear for a transcribed interview. 

“Mr. Bergès has refused to provide any information regarding who is buying Mr. Biden’s art,” wrote Chairman Comer. “He has chosen to obstruct in an apparent effort to shield Mr. Biden and/or the purchasers’ of Mr. Biden’s art from congressional oversight. The Committee seeks information about the unidentified purchasers of Mr. Biden’s artwork and the non-public agreement with the White House concerning the same, among other items. This information will inform our legislation on matters that are within the jurisdiction of this Committee. For instance, the prices of the artwork—reportedly ranging between $75,000 and $500,000— even caused the Obama-era head of the Office of Government Ethics, Mr. Walter Shaub, to raise these ethics issues publicly. Mr. Shaub stated the White House has ‘basically outsourced government ethics to a private art dealer and they’re depending on unknown art purchasers to help keep the secret.’  The Committee shares these concerns.” 

In February 2022, the Treasury Department studied the use of high-end art as a means to launder money along with other potential illicit financial transactions and issued a final report encouraging the creation of specific policies to enhance transparency. Instead of fostering transparency, Mr. Bergès and Hunter Biden struck an opaque arrangement, and he continues to mischaracterize the purpose of the Committee’s investigation.

“The facts belie any claim by Mr. Bergès that the Committee has no legitimate legislative purpose,” continued Chairman Comer. “The Committee is reviewing legislative solutions that address the ethics and money laundering issues raised by certain high-end art deals, and your information is critical to our investigation… Notwithstanding his tenuous legal arguments, Mr. Bergès mischaracterizes the purpose of our investigation and fails to acknowledge that the Committee’s requests are ‘related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of the Congress.’ Although your client has refused to produce anydocuments, the Committee will extend another opportunity for Mr. Bergès and the Georges Bergès Galleries LLC to adequately respond to our request.”

The letter to William Pittard can be read here.