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Press Release Published: Jul 30, 2023

Comer Probes Appointment of Hunter Biden Art Buyer to Position in Biden Administration

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is furthering an investigation into how Hunter Biden has used his new art career to peddle influence in and access to the White House. Despite the White House stating that the identity of Hunter Biden art purchasers would be concealed, Democrat donor Elizabeth Hirsch Naftali was revealed to have purchased at least one piece of Hunter Biden’s artwork. She was appointed by President Biden to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, a position within the Biden Administration. In a letter to Ms. Hirsch Naftali and White House Counsel Stuart Delery, Chairman Comer is requesting information related to Ms. Hirsch Naftali’s purchase of Hunter Biden’s artwork, her appointment to the Commission, and the White House’s involvement in the sale of Hunter Biden’s artwork.

“The White House has stated that ‘Hunter Biden would be walled off from knowing the identities of his buyers in an attempt to separate his business dealings from his father’s administration.’  Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, told reporters that the gallery ‘does not disclose the names of any purchasers to Mr. Biden.’ This system, however, seems to have failed, because Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali’s identity as a purchaser of this art has become public. Her position on the Commission is particularly suspicious because of Hunter Biden’s previous actions to elevate his business partner—Eric Schwerin—to the same post while his father was Vice President. White House visitor logs revealed that Ms. Hirsh Naftali visited the White House at least 13 times since December 2021” Chairman Comer wrote.

The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating President Joe Biden and his family’s foreign and domestic influence peddling schemes, including the sale of the President’s son’s high-priced artwork. Hunter Biden’s art dealer, George Bergès, has repeatedly failed to respond to the Committee’s requests for transcribed interviews and information related to the high-dollar art transactions on Hunter Biden’s art.

“The Committee has released two memoranda that show through subpoenaed bank records how Biden family members and their associates have brought in millions of dollars—including while Joe Biden served as Vice President—from foreign sources by using third parties to conceal the source and nature of the funds. The Committee is concerned Hunter Biden has used his new career as an artist to peddle influence in and access to the White House,” Chairman Comer continued.

Read the letters here:

Ms. Elizabeth Hirsch Naftali

White House Counsel Stuart Delery