On Wednesday, Republicans in the House of Representatives launched a new investigation into Hunter Biden’s newfound career as an “artist,” which has included hefty price tags, high-profile supporters, and flashy art shows, as part of a broader probe into possible corruption by the Biden family.
ABC News reports that Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.), the new Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has asked for a transcript of an interview with Georges Berges, the art dealer who has allowed Hunter Biden’s artwork to be displayed at his lavish galleries in Los Angeles and New York City. Comer also requested any and all communications between the Biden White House and the galleries, suspecting that Hunter is simply using his father’s name to gain publicity.
“Despite being a novice artist, Hunter Biden received exorbitant amounts of money selling his artwork, the buyers’ identities remain unknown, and you appear to be the sole record keeper of these lucrative transactions,” said Comer in his letter to Berges.
The GOP had made similar requests for such information to Berges in previous years, but was ignored due to their minority status in the lower chamber. Now, after the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans hold a narrow majority and all committee chairmanships.
The Biden Administration has claimed that it arranged a special system for Hunter to sell his artwork without knowing the identities of any purchasers. Under the deal, art galleries and their owners would be directly responsible for the pricing and selling of the art, but would not give Hunter himself any information about prospective buyers. Berges also allegedly promised to turn down any offer that went over the asking price, or came from someone who appeared to be suspicious.
Hunter has continued selling his art as recently as early January of this year. His latest collection debuted at a SoHo gallery, where the prices ranged from $55,000 to $225,000. His art is widely considered mediocre by most professional standards, and he has never had any experience in art before, raising further suspicions that he was simply creating another get-rich-quick scheme that would guarantee a profit due to his last name.
“It is concerning that President Biden’s son is the recipient of anonymous, high-dollar transactions — potentially from foreign buyers — with no accountability or oversight (other than you),” Comer’s letter continued. “The American people deserve transparency regarding certain details about Hunter Biden’s expensive art transactions.”