Hunter Biden Requested State Department Support in Burisma Letter

Title: Hunter Biden Sought U.S. Government Assistance for Burisma Projects During Vice Presidency

The U.S. State Department recently made headlines by releasing a previously unpublished letter written by Hunter Biden in June 2016. This letter, addressed to the U.S. ambassador to Italy, John R. Phillips, unfolded during the time when Hunter’s father, Joseph R. Biden Jr., held the position of Vice President. In the correspondence, Hunter Biden requested support and guidance from the U.S. government in facilitating a meeting with Italian officials to assist Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company where he served on the board.

In the letter, which is now available for public reading, Hunter Biden reached out to Phillips on Burisma letterhead, indicating that he was seeking assistance to overcome regulatory obstacles related to geothermal energy projects Burisma was planning to undertake in the Tuscany region of Italy. The letter pointedly expressed a need to arrange a discussion with Enrico Rossi, who was the president of the Tuscany regional government at that time. Hunter Biden underscored that these projects would not only help bolster the local economy with an investment of approximately 175 million euros but also promote environmentally friendly energy sources, highlighting that much of the necessary equipment would be sourced from American companies.

In response, Ambassador Phillips confirmed in his own letter that he had dispatched a Commerce Department official to help facilitate Hunter Biden’s request. He acknowledged the relevance of the inquiry, stating that he maintained a solid working relationship with Rossi, which would help in possibly arranging a meeting. Phillips’s correspondence with Hunter Biden included a note reflecting on their prior interactions, stating that it felt like “yesterday” since their time in Rome together.

Significantly, Hunter Biden’s June 2016 letter did not mention his father, the Vice President, nor did it specify the exact timing of their meeting in Rome. However, Hunter had accompanied his father on at least two trips to Italy during the preceding months. This omission has raised eyebrows regarding the implications of his proximity to the Vice Presidency while advocating for Burisma.

In a recent interview, Ambassador Phillips clarified that he did not interpret Hunter’s letter as an attempt to invoke his father’s influence improperly. Instead, he viewed Hunter’s mention of their meeting as a gesture of gratitude for the hospitality extended to him during a family trip to Rome in 2015. Phillips remarked that, to his knowledge, he did not know Hunter Biden beyond their brief interactions on the flight back to Washington.

A representative for Hunter Biden later expressed that his mention of the ambassador was merely a sincere appreciation for the hospitality he received during that trip. A lawyer representing Hunter highlighted that the correspondence was an appropriate request—similar to many others submitted to ambassadors—stressing its normalcy in diplomatic and business interactions.

However, the letters released by the State Department have reignited discussions about the ethical boundaries associated with Hunter Biden’s dealings amid his father’s political position. Some officials from the Obama administration in which Joe Biden served, expressed concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest given Hunter’s role at Burisma during a time when his father was actively pressing Ukraine on anti-corruption measures.

The political implications of Hunter Biden’s activities have not gone unnoticed, with Republicans emphasizing these overlaps as part of congressional inquiries that gained traction during Joe Biden’s presidency, although these efforts did not culminate in impeachment proceedings.

Compounding the situation, Hunter Biden has recently faced legal issues, including convictions for gun crimes and a guilty plea relating to tax violations associated with earnings from Burisma and other international business dealings. Less than two months before leaving office, outgoing President Biden granted a broad pardon for these convictions, which sparked significant debate concerning the propriety of such actions.

While the geothermal projects sought by Burisma did not proceed, with reports indicating that they fizzled out even before drilling commenced, the discussions surrounding these letters and Hunter Biden’s relationship with Burisma continue to be prominent in the public and political discourse. As some officials remain unsure about the extent of the U.S. Embassy’s actions in assisting Burisma, Phillips concluded his letter to Hunter by inviting him to keep in touch if any further assistance was needed.

The ongoing scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s activities, particularly in relation to Burisma, exemplifies the complex intersections of family ties and political responsibility within the realm of U.S. governance, particularly as it pertains to international relations and corporate engagements.