Hunter Biden’s art dealer, Georges Bergés, testified that the president’s son initially wanted to know who bought his art, which contradicts White House statements about an ethics agreement regarding his earnings.
The timeline of when ethical safeguards around Biden’s art were put in place and when the White House got involved has raised questions.
Former press secretary Jen Psaki said in July of 2021, “After careful consideration, a system has been established that allows for Hunter Biden to work in his profession within reasonable safeguards.”
Hunter Biden's Art Dealer Opting Not to Renew Contract: 'I Want My Life Back' pic.twitter.com/OAdilY2ved
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Psaki said the following month, “We have spoken extensively to the arrangements, which are not White House arrangements; they’re arrangements between Hunter Biden’s representatives and ones that we, certainly, were made aware of.”
Bergés stated that the president’s son was aware of at least two art buyers, including his lawyer and a woman who later received a White House appointment.
Republicans claim “the majority of Hunter Biden’s art has been purchased by Democrat donors.”
Bergés said, “I think they had an arrangement, because I didn’t pay Hunter Biden his commission, the artist commission, because it was dealt – that’s how I remembered that, yes, he had to have known that he was the buyer because normally the gallery would then write a check for the artist commission but I didn’t.”
“So it wasn’t, even with Naftali, it took me a year of cajoling her and telling her how it was a great piece. So it wasn’t a very – it took a lot of effort,” said Bergés,
“At no point did she discuss her purchase of Mr. Biden’s artwork with anyone at the White House. Ms. Naftali’s extensive work against anti-Semitism and advocacy on behalf of Jewish Americans is what led Speaker Pelosi to recommend her appointment to the Commission,” wrote Jason A. Abel.
House Republicans used Bergés’ testimony to question the ethics agreement, but there is no direct evidence implicating the president.
Additionally, there are concerns about the art purchases and their potential link to political favor, but Bergés defended the sales.
Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell, who said, “Mr. Biden is not involved in the sale transactions of his art.”
“He has become aware of some purchasers of his art after they were made through the gallery,” he continued.
“The gallery sets the pricing and handles all sales based upon the highest ethical standards of the industry and does not disclose the names of any purchasers to Mr. Biden,” added the president’s attorney.
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