According to a filing from Special Counsel David Weiss, Hunter Biden was hired by a Romanian oligarch to “influence U.S. government agencies.”
“[T]he evidence of what the defendant agreed to do and did do for G.P. demonstrates the defendant’s state of mind and intent during the relevant tax years charged in the indictment,” the filing says. “G.P.” refers to Fabirel Popoviciu, a Romanian businessman.
“It is also evidence that the defendant’s actions do not reflect someone with a diminished capacity, given that he agreed to attempt to influence U.S. public policy and receive millions of dollars pursuant to an oral agreement,” the filing adds.
The document states that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to “introduce at trial evidence of the defendant’s business dealings with CEFC China Energy Co. Ltd (‘CEFC’), a Chinese energy conglomerate, and his compensation for his position on the board of a Ukrainian energy industrial conglomerate.”
“This evidence will not include evidence that the defendant performed lobbying activity in exchange for this compensation,” it explains. “Rather, the evidence will show the defendant performed almost no work in exchange for the millions of dollars he received from these entities.”
The government will provide evidence at trial that Biden and “Business Associate 1 received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the Romanian investigation of G.P in Romania.”
According to Weiss, Biden was concerned that “lobbying work might cause political ramifications for the defendant’s father.”
As a result of the concerns, Biden and his business partner sought to arrange a deal that “concealed the true nature of the work he was performing.”
Although the government “does not intend to reference allegations that the defendant violated FARA or improperly coordinated with the Obama Administration,” the filing adds, the government will “introduce evidence that Business Associate 1 structured a business relationship in an effort to avoid having to register as a foreign agent, and that the defendant and his business partners did reach out to government officials, specifically the United States Department of State.”
Biden has been accused of failing to file taxes and filing false tax returns, facing six misdemeanor and three felony counts. His trial will be in September.
