Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has long been under scrutiny for his controversial role as a board member of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas company. The position has become the subject of curiosity especially because it was held during his father’s tenure as vice president.
Recently, Hunter Biden spoke with the New Yorker Magazine about the Burisma role and his contention is that he had nothing to gain from it. He said, “I didn’t commit any crime. I didn’t do anything wrong… I did not, nor did my father, expect anything in return for my service on the board.”
Despite his claim, Hunter Biden was paid at least $3.1 million from the Ukrainian firm for his time on the board, according to the New Yorker article. Hunter’s lawyer also revealed to the magazine that the former VP’s son received about $50,000 a month in cash payments from Burisma.
The payments to Hunter Biden are a significant part of the ongoing investigation into the Bidens and their involvement in Burisma. Critics contend that Hunter Biden was hired because of the influence of his father, Joe Biden, in the Obama Administration.
While there is no evidence that Joe Biden used his position as Vice President to push the Ukrainian leadership to appoint Hunter to the Burisma board, his son has come under fire from some for his role.
Hunter Biden’s role on the Burisma board has raised complicated questions regarding the ethics of public official’s family members receiving money from foreign companies, even if it was not done in a way to directly enrich the official themselves.
At the same time, Hunter Biden maintains that he has done nothing wrong. It seems that this controversy will remain in the spotlight for some time while questions continue to swirl around Joe and Hunter Biden’s relationship to Burisma. It may only be resolved when the full details of the investigation come to light.