Hunter Biden’s art dealer, Georges Bergès, of New York City, testified before Congress that President Joe Biden’s son knew his “sugar brother” lawyer was the biggest buyer of his artwork. The White House ethics plan, which was meant to maintain the privacy of Hunter Biden’s art patrons’ identities, is in conflict with this testimony.
Bergès said he had never worked with the White House on an ethics agreement during a deposition behind closed doors with the House Oversight Committee. He revealed that over 70% of his art customers were known to Hunter Biden. This information casts doubt on a Washington Post article from 2021 that described an ethics framework developed by Biden administration officials to maintain the privacy of Hunter Biden’s artwork sales, even from the artist. This was done to prevent ethical conflicts.
Kevin Morris, a Hollywood lawyer known as Hunter’s “sugar brother,” was one of the buyers Hunter Biden knew about. Morris paid just 40% commission on the $875,000 worth of artwork he purchased in January 2023. Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, who purchased a piece of artwork by Hunter Biden in February 2021 for $42,000, was another noteworthy buyer. Shortly after, President Biden appointed her to a prominent commission. In December 2022, she made an additional purchase of $52,000.
Bergès’ testimony is a part of a larger probe of President Biden by the House Republicans, who are accusing the president of abusing his position to benefit himself and his family. They have sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest between the White House and affluent collectors stemming from Hunter Biden’s recent art career.
James Comer, the chair of the Oversight Committee, chastised the White House, calling the ethics agreement a “sham” and charging it with deceiving the American people. Comer emphasized that the majority of Hunter Biden’s art purchasers were Democratic supporters, one of whom was appointed to a commission subsequent to acquiring his artwork.
An ethics official in the Obama administration had previously criticized the White House’s handling of this case, calling it a possible conduit for bribery. The most recent events demand that the White House provide more details regarding the ethical and transparent issues related to Hunter Biden’s art sales.