During a tense encounter on Thursday, President Joe Biden faced probing questions about an alleged bribery scandal that supposedly took place during his tenure as vice president in the Obama administration. The claims assert that both Biden and his son, Hunter, were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Steven Nelson of the New York Post, referring to Biden as the “Big Guy,” asked him about the repeated usage of this label.
President Biden, visibly frustrated, responded sharply to the question, dismissing it as unfounded. He retorted, “Why do you persist in asking such baseless questions?”
The allegations stem from an FD-1023 form developed by the FBI after an interview with a highly credible confidential human source in June 2020. According to Fox News, this source consistently received positive evaluations from the FBI and provided information that indicated a Burisma official had paid up to $5 million in bribes to both Joe and Hunter Biden.
An anonymous businessman, who frequently met with a Burisma representative during Biden’s vice presidency, disclosed that the Biden family’s involvement was deemed crucial for the company’s plans to secure U.S. oil rights and establish relationships with American oil companies. When asked why he required counsel, the businessman allegedly referred to Hunter Biden as “dumb.”
The CEO of Burisma reportedly informed the FBI that the company felt compelled to make payments to the Bidens due to an ongoing investigation by Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin. The company believed that having a connection to the Bidens would assist them in navigating challenges while entering the U.S. market. The executive allegedly mentioned, “We paid $5 million for one Biden, $5 million for the other Biden.”
According to the confidential source, the payments were funneled through multiple bank accounts, making it difficult for prosecutors to trace the money for an extended period.
Furthermore, it is claimed that in 2016, Biden exerted pressure on the Ukrainian government by threatening to withhold $1 billion in U.S. credit guarantees unless Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko replaced Prosecutor Shokin. Allegedly, Biden explicitly linked the release of funds to the prosecutor’s dismissal. Subsequently, Shokin was removed from office, leading Biden to remark, “Well, son of a b****, he was let go. And they installed a rock-solid individual at the moment.”
While these allegations continue to circulate, President Biden vehemently denies any involvement in a bribery scheme. He maintains his focus on fulfilling his role as the President of the United States, addressing pressing issues facing the nation. As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact the administration and its ability to govern amidst the controversy.