Scott Powers
Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden is rejecting assertions by President Donald Trump and his Republican allies that he did anything wrong in engaging in foreign work in Ukraine and China.
Hunter Biden also says he failed to take into account potential implications for his father’s political career. The former vice president is a front-runner in the 2020 Democratic presidential contest.
In an ABC News interview that aired Tuesday, Hunter Biden concedes he may have made a mistake “in the grand scheme of things” for failing to see the political repercussions for his father. But he adds, “Did I make a mistake based on some ethical lapse? Absolutely not.”
Hunter Biden also acknowledged that he likely would not have been named to the board of a foreign company if his last name weren’t Biden.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn’t Biden,” he said.
Trump and Republicans have targeted Hunter Biden for his work in Ukraine and China, making baseless claims of corruption.
In a July 25 phone call, Trump pressured Ukraine’s leader to investigate the Bidens. Hunter Biden was on the board of an energy company in Ukraine. That phone call is the focus of a whistleblower complaint that triggered the formal U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry into Trump.
Hunter Biden said he never discussed his business dealings with his father.
His interview aired hours before the former vice president and other Democratic presidential candidates were set to appear at their fourth debate Tuesday night in Ohio.
Hunter Biden, who recently said he would step down from the board of directors of a Chinese-backed private equity firm, blamed his father’s political opponents for creating a firestorm over his work.
“I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father. That’s where I made the mistake,” he said. “So I take full responsibility for that. Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever.”
He added: “What I regret is not taking into account that there would be a Rudy Giuliani” — Trump’s personal lawyer — “and a president of the United States that would be listening to this ridiculous conspiracy idea.”
Trump has denied doing anything wrong and has defended his phone call with Ukraine’s president, calling it “perfect” and “beautiful.”
4 comments
Karen
October 15, 2019 at 8:53 am
Of course he did nothing wrong because selling influence is the norm in DC!
gary
October 15, 2019 at 4:19 pm
But the “Emoluments Clause” is a thing, and what the Bidens did was/is illegal!
That said, the Biden’s are amateurs compared to the Clintons at breaking this law!
Ray Blacklidge
October 15, 2019 at 9:58 am
NewFlash Hunter Biden denies corruption, wow here we all thought he would just turn himself in and go willingly to jail.
However although Hunter admits he made a mistake, he said he did nothing wrong so his mistake must have been getting caught.
He also admitted that he wouldn’t have had any business opportunities if his last name wasn’t Biden however he said since he was a private citizen his business was no ones business. Well Hunter since you and your dad committed illegal corrupt actions you made your business our business so get prepared to have your financials carefully examined.
Just because Hunter says he made a mistake doesn’t make his criminal activity OK.
Matthew f Lusk
October 15, 2019 at 10:20 am
Hunter Biden took the Money! That’s what he did wrong! I’m still waiting for Al Lawson here in CD5 to recant his endorsement of Joe Biden for President. What is he waiting on?
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