First son Hunter Biden finds himself at the center of new controversy over his “art” dealings. Recent testimony by Georges Bergès, Hunter’s former art dealer, before the House Oversight and Judiciary committees has cast a new light on the sales of Biden’s alleged artwork.
In his extensive testimony, Bergès detailed his experiences working with Biden. He highlighted his decision not to renew his contract with the first son, citing more than just financial reasons. “It was a little bit more than I could chew. So I haven’t agreed to renew that contract now,” Bergès testified. This decision came despite Biden’s art sales generating around $1.5 million over two years, with Hunter netting approximately $900,000.
Hunter Biden art dealer George Bergès spoke on the phone and met Joe Biden while repping his son. Maybe where he got the Camp David cap. Berges got stiffed by Hunter on bills for the art shows and framing. “I’m still bitter about a lot of that stuff.” https://t.co/GBNU9RYI2F
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) January 17, 2024
The complexity of the situation goes beyond mere art sales. Bergès revealed that Hunter Biden was aware of the identities of about 70% of his “anonymous” art buyers. This contradicts earlier claims from the White House, which maintained that the president’s son was “not involved in the sale or discussions about the sale of his art” and that he would not be “informed” of “who is purchasing his art.” This revelation stirs concerns about potential ethical breaches, given the secretive nature of art transactions and the high-profile status of the Biden family.
The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s art sales is not a standalone issue. It fits into a broader narrative of the Biden family’s suspicious business dealings, particularly in countries where the senior Biden held significant influence as vice president. This backdrop has led to increased scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, especially with the impeachment inquiry into President Biden’s links to Hunter’s ventures in countries like China and Ukraine.
Bergès also lamented the personal toll of representing Hunter Biden, including security issues and death threats. He stated, “Representing Hunter Biden hasn’t been the best decision for me.” The art dealer’s history is not without its own controversies, including a lawsuit for fraud and breach of contract and a prior arrest in California.
Beyond the direct implications for Hunter Biden, these developments raise broader questions about influence peddling in Washington, D.C. Bergès, in a statement to Fox News Digital, criticized the focus on his gallery while pointing out the prevalence of lobbying and influence trading in the nation’s capital. “Broadly speaking, if the issue is selling influence — then no one needs to look outside Washington, D.C.,” he wrote.
