‘Unassailable and undeniable’: Hunter Biden could be jailed over alleged foreign lobbying laws violation

Hunter Biden’s shady foreign business deals may finally land the first son in jail, according to experts who say he violated foreign lobbying laws when he failed to register as a foreign agent.

While Biden did register as a lobbyist for domestic interests, he did not register under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the New York Post reports, and given that his discarded laptop has revealed his many questionable dealings in countries such as Ukraine as China, not registering as a foreign lobbyist may have been a crime.

“The recent disclosures of additional foreign contacts has only strengthened what was already a strong case,” George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley told The Post. “Indeed, in the last few weeks, the compelling basis for a FARA charge has become unassailable and undeniable.”

Enacted in 1938, FARA requires anyone working as “an agent, representative, employee, or servant” to a “foreign principal” must register with the U.S. government. The penalty for failing to do so is up to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

As American Wire reported, Biden’s endeavors abroad have been the subject of an ongoing investigation led by Trump appointee, U.S. Attorney David Weiss, into his taxes and possible foreign lobbying.

While on the board of Burisma, a now infamous energy giant in Ukraine, Hunter reportedly brought together then Vice President Joe Biden and a top Burisma executive. Not long after, the elder Biden boldly threatened to withhold funds from Ukraine if it didn’t fire an official who was investigating the company.

In another red flag moment, a 47-minute audio clip was discovered on the so-called “laptop from hell” in which “Biden discussed his relationship with the vice-chairman of Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC, whom Biden dubbed as ‘the f***ing spy chief of China,'” according to the Washington Examiner.

In a letter on the laptop discovered by the Examiner, it was revealed that that “spy chief” awarded Biden with a $1 million retainer agreement for “counsel to matters related to U.S. law and advice pertaining to the hiring and legal analysis of any U.S. law firm or lawyer.”

And those are just two examples of deals that have led many to believe Hunter Biden profited from the access he could grant to his father.

In another potential violation, Crown Prince Alexander Karadordevic of Yugoslavia and his wife, in need of cash for their Belgrade palace, asked the younger Biden to put in a good word with his dad.

“If Hunter relayed the request for US government assistance, then that would be a FARA registrable event,” FARA expert Craig Engle told The Post.

Hunter’s dealings have raised fears that he may have created a “blackmail opportunity” for China against the United States.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) have pursued Biden’s dealing in the ongoing Department of Justice investigation, American Wire reported.

“What I and Senator Johnson have done at this point is bring out the facts and the bank records that prove that there was a close relationship between Hunter Biden, maybe James Biden, and business people in China that have close contacts with the Communist Party and with the military there,” Grassley said. “And, so, what’s concerning to us, we release all these documents. What’s concerning to us is — is there any sort of blackmail opportunity for China against the United States because of those close working relationships?”

“I say it’s concerning,” Grassley added.

Melissa Fine

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