Eric Schwerin made the comments in a private interview with the committee.
Eric Schwerin, Hunter Biden's longtime business partner, said in a closed-door interview with members of the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday that he was not aware of any “financial transactions or transactions” that then-Vice President Joe Biden received related to his business. I am not aware of any remuneration.” The families called the charges “ridiculous,” according to Schwerin's opening statement obtained by ABC News.
Mr. Schwerin was asked to appear before the Oversight Committee as part of the Republican-led impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, and Mr. Schwerin worked as a financial advisor before going into business with his son Hunter Biden.
According to Schwerin's statement, Schwerin told the committee that he had “received financial transactions or compensation that Vice President Biden received in connection with business conducted by his family members or their associates, or Vice President Biden's involvement in business. “I'm not aware of it. Nothing.” .
“I cannot recall asking Vice President Biden to take any official action on behalf of Mr. Hunter's clients or foreign or domestic business dealings,” Schwerin said. “In fact, I am not aware of Vice President Biden having any role in Hunter's business operations, either as a public official or a private citizen. None.”
Mr. Schwerin “managed almost every aspect.” [Hunter Biden’s] Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhl wrote in her 2022 memoir, “If We Break,” that she never asked President Biden to “take any public action in the interests of Mr. Hunter's clients.” “I have never done that,” he reportedly told the committee members. Or any other client. ”
“Furthermore, I have no recollection of Hunter or myself making any promises or suggestions to any of our clients or business associates that our father would take any official action on their behalf. None.”
Schwerin previously told Oversight Committee staff that from 2009 to 2017, he performed many administrative and bookkeeping tasks related to then-Vice President Joe Biden's household finances and worked with him. He said he helped accountants prepare taxes. and his annual financial disclosure statement.
“When discussing personal finances with the vice president, the vice president always wants to take the most transparent and ethical approach that is consistent with both the spirit and letter of the law,” Schwerin told the Oversight Committee on Tuesday. It was clearly stated.”
“Given my knowledge of his financial situation and his clear instructions to his financial advisors, the allegation that he would commit fraud for his own or his family's benefit is to me absurd,” Schwerin said. “
Schwerin is Hunter Biden's latest colleague to address the committee, following the recent appearances of Rob Walker and Kevin Morris.
Republicans cited email exchanges between Schwerin and Kate Bedingfield, who was on the vice president's communications staff at the time. He accused him of using his office to “coordinate with Biden's business partners.” Assist in answering questions from the media regarding Hunter Biden's appointment to the Burisma board.
In response to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer's claims, White House Press Secretary Ian Sams tweeted in September: “More lies by @JamesComer. As Comer says, then-Biden The Vice President 'colluded' with this business by saying…'' Didn't support it, wasn't involved in it? Complete nonsense. ”
Hunter Biden was subpoenaed late last year to appear in a private deposition before the Oversight Committee. Hunter Biden initially resisted, but eventually agreed earlier this month after being threatened with a contempt vote. He is currently scheduled to meet with lawmakers in late February.
The younger Biden faces unrelated gun and tax charges, but has maintained his innocence.
The Biden impeachment inquiry was initiated unilaterally by ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and formally decided by the House of Representatives several months later on a party-line vote, but Republicans believe that Joe Biden benefited from participating in the impeachment of the president. No concrete evidence has yet emerged to support the claim. His son and family's overseas business dealings.
President Biden has denied any wrongdoing.
