In his bombshell testimony, Devon Archer told Congress he considered former business partner Hunter Biden to be a “lobbyist” who leveraged a “very powerful name” to score millions in deals with foreign oligarchs and businesses, including a Ukrainian energy firm that was seeking protection from corruption probes and other legal woes, according to the official transcript released Thursday.
Archer said during the transcribed interview Monday with the House Oversight Committee that Joe Biden as vice president helped his son reinforce a family “brand” that brought value to foreign clients seeking influence in Washington. That value at times included the current president attending dinners or coming on the phone to make small talk with suitors from China, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
In the case of the Ukrainian-based Burisma Holdings – one of Hunter Biden’s most controversial clients – the Biden brand brought a sense of protection from legal threats and investigations that the energy company was facing, Archer stated.
“How would that work?” committee member Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, asked Archer at one point in the interrogation.
“Because people would be intimidated to mess with them,” Archer answered.
“In what way?,” Goldman inquired.
“Legally,” Archer explained.
You can read the full transcript:
Archer said Hunter Biden started with Burisma in 2014 by doing legal work but quickly joined the board and began to offer “lobbying, you know, soft lobbying help” with contacts in Washington where his father presided as Barack Obama’s vice president.
“So why do you think they were asking Hunter Biden for D.C. help? I mean, why? I mean, what did you take away from that?” he was asked at one point.
Archer answered: “Well, I mean, he was a lobbyist and an expert and obviously he carried, you know, a very powerful name. So I think it was – that’s what they were asking for.”
By John Solomon
