Hunter Biden acknowledged in a Delaware federal court on Wednesday that he obtained over $600,000 from a Chinese company with ties to the Communist Party of China (CCP), challenging President Biden’s earlier assertions that no one from his family had financially benefited from China.
In his initial court appearance, Hunter pleaded not guilty after his plea agreement, deemed by Republicans as too lenient, was dismissed by Judge Maryellen Noreika.
According to the proposed plea bargain, prosecutors stated that Hunter earned $664,000 from a “Chinese infrastructure investment company,” as per the official court record. Hunter verified this income, saying it came from a company he established in 2017 in partnership with the head of the CCP-supported CEFC.
Hunter told the judge, “I established Hudson West in 2017, and my associate was linked to a Chinese energy company, CEFC.” Upon being questioned about his partner, Hunter mentioned the name Yi Jianming, the chairman of CEFC.
When asked if the $664,000 he received came from one of the mentioned companies, Hunter affirmed, “I believe that would be CEFC, your Honor.” This interaction was spotlighted by the House Oversight Committee on Twitter the next day.
Previously, in 2020, Fox News Digital reported an email exchange where Hunter asked Zhao Runlong of CEFC to translate a letter intended for Chairman Ye, expressing his desire to meet soon. In the June 17, 2017, letter, Hunter extended greetings from the Biden family and his partners and expressed hopes of seeing Chairman Ye soon, either in the US or Shanghai.
Hunter’s admission of obtaining a significant amount from a Chinese company contradicts President Biden’s former denials. In the October 2020 debate, Biden refuted then-President Donald Trump’s accusations, stating, “My son has not made money in terms of this thing about, what are you talking about, China.”
Biden further denied this year after the House Oversight Committee revealed subpoenaed financial records showing the Biden family had received over $1 million related to Hunter’s associate Rob Walker and their Chinese business endeavors in 2017. “That’s not true,” the president commented on March 17.
Hunter’s plea agreement was not accepted on Wednesday, leading to his “not guilty” plea as investigations continue. Initially, Hunter was set to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts instead of facing jail time for a felony gun charge. House Republicans informed Fox News Digital that potential jail time might now be a consideration.
