Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, was appointed to the board of Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, in 2014. The appointment generated controversy in the U.S., with some alleging that Biden was enriched by his connections to the company and was involved in a conflict of interest between his father’s public office and his private career.
In a recently released documentary, however, Biden insists that he did not personally benefit from the position, maintaining that his appointment was based on merit and knowledge of the energy industry. He claims that he was paid to provide “business advice, crisis management [and] communication strategies.”
While Biden’s involvement with Burisma during the Obama administration has been highly scrutinized, the company had actually hired him to assist with plans to reform its corporate governance, and a potential $10 billion privatisation of natural gas assets. Biden also claims that it was his work with Burisma that allowed his father to venerate the success of multiple anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine.
It is unclear exactly how much money Hunter Biden made while on the Burisma Board, but documents released in an investigative report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs earlier this year suggest that he earned roughly $3 million from the company between 2014 and 2019.
Still, Hunter Biden maintains that he did not stand to personally benefit from his role. He has noted that the allegations against him are politically motivated and that those who claim he benefited financially are only trying to discredit his father ahead of the 2020 Presidential election.
In the face of these accusations, Biden has maintained that at the time of his appointment to the Burisma board, he was already knowledgeable and experienced in the energy industry, and saw his work with the company as an opportunity to help with its corporate reform and privatisation plans.
Ultimately, Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma remains highly controversial. It is unclear how much he actually earned while working with the company and whether or not he stood to personally benefit from the position. Nevertheless, Biden continues to deny that he was involved in any wrongdoing or that his service on the Burisma board was a conflict of interest between his private career and his father’s public office.
Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, was appointed to the board of Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, in 2014. The appointment generated controversy in the U.S., with some alleging that Biden was enriched by his connections to the company and was involved in a conflict of interest between his father’s public office and his private career.
In a recently released documentary, however, Biden insists that he did not personally benefit from the position, maintaining that his appointment was based on merit and knowledge of the energy industry. He claims that he was paid to provide “business advice, crisis management [and] communication strategies.”
While Biden’s involvement with Burisma during the Obama administration has been highly scrutinized, the company had actually hired him to assist with plans to reform its corporate governance, and a potential $10 billion privatisation of natural gas assets. Biden also claims that it was his work with Burisma that allowed his father to venerate the success of multiple anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine.
It is unclear exactly how much money Hunter Biden made while on the Burisma Board, but documents released in an investigative report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs earlier this year suggest that he earned roughly $3 million from the company between 2014 and 2019.
Still, Hunter Biden maintains that he did not stand to personally benefit from his role. He has noted that the allegations against him are politically motivated and that those who claim he benefited financially are only trying to discredit his father ahead of the 2020 Presidential election.
In the face of these accusations, Biden has maintained that at the time of his appointment to the Burisma board, he was already knowledgeable and experienced in the energy industry, and saw his work with the company as an opportunity to help with its corporate reform and privatisation plans.
Ultimately, Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma remains highly controversial. It is unclear how much he actually earned while working with the company and whether or not he stood to personally benefit from the position. Nevertheless, Biden continues to deny that he was involved in any wrongdoing or that his service on the Burisma board was a conflict of interest between his private career and his father’s public office.
