Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who shelled out about $5 million for Hunter Biden's expenses, told Congress that he loaned money because of their friendship, not because he thought he'd get anything from President Joe Biden or the White House.
Morris, who spoke with members of the House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees last week, said he has helped Hunter Biden pay off expenses for taxes, lawyers, housing, and public relations over the years, reported The Hill, quoting a transcript released Tuesday from the interview.
It wasn't until later that their lawyers drew up an agreement for Hunter Biden to repay the loans, starting in 2025, Morris said.
The interview was part of Republican investigations into the Biden family and as an impeachment inquiry into the president continues.
Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer R-Ky., has questioned whether the money was being loaned or only paid out to the president's son, and said Morris had access to the White House.
Morris told the committees that he had only spoken in passing with the president in the three times he visited the White House after Joe Biden was elected.
Morris testified that in 2021, Hunter Biden gave him a tour of the White House in 2021, and that the president had waved and "made a crack about my hair."
Morris was also a guest in 2022 when Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi was married, and attended the Independence Day picnic in 2023.
Morris said he expected his loans to Hunter Biden to be repaid and that he "never discussed business with President Biden and never sought or received any benefit from him."
He said he has been both a friend and attorney for the president's son, and that he often becomes close with his clients.
Morris became wealthy in part through his negotiations for deals for the creators of the animated series "South Park." He and Hunter Biden met in November 2019 at a fundraising event for the Biden 2020 campaign, and Morris visited the president's son at his home through the suggestion of a mutual contact.
Morris said he started loaning money to his new client and paying expenses through loans shortly thereafter, saying it was his idea and not Hunter Biden's.
"I've been around for awhile, so there's a lot of charity. I help a lot of friends. I tend to try to help friends more than donate to charities," Morris said, adding that the $5 million is "less than 5%" of his total assets.
"Hunter never asked me for money," Morris said, adding that he felt his new friend was being attacked.