According to visitor logs, a meeting occurred between the White House and Hunter Biden's legal team just days before his defiance of a congressional subpoena, and that has ignited concerns about potential coordination, the New York Post reported.
The encounter between Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, and Anthony Bernal, a key aide to first lady Jill Biden, occurred on Dec. 11, White House visitor logs revealed.
This rendezvous in the East Wing at 6 p.m. unfolded two days before Hunter Biden's refusal to comply with a House subpoena for a transcribed interview.
Bernal, often referred to as Jill Biden's "work husband," has faced scrutiny due to his proximity to the first family and his involvement in accessing classified material at the Penn Biden Center. Despite these controversies, he remains influential within the White House, shielded by his long-standing relationship with the Bidens.
The House Oversight Committee's inquiry into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents has brought further attention to Bernal's role, with the committee seeking clarity on potential coordination between Hunter Biden and the White House. Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has emphasized the importance of transparency, urging the White House to disclose meeting details to the public.
In response, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has avoided direct engagement, asserting Hunter Biden's status as a private citizen and emphasizing his independence from the administration. However, questions persist regarding President Biden's awareness of his son's legal proceedings and any potential efforts to influence them.
The extent of any coordination between Hunter Biden and the White House has remained cloaked in secrecy, according to Comer.
"We've called on the White House to provide information about whether President Biden sought to influence or obstruct our investigation by preventing, discouraging, or dissuading his son from complying with the subpoenas for a deposition as part of the House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry, but the White House has refused to provide any information," he said.
Hunter Biden eventually cooperated with House investigators two months after his initial defiance.