FBI Secretly Recorded James Biden in President's Bribery Investigation
In a recent development, it has come to light that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted covert recordings of conversations involving James Biden, the brother of President Joe Biden, as part of an investigation into a bribery case.
The probe centered around Mississippi trial attorney Richard Scruggs, who had paid James Biden's consulting firm, Lion Hall Group, $100,000 in 1998. The Washington Post initially reported on the FBI's actions.
FBI Secretly Recorded Joe Biden’s Brother As Part Of Bribery Probe: REPORThttps://t.co/aJdL2mKkMj
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 18, 2023
During the investigation, the FBI recorded James Biden in connection with Scruggs' attempt to secure support from then-Delaware Democratic Senator Joe Biden for tobacco-related legislation before Congress. Scruggs admitted to hiring James Biden because of his familial connection, expressing that he wouldn't have done so otherwise. Despite Senator Biden's backing, the legislation ultimately failed.
James Biden's attorney, Paul Fishman, asserted that his client's consulting work has never involved leveraging his brother's influence. The White House, however, has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The $100,000 payment from Scruggs to James Biden occurred during efforts to hold tobacco companies accountable for approximately $368 billion in a lawsuit alleging the withholding of information about the addictiveness of their products. Senator Biden's support was crucial to this initiative, though the legislation did not succeed, with Biden attributing its failure to a lobbying campaign by the tobacco industry.
Fishman clarified that James Biden and his wife, Sara Biden, were discussing the creation of a consulting firm with Scruggs and his associates. FBI recordings include conversations about the firm's establishment, with plans involving the involvement of Sara Biden and Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden.
Additional tapes reveal discussions between James Biden and others regarding business deals, such as potential collaboration with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians on a casino application. Fishman stated that this was only a discussion of a potential opportunity, which was never pursued.
James and Sara Biden's Lion Hall Group has become a focal point for House Republicans as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. In September, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed their personal and corporate bank records, seeking more information about the Biden family's business dealings.
Recent revelations include a $200,000 check from James Biden to his brother in March 2018, received on the same day he got money from Americore, a distressed healthcare firm. The Oversight Committee also released bank records in November, detailing a $40,000 check from Sara Biden to Joe Biden, originating from Chinese funds linked to Hunter Biden's joint venture.
Hunter Biden and his associates created Hudson West III in August 2017, wiring funds into the business. Later, Hunter Biden transferred money to the Lion Hall Group, from which James and Sara Biden sent funds to Joe Biden, described as loan repayments. The White House maintains these checks were repayment for loans.
While James Biden's attorney is in communication with the committee, Hunter Biden did not comply with the subpoena, opting for a press conference instead. House Republicans formalized the impeachment inquiry on December 13.
