Diplomat tells investigators he raised alarms in 2015 about Hunter Biden's Ukraine work

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

A career State Department official overseeing Ukraine policy told congressional investigators this week that he had raised concerns in early 2015 about then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy company but was turned away by a Biden staffer, according to three people familiar with the testimony.

George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state, testified Tuesday that he worried that Hunter Biden’s position at the firm Burisma Holdings would complicate efforts by U.S. diplomats to convey to Ukrainian officials the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality rules surrounding the deposition.

Kent said he had concerns that Ukrainian officials would view Hunter Biden as a conduit for currying influence with his father, said the people. But when Kent raised the issue with Biden’s office, he was told the then-vice president didn’t have the “bandwidth” to deal with the issue involving his son as his other son, Beau, was battling cancer, said the people familiar with his testimony.

The testimony by Kent offers a reminder that as Democrats probe President Trump’s alleged actions in pressuring Ukraine to dig up compromising information on Biden, the impeachment inquiry also threatens to keep alive questions about the former vice president’s handling of his son’s foreign work at a precarious moment for his 2020 presidential campaign.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/diplomat-tells-investigators-he-raised-alarms-in-2015-about-hunter-bidens-ukraine-work-but-was-rebuffed/2019/10/18/81e35be9-4f5a-4048-8520-0baabb18ab63_story.html

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Last three words in headline: "but was rebuked" (rebuked didn't fit)

[dem4decades]

1. I guess the Republicans won't miss a chance to leak from a closed hearing.

[emulatorloo]

2. So does that mean it is ok that Trump pressured Ukraine to make up dirt about Joe Biden?

No.

I’m referring to this paragraph in the article:

“The testimony by Kent offers a reminder that as Democrats probe President Trump’s alleged actions in pressuring Ukraine to dig up compromising information on Biden, the impeachment inquiry also threatens to keep alive questions about the former vice president’s handling of his son’s foreign work at a precarious moment for his 2020 presidential campaign.”

All major reputable outlets have cleared Biden of wrong-doing. Zero evidence. There aren’t any “questions” to keep “alive” as it has been proven to be bullshit.

I expect dem4decades is correct that this was leaked by a Republican, including the spin included in the paragraph above. Muddying the waters.

Thanks for posting.

[Beartracks]

3. Except that

Increasing the appearance of a potential conflict of interest, or increasing the risk you may be targeted as a conduit for currying influence with a powerful relative, are not inappropriate, are definitely not criminal, and are not evidence of corruption.

COULD someone have thought Hunter could be used to influence his father? Obviously, since that was Kent's concern at the time. Was there ever any evidence, then or now, that something inappropriate or nefarious happened? Nope.

========

[groundloop]

4. It's one thing when a son takes a job which MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A CONFLICT

It's quite another when offspring of the current White House resident take part in criminal enterprises to enrich themselves.

From all I've read it seems that possibly, maybe Hunter Biden got that job because of his last name yet didn't do anything wrong. Compared to the tRump offspring he's squeaky clean.

[riversedge]

9. Wish at times we a fox type (and hannity type horn) news outlet to get our message out. RW media

just does better than we do. They are huge and diverse and have few with people with morals!.

[rpannier]

5. It appears that Kent's concerns had to do with the perception of conflict of interest

People that express concern about 'perception', are seldom concerned about actual illegal or unethical behavior
My take from reading it, also appears that he was concerned about the Ukraine and how some there might try to profit or gain influence


Doesn't seem to be anything illegal about Biden's behavior.
I've worked in areas where the question is often addressed, "How will this appear to people on the outside looking in?"
Nothing here really

[yardwork]

6. What about the daily appearance of conflicts of interest involving Trump's children?

It's almost laughable except there's nothing to laugh about.

Trump's children run dozens of businesses making billions of dollars in deals with foreign governments all over the world. It's obvious that Trump is making foreign policy decisions based on personal gain.

[Hugin]

7. At this point, I'm skeptical of any supposed revelations appearing in the media with the words...

Biden, Hunter, Ukraine, or potential conflict of interest.

Get back to the real grifters...

[Maxheader]

8. Currying favor?

Meh...been going on like forever..Part of doing business..Board of directors at boeing..back in the 90s,
ex sec defense...ex ceo auto corps..Know nothing about aircraft but can "curry favor" with the people
that buy commerical aircraft..

[highplainsdem]

10. CNN's Manu Raju: Kent didn't suggest he was alarmed by this, & it wasn't seen as a big issue

Link to tweet

But unlike Trump’s comments today that Kent “excoriated” the Obama administration and Joe Biden over the matter, Kent actually didn’t suggest he was alarmed by it and it wasn’t seen as a big issue at the time, according to his testimony, per source