Declassified Records Reveal Biden Suppressed Ukrainian Concerns About Family Business Dealings

Declassified records indicate that then-Vice President Joe Biden suppressed concerns from Ukrainian officials regarding his family's business dealings in Ukraine. The documents, released by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, suggest that U.S. intelligence officials did not disseminate an intelligence report that highlighted these concerns during Biden's visit to Kyiv in December 2015.

Explainer New Documents Suggest Biden Intervened in Burisma Investigation

Ukrainian officials reportedly expressed "bewilderment" and "disappointment" over Biden's visit on December 7-8, 2015, believing he focused on delivering a generic public speech rather than engaging in substantive discussions with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko or other government officials. The report noted that Poroshenko's administration was aware of U.S. media scrutiny regarding Biden's family's alleged ties to corruption in Ukraine.

The concerns raised by Ukrainian officials centered on Hunter Biden's position as a board member of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. Hunter Biden reportedly earned over $80,000 per month despite lacking expertise in the energy sector. Critics have pointed to this arrangement as a potential conflict of interest, particularly in light of Joe Biden's role in U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine.

In a 2018 speech, Biden recounted leveraging U.S. aid to Ukraine to pressure the government into firing a prosecutor who was investigating Burisma. "I looked at them and said: ‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money,’" Biden stated. "Well, son of a b-tch. He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time."

The intelligence report documenting Ukrainian officials' concerns about Biden's visit was never shared outside the CIA, according to a senior CIA official. The official stated that the report met the threshold for dissemination but was withheld based on the preferences of the Office of the Vice President.

On February 10, 2016, an unnamed official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence communicated with CIA officials regarding the report. The official noted that Biden and his then-National Security Advisor Colin Kahl preferred that the report not be disseminated. "I just spoke with VP/NSA and he would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated," the official wrote.

Critics of Biden's actions argue that this suppression of information reflects a double standard in how corruption is addressed by U.S. officials. They contend that the Biden family's business dealings raise serious ethical questions, particularly given the Vice President's influence over U.S. policy in Ukraine.

Supporters of Biden, however, maintain that the allegations against him and his family are politically motivated and lack substantial evidence. They argue that the former Vice President's actions were consistent with U.S. foreign policy objectives in Ukraine, particularly in combating corruption.

The release of these records adds to a growing body of evidence regarding the Biden family's overseas business dealings, which have come under scrutiny in recent years. As investigations continue, the implications of these findings may have significant political ramifications for Biden and his administration.

As the situation develops, both supporters and critics of Biden are closely monitoring the impact of these revelations on public perception and political discourse surrounding the administration's foreign policy and ethical standards.