An FBI source is claiming that a Ukrainian businessman has kept 15 audio recordings of first son Hunter Biden and two of President Joe Biden, as an “insurance” policy.
The claim comes from the same source who alleged that President Biden had a role in the recently reported Burisma bribery scheme.
The newest claims – of secret audio recordings – are very specific, and if true, potentially damning. Are the claims true? Who knows. But Republicans are rolling with them.
“Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made the staggering claim in a Senate floor speech after FBI Director Christopher Wray last week allowed House Oversight Committee members to see a redacted informant file about the claim that Hunter and then-Vice President Joe Biden received $5 million apiece to serve the interests of Burisma Holdings owner Mykola Zlochevsky,” The New York Post reported.
Grassley speaks out
I’ll let Grassley speak for himself. Here’s what the 89-year-old Senator had to say during his speech on the Senate floor.
“Congress still lacks a full and complete picture with respect to what that document really says. That’s why it’s important that the document be made public without unnecessary redactions for the American people to see,” Grassley said. “Let me assist for purposes of transparency. The 1023 [form] produced to that House committee redacted reference that the foreign national who allegedly bribed Joe and Hunter Biden allegedly has audio recordings of his conversations with them. Seventeen total recordings.
“According to the 1023, the foreign national possesses 15 audio recordings of phone calls between him and Hunter Biden. According to the 1023, the foreign national possesses two audio recordings of phone calls between him and then-Vice President Joe Biden. These recordings were allegedly kept as a sort of insurance policy for the foreign national in case he got into a tight spot. The 1023 also indicates that then-Vice President Joe Biden may have been involved in Burisma employing Hunter Biden.
“So, as I’ve repeatedly asked since going public with the existence of the 1023, what, if anything, has the Justice Department and FBI done to investigate? The Justice Department and FBI must show their work. They no longer deserve the benefit of the doubt.”
More of the same
A lot of talk, a lot of hearsay. Recordings exist. The recordings are damning. Okay.
Republicans have been banging the same drum for a while now, harping against the alleged corruption of Hunter Biden and Joe Biden. Maybe Republicans are onto something legitimate. Maybe Biden conducted himself in a way that was unbecoming of an elected official, or in a way that compromised the national interest. But so far it’s all just been a big tease. Republicans have failed to demonstrate precisely what Biden or his son may have done.
To date, it’s just been a lot of speculation and vague claims. The audio recording bit is more specific, but we still don’t have any recordings. If the recordings exist, they may well just be full of platitudes and pleasantries. I don’t know. I’m not losing sleep over it, and if I’m the Republicans, I’m not hanging my hat on this angle either.
One thing Grassley gets right, however, is forcing the Justice Department and the FBI to show their work – especially with respect to the new charges against Trump for his handling of classified documents.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
From 19FortyFive
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