In a recent development, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has denied that Joe Biden was present when his son sent a threatening WhatsApp message to a Chinese business associate. This denial comes in response to a letter that Lowell sent to Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he refutes the claim that the father-son duo were together during the incident.
The controversy arose when IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley revealed that Hunter Biden demanded payment from his Chinese business associate through WhatsApp messenger. The payment was allegedly requested from Henry Zhao, a Chinese Communist Party official and director of Harvest Fund Management. It is worth noting that Harvest Fund Management had previously invested in Hunter Biden’s firm, BHR Partners.
The WhatsApp message sent by Hunter Biden to Henry Zhao in July 2017 was shared by the IRS whistleblower. In the message, Biden expressed frustration over an unfulfilled commitment and threatened Zhao. He stated that he wanted the issue resolved immediately and warned that anyone other than Zhao, Zhang (presumably another Chinese contact), or the chairman (possibly referring to Harvest Fund Management’s chairman) who contacted him would face severe consequences. Hunter Biden emphasized that his father was present with him during this exchange.
Abbe Lowell, on behalf of Hunter Biden, has also accused Republicans of fabricating the WhatsApp message. In a ten-page letter to House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, Lowell claimed that the images circulated online were “complete fakes.” The intent behind the graphic was to illustrate the threatening text, but Lowell asserts that it does not accurately represent the original message.
Chairman Jason Smith shared the graphic on Twitter, with the caption “JOE WAS IN THE ROOM.” This tweet further fueled the controversy surrounding the Biden family. However, lawyers representing IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley have responded to Abbe Lowell’s accusations, stating that Hunter Biden’s lawyers have a history of resorting to intimidation tactics.
The lawyers argue that Hunter Biden’s legal team previously threatened federal prosecutors with “career suicide” if they charged Hunter Biden. They view Lowell’s attempt to intimidate Shapley and the oversight authorities as part of an ongoing pattern. The IRS whistleblower’s lawyers stress that Shapley followed protocol and blew the whistle to Congress, highlighting potential unequal application of tax laws. They also mention the cooperation they are extending to Chairman Ron Wyden in arranging follow-up testimony to supplement the Senate’s understanding of the case.
The public awaits further developments in this ongoing saga. These recent exchanges between lawyers suggest that the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s business dealings continues to be a contentious issue.
Source link
