While campaigning this week, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden sidestepped questions about his son’s business affairs in nations where the then-vice president was engaged in diplomatic work, ABC News is reporting.
During two campaign stops on Monday, Biden avoided questions about Hunter’s business dealings, according to ABC News.
The Biden campaign did issue a statement to the news network that noted the former vice president has adhered to “well-established executive branch ethics standards.”
At issue are two overseas business opportunities involving Hunter Biden, according to the network news. One of those came in Ukraine another in China.
In April 2014, Joe Biden headed a delegation to Kiev to root out corruption and press Ukraine to diminish its use of Russian oil. Within weeks of the visit Ukraine’s largest energy producer, Burisma Energy, appointed Hunter Biden to be a paid director on the company’s board, ABC News said.
And in December 2013, Hunter Biden disembarked Air Force Two in China with his father, who was there for a meeting with high-ranking members of China’ ruling party.
Just weeks later, Hunter Biden was doing business there, as a participant in a firm called Bohai Harvest RST, the network news reported. The company formed a Chinese-American investment partnership that included Chinese state-owned firms like the Bank of China. Initial reports said they sought to raise $1.5 billion.
“Hunter Biden told ABC News he and his father never discussed his overseas opportunities.
“At no time have I discussed with my father the company's business, or my board service," Hunter Biden said in statement. "Any suggestion to the contrary is just plain wrong.”