President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, is the subject of a Wednesday complaint filed with the D.C. Bar alleging professional misconduct.
In its complaint, America First Legal (AFL) alleges the president’s son “engaged in professional misconduct, repeatedly and on a significant scale” against D.C. Bar rules, “raising substantial questions as to his honesty, trustworthiness, and fitness as a lawyer.” The conservative legal non-profit demanded an investigation over violations of Rule 8.4 under the D.C. Bar’s professional handbook for attorneys in the District.
That rule prohibits lawyers from engaging in crimes, “dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation,” “seriously interfer[ing] with the administration of justice,” “Stat[ing] or imply[ing] an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official,” and more.
“There is substantial evidence suggesting that Mr. Biden has engaged in professional misconduct contrary to Rule 8.4.,” said Reed Rubinstein, AFL’s senior counselor and director for oversight and investigations. “Public faith in the integrity of the Bar demands that the Rules of Professional Conduct be applied consistently fairly — there must be one standard for all bar members, regardless of a lawyer’s particular political affiliation or family connections.”
The complaint by America First Legal cites Hunter Biden’s recent felony firearm charges in Delaware and his failure to register as a foreign agent while working to influence U.S. officials for a Ukrainian energy company. While Hunter Biden’s father was serving as the Obama administration’s point man on Ukraine, the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma showered the vice president’s son with hugely excessive compensation.
Records from lawmakers on Capitol Hill uncovered show Burisma was central to the Biden family’s documented influence-peddling schemes, with the Biden family reportedly taking bribes from the firm’s Ukrainian executives in exchange for political favors. An unclassified FD-1023 form released last summer suggests the Biden family accepted a $10 million bribe from Burisma founder Mykola Zlochevsky, leading lawmakers to demand more records from the FBI.
[READ: Evidence Of Biden Burisma Corruption Is Overwhelming]
In December, Hunter Biden faced nine additional charges from Special Counsel David Weiss. The charges, filed in California, include three felonies and six misdemeanors, all related to tax crimes. Not one included a charge related to Hunter Biden’s failure to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). According to Wednesday’s complaint by America First Legal, “Burisma is a ‘foreign principal’ under FARA,” and “as an officer, Hunter Biden acted ‘at the order, request, or under the direction or control, of a foreign principal.'”
The conservative legal group outlined documents showing Hunter Biden advised his father’s office on how to respond to questions from the press over the family connection to Burisma. “Hunter Biden, while employed at Burisma, represented Burisma in a public relations matter relating to the public interests and relations of Burisma by advising the Office of the Vice President about responding to press inquiries concerning his appointment at Burisma,” the complaint reads.
Earlier this month, Hunter Biden agreed to testify in a closed-door interview with House lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Hunter Biden is expected to appear before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees on Feb. 28. The Oversight Committee announced Wednesday that Joe Biden’s brother, James, will testify in their corruption probe of the president on Feb. 21.
