Despite the ethics concerns raised by Hunter Biden’s new painting “career,” the son of President Joe Biden still plans to meet with prospective buyers of his works at two upcoming shows.
This despite a plan concocted by Hunter’s art dealer and the White House to allegedly cloak his potential buyers in anonymity, so as to not raise suspicions about pay-to-play politics for access to the Biden administration.
Hunter plans to attend an event in Los Angeles and a showing in New York City to present the artwork he is selling.
A spokesperson for one of the galleries confirmed to CBS News that Hunter Biden is “looking forward to it.”
“It is like someone debuting in the world,” the spokesperson added. “Of course he will be there.”
Ethics experts had already warned that Hunter’s art could become a problem since potential buyers might see their purchases as influence with the White House.
“What these people are paying for is Hunter Biden’s last name,” said Walter Shaub, who led the Office of Government Ethics under former president Barack Obama.
Another ethical concern is the galleries’ decision to withhold all transactional records — including the identities of bidders and final buyers, and the amounts paid for the artwork.
“Because we don’t know who is paying for this art and we don’t know for sure that [Hunter Biden] knows, we have no way of monitoring whether people are buying access to the White House,” Shaub explained.
The White House has brushed aside these concerns, claiming Hunter Biden has the “right to an artistic career.”
“After careful consideration, a system has been established that allows for Hunter Biden to work in his profession within reasonable safeguards. Of course he has the right to pursue an artistic career just like any child of a president has the right to pursue a career,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this month.
