The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) refuses to hand over requested communications between Hunter Biden and then-Vice President Joe Biden’s staff.
Just The News reports that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by America First Legal (AFL) has been rejected by NARA, which is claiming an exemption that allegedly includes communications between the president and his advisors, as well as communications between advisors.
On Wednesday, AFL released the emails that it had received from NARA, which were heavily-redacted. Despite handing over some emails, NARA confirmed the existence of additional communications that it refused to release.
One of the points of interest in AFL’s request is an email from Hunter Biden’s business partner at the time, Eric Schwerin, sent to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), concerning an alleged “China Lunch” that took place ahead of an official visit from Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2011. NARA claimed that releasing this particular email “would disclose confidential advice between the President and his advisors, or between such advisors.”
Emails found on the controversial laptop that once belonged to Hunter Biden had already confirmed a “China Lunch,” as this was the subject line of multiple emails that were exchanged between the younger Biden, Schwerin, and OVP staffer Michele Smith. The laptop communications suggested that the conversation between Hunter and Schwerin focused on who should be invited to a state event with then-Vice President Biden, with Schwerin subsequently giving Hunter’s suggestions to Smith.
NARA’s refusal comes as congressional Republicans have used their new majority in the House of Representatives to investigate the Biden family over allegations of corruption, influence-peddling, and abuse of power both during his vice presidency and since he took office as president in 2021. The Bidens, and especially Hunter, have been accused of securing numerous lucrative business deals in foreign countries by using their influence and promise of political connections in exchange for large payments. Some of the countries involved include Russia, China, and Ukraine.