A report by The Washington Post says that the FBI had gathered what the body believes was sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, with tax-related crimes and for making a false statement when purchasing a gun. The sources told the publication that evidence gathered by FBI and IRS investigators was sent to the US Attorney's office in Delaware.

But the US attorney in Delaware, who is overseeing the investigation of the president’s son, has not yet decided whether to file criminal charges in the case, the Post reported.

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Biden's lawyers have slammed the FBI for the leak.&nbsp;A lawyer for&nbsp;Hunter&nbsp;Biden, Chris Clark, told the Post that federal agents are not allowed to leak information to the media.

"It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one," Clark said in a statement.

"As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense," Clark added.

Soon after Joe Biden won the presidency, Hunter Biden had confirmed he was under investigation for tax-related issues in 2020. Hunter Biden’s business dealings and consultancies in Ukraine and China have been the subject of scrutiny for a long time, besides inviting questions &nbsp;about the ethics of his connections to foreign businesses given his father’s political influence.

Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives in 2019 for trying to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into digging up what he alleged was compromising information on&nbsp;Hunter&nbsp;Biden.

The investigations aim to uncover whether Hunter Biden failed&nbsp;to declare income related to different business dealings, including overseas, the Washington Post reported.

The US attorney's office in Delaware has been investigating Hunter Biden since at least 2019.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A report by The Washington Post says that the FBI had gathered what the body believes was sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, with tax-related crimes and for making a false statement when purchasing a gun.

A report by The Washington Post says that the FBI had gathered what the body believes was sufficient evidence to charge Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, with tax-related crimes and for making a false statement when purchasing a gun. The sources told the publication that evidence gathered by FBI and IRS investigators was sent to the US Attorney's office in Delaware. But the US attorney in Delaware, who is overseeing the investigation of the president’s son, has not yet decided whether to file criminal charges in the case, the Post reported. Also Read | Nuclear 'Armageddon' threat highest for first time since Cuban Missile Crisis, says Joe Biden Biden's lawyers have slammed the FBI for the leak. A lawyer for Hunter Biden, Chris Clark, told the Post that federal agents are not allowed to leak information to the media. "It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one," Clark said in a statement. "As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense," Clark added. Soon after Joe Biden won the presidency, Hunter Biden had confirmed he was under investigation for tax-related issues in 2020. Hunter Biden’s business dealings and consultancies in Ukraine and China have been the subject of scrutiny for a long time, besides inviting questions about the ethics of his connections to foreign businesses given his father’s political influence. Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives in 2019 for trying to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into digging up what he alleged was compromising information on Hunter Biden. The investigations aim to uncover whether Hunter Biden failed to declare income related to different business dealings, including overseas, the Washington Post reported. The US attorney's office in Delaware has been investigating Hunter Biden since at least 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI has enough evidence to prosecute Hunter Biden for tax crimes, report says

US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden is on Federal Bureau of Investigation’s radar. According to the media reports, the probe agency has gathered enough evidence to charge him with tax crimes and making a false statement to buy a gun.

US: President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden on FBI's radar for tax crimes

United States president Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden’s first wife – Kathleen Buhle – recounted her time with the Biden family in her new book “If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing”. One of the major incidents mentioned in the book, which will be releasing next week, was the “fear of exclusion” that she went through after being denied Secret Service Protection when Biden was vice-president of the United States. This was before Buhle and Hunter Biden ended their marriage amid the latter’s highly public addiction problems and Buhle wrote that it made her feel like “an outsider” in the Biden family.

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According to the book, the Secret Service met with members of the Biden family just before Biden was appointed vice-president and the agent explained that the security details will be provided to Hunter and her kids “throughout the day”. However, when it came to Buhle, the Secret Service said that she would only be “picked up and included in any plan” if there was “any type of emergency”.

“Suddenly, I felt embarrassed. I knew the Secret Service would be a part of this new life, but I didn’t know how. Did this mean I was less important than my husband and my kids? What I heard in his words: 'I was not truly a Biden': Hunter Biden's ex-wife makes startling revelation in new book,” Buhle wrote in the excerpt accessed by The Guardian.

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Buhle wrote that she wanted Hunter to say no to the Secret Service, but Hunter refused.

“But he was unwavering. He was not going to forego Secret Service protection. ‘Kathleen, this is how it has always been. It isn’t personal. In-laws have never had protection,’ he said.”

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United States president Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden’s first wife – Kathleen Buhle – recounted her time with the Biden family in her new book “If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing”.

United States president Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden’s first wife – Kathleen Buhle – recounted her time with the Biden family in her new book “If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing”. One of the major incidents mentioned in the book, which will be releasing next week, was the “fear of exclusion” that she went through after being denied Secret Service Protection when Biden was vice-president of the United States. This was before Buhle and Hunter Biden ended their marriage amid the latter’s highly public addiction problems and Buhle wrote that it made her feel like “an outsider” in the Biden family. Also read | China to offer $15,000 to citizens for national security breach tip-offs According to the book, the Secret Service met with members of the Biden family just before Biden was appointed vice-president and the agent explained that the security details will be provided to Hunter and her kids “throughout the day”. However, when it came to Buhle, the Secret Service said that she would only be “picked up and included in any plan” if there was “any type of emergency”. “Suddenly, I felt embarrassed. I knew the Secret Service would be a part of this new life, but I didn’t know how. Did this mean I was less important than my husband and my kids? What I heard in his words: 'I was not truly a Biden': Hunter Biden's ex-wife makes startling revelation in new book,” Buhle wrote in the excerpt accessed by The Guardian. Also read | Iran turns off two UN nuclear watchdog surveillance cameras: Report Buhle wrote that she wanted Hunter to say no to the Secret Service, but Hunter refused. “But he was unwavering. He was not going to forego Secret Service protection. ‘Kathleen, this is how it has always been. It isn’t personal. In-laws have never had protection,’ he said.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'I was not truly a Biden': Hunter Biden's ex-wife makes startling revelation in new book

Popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, known for his right-wing opinions may find himself in quite a soup after a Washington Post report that says he and his wife Susie sought Hunter Biden's help to get their son admission in Georgetown University. Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden is often target of Tucker Carlson's attacks on his TV show.

Carlson often mentions business dealings which he says Hunter Biden benefitted from because of influence his father wielded as a prominent political figure.

The existence of Carlson's e-mails was known for some time. But on Thursday, Washington Post revealed new e-mails which it said had been declared by experts as authentic.

The e-mails quoted by the Washington Post include one from Tucker's wife Susie.

“Tucker and I would be so grateful if you could write a letter or speak to someone in the Georgetown Admission’s [sic] Office about Buckley,” she reportedly asked Hunter Biden.

Hunter Biden reportedly agreed to write to Georgetown University.

“I will do anything you would like me to do,” he said as per Washington Post.

As per the Post Tucker Carlson wrote: “I can’t thank you enough for writing that letter to Georgetown on Bucky’s behalf. So nice of you. I know it’ll help. Hope you’re great and we can all get dinner soon.”

Carlson has kept up the pressure on Bidens in recent times through his show.

Washington Post said that the e-mails “reveal the extent to which Carlson was willing to turn on a former associate as he thrives in a hyper-partisan media world in which conservatives have made Biden a prime target for attack.”

“They also show how Carlson once sought to benefit from the elite political circles in Washington that he now regularly rails against as the ‘ruling class’.”

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Popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, known for his right-wing opinions may find himself in quite a soup after a Washington Post report that says he and his wife Susie sought Hunter Biden's help to get their son admission in Georgetown University.

Popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, known for his right-wing opinions may find himself in quite a soup after a Washington Post report that says he and his wife Susie sought Hunter Biden's help to get their son admission in Georgetown University. Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden is often target of Tucker Carlson's attacks on his TV show. Carlson often mentions business dealings which he says Hunter Biden benefitted from because of influence his father wielded as a prominent political figure. The existence of Carlson's e-mails was known for some time. But on Thursday, Washington Post revealed new e-mails which it said had been declared by experts as authentic. The e-mails quoted by the Washington Post include one from Tucker's wife Susie. “Tucker and I would be so grateful if you could write a letter or speak to someone in the Georgetown Admission’s [sic] Office about Buckley,” she reportedly asked Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden reportedly agreed to write to Georgetown University. “I will do anything you would like me to do,” he said as per Washington Post. As per the Post Tucker Carlson wrote: “I can’t thank you enough for writing that letter to Georgetown on Bucky’s behalf. So nice of you. I know it’ll help. Hope you’re great and we can all get dinner soon.” Carlson has kept up the pressure on Bidens in recent times through his show. Washington Post said that the e-mails “reveal the extent to which Carlson was willing to turn on a former associate as he thrives in a hyper-partisan media world in which conservatives have made Biden a prime target for attack.” “They also show how Carlson once sought to benefit from the elite political circles in Washington that he now regularly rails against as the ‘ruling class’.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson sought Hunter Biden's help for son's university admission: Report

The United States president's son Hunter Biden is under federal investigation. Biden junior is being probed for violations of tax money laundering and foreign lobbying laws this through his business relationships abroad, here we bring you all the latest developments.

Federal probe into Hunter Biden's business dealings heats up

In the year after he disclosed a federal investigation into his “tax affairs” in late 2020, President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, paid off a significant tax liability, even as a grand jury continued to gather evidence in a wide-ranging examination of his international business dealings, according to people familiar with the case.

Biden’s failure to pay all his taxes has been a focus of the ongoing Justice Department investigation. While wiping out his liability does not preclude criminal charges against him, the payment could make it harder for prosecutors to win a conviction or a long sentence for tax-related offenses, according to tax law experts, since juries and judges tend to be more sympathetic to defendants who have paid their bills.

But Biden’s taxes are just one element of the broader investigation stemming from work he did around the world. Hunter Biden is a Yale-educated lawyer; his professional life has intersected with his father’s public service, including working as a registered lobbyist for domestic interests and, while his father was vice president, pursuing deals and clients in Asia and Europe.

As recently as last month, the federal grand jury heard testimony in Wilmington, Delaware, from two witnesses, one of whom was a former employee of Hunter Biden whose lawyer was later subpoenaed for financial records that reflected money Biden received from a Ukrainian energy company.

The investigation, which began as a tax inquiry under the Obama administration, widened in 2018 to include possible criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to the people familiar with the inquiry.

But prosecutors face a number of hurdles to bringing criminal charges, the people familiar with the investigation said, including proving that Biden intentionally violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, which requires disclosure to the Justice Department of lobbying or public relations assistance on behalf of foreign clients.

The Justice Department has given no public indication that it has made decisions about any element of the case, and Biden has not been charged with any crime.

When he disclosed the investigation after the 2020 election, Hunter Biden said that “a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.”

Biden’s lawyer, the Justice Department and the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware, which is overseeing the investigation, all declined to comment.

It is not clear whether the criminal probe is focused solely on Hunter Biden, or if he is among a group of individuals and companies being scrutinized. Prosecutors have also asked about potential FARA violations by a Washington consulting firm, Blue Star Strategies, that worked for the Ukrainian energy company in an arrangement that Biden helped broker, according to documents and the people familiar with the investigation.

For Joe Biden, the long-running case is both politically and personally fraught. Hunter Biden’s work for Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company, became a flashpoint in his father’s race in 2020 against President Donald Trump and helped set off the events that led to Trump’s first impeachment.

The elder Biden now oversees the Justice Department that is carrying out the investigation. And Hunter Biden, who in recent years has pursued a career as a painter, has acknowledged serious drug addiction and other problems during the period when he was seeking international business, while dealing with the illness and death of his brother Beau.

The investigation is being overseen by David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware. He worked in the office during the Bush and Obama administrations, and was nominated to run it by Trump. Weiss has been permitted to remain in office until the Biden case is resolved.

Hunter Biden told associates in recent months that he paid the federal taxes that had been the subject of Justice Department scrutiny. He told one associate that the tax liability was more than $1 million, and that he had to take out a loan to pay it off.

Federal tax prosecutors generally fight to keep jurors from knowing whether defendants have paid their back tax bills, arguing that the crime happens when the return is falsely filed or not filed at all, said Jeffrey Neiman, a former Justice Department tax prosecutor and a partner at Marcus, Neiman, Rashbaum &amp; Pineiro. Such knowledge could influence jurors, even if a judge asks them not to consider it.

Neiman said that defense lawyers encourage clients to pay their back taxes if they believe they could be indicted on federal tax crimes, as it often helps with sentencing.

Biden’s extensive work with foreign businesses came under scrutiny from prosecutors looking into whether he should have registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent.

Investigators have examined Biden’s relationships with interests in Kazakhstan, a Chinese energy conglomerate and Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company, according to people familiar with the investigation.

They said prosecutors had investigated payments and gifts Biden or his associates had received from foreign interests, including a vehicle paid for using funds from a company associated with a Kazakh oligarch and a diamond from a Chinese energy tycoon. Prosecutors also sought documents related to corporate entities through which Biden and his associates conducted business with interests around the world.

But there has been debate within the Justice Department over whether the available evidence proves that Biden intended to violate FARA, which the government must prove in order to secure a criminal conviction. The prosecutors have discussed approaching potential FARA violations as a civil matter, which would require Biden to register retroactively as a foreign agent, but would avoid criminal charges, according to the people familiar with the case.

Such a resolution could complicate a potential money laundering case, since money laundering is typically charged in connection with another crime.

Over the last two years, federal prosecutors in Delaware have issued scores of subpoenas for documents related to Hunter Biden’s foreign work and for bank accounts linked to him and his associates, including two formerly close business partners, Eric Schwerin and Devon Archer, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Last year, prosecutors interviewed Archer and subpoenaed him for documents and grand jury testimony, the people said. Archer, who was sentenced last month in an unrelated securities fraud case in which a decision to set aside his conviction was reversed, had served with Biden on Burisma’s board, starting in 2014.

People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had examined emails between Biden, Archer and others about Burisma and other foreign business activity. Those emails were obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Biden in a Delaware repair shop. The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation.

In some of the emails, Biden displayed a familiarity with FARA, and a desire to avoid triggering it.

In one email to Archer in April 2014, Biden outlined his vision for working with Burisma. In the email, Hunter Biden indicated that the forthcoming announcement of a trip to Ukraine by Vice President Biden — who is referred to in the email as “my guy,” but not by name — should “be characterized as part of our advice and thinking — but what he will say and do is out of our hands.”

The announcement “could be a really good thing or it could end up creating too great an expectation. We need to temper expectations regarding that visit,” Hunter Biden wrote.

The vice president traveled to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, about a week after the email.

In the same April 2014 email, Hunter Biden indicated that Burisma’s officials “need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policymakers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other U.S. laws in the strictest sense across the board.”

He suggested enlisting the law firm where he worked at the time, Boies Schiller Flexner, to help Burisma through “direct discussions at state, energy and NSC,” referring to two Cabinet departments and the National Security Council at the White House.

The firm “can devise a media plan and arrange for legal protections and mitigate U.S. domestic negative press regarding the current leadership if need be,” Hunter Biden wrote in the email.

Biden, Archer, Boies Schiller Flexner and Blue Star Strategies did not register under FARA on behalf of Burisma.

In another set of emails examined by prosecutors, Hunter Biden and Archer discussed inviting foreign business associates, including a Burisma executive, to a dinner in April 2015 at a Washington restaurant where Joe Biden would stop by. It is not clear whether the Burisma executive attended the dinner, although the vice president did make an appearance, according to people familiar with the event.

Prosecutors also subpoenaed records related to a lawsuit brought by the former employee of Hunter Biden’s, Lunden Alexis Roberts, in Arkansas state court, according to her lawyer.

Roberts sued Biden for child support and paternity in 2019, after one of his companies ceased paying her and providing her with health insurance, according to court records.

Biden and Roberts reached a settlement out of court in the paternity case in March 2020.

Last year, prosecutors traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, and asked Roberts and her lawyer about Biden’s finances, including which corporate entity he used to pay her, and whether that entity had received payments from Burisma, according to a person familiar with the questioning.

And last month, in response to another subpoena, Roberts testified before the grand jury in Delaware, according to her lawyer.

In the year after he disclosed a federal investigation into his “tax affairs” in late 2020, President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, paid off a significant tax liability, even as a grand jury continued to gather evidence in a wide-ranging examination of his international business dealings, according to people familiar with the case.

In the year after he disclosed a federal investigation into his “tax affairs” in late 2020, President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, paid off a significant tax liability, even as a grand jury continued to gather evidence in a wide-ranging examination of his international business dealings, according to people familiar with the case. Biden’s failure to pay all his taxes has been a focus of the ongoing Justice Department investigation. While wiping out his liability does not preclude criminal charges against him, the payment could make it harder for prosecutors to win a conviction or a long sentence for tax-related offenses, according to tax law experts, since juries and judges tend to be more sympathetic to defendants who have paid their bills. But Biden’s taxes are just one element of the broader investigation stemming from work he did around the world. Hunter Biden is a Yale-educated lawyer; his professional life has intersected with his father’s public service, including working as a registered lobbyist for domestic interests and, while his father was vice president, pursuing deals and clients in Asia and Europe. As recently as last month, the federal grand jury heard testimony in Wilmington, Delaware, from two witnesses, one of whom was a former employee of Hunter Biden whose lawyer was later subpoenaed for financial records that reflected money Biden received from a Ukrainian energy company. The investigation, which began as a tax inquiry under the Obama administration, widened in 2018 to include possible criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to the people familiar with the inquiry. But prosecutors face a number of hurdles to bringing criminal charges, the people familiar with the investigation said, including proving that Biden intentionally violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, which requires disclosure to the Justice Department of lobbying or public relations assistance on behalf of foreign clients. The Justice Department has given no public indication that it has made decisions about any element of the case, and Biden has not been charged with any crime. When he disclosed the investigation after the 2020 election, Hunter Biden said that “a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.” Biden’s lawyer, the Justice Department and the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware, which is overseeing the investigation, all declined to comment. It is not clear whether the criminal probe is focused solely on Hunter Biden, or if he is among a group of individuals and companies being scrutinized. Prosecutors have also asked about potential FARA violations by a Washington consulting firm, Blue Star Strategies, that worked for the Ukrainian energy company in an arrangement that Biden helped broker, according to documents and the people familiar with the investigation. For Joe Biden, the long-running case is both politically and personally fraught. Hunter Biden’s work for Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company, became a flashpoint in his father’s race in 2020 against President Donald Trump and helped set off the events that led to Trump’s first impeachment. The elder Biden now oversees the Justice Department that is carrying out the investigation. And Hunter Biden, who in recent years has pursued a career as a painter, has acknowledged serious drug addiction and other problems during the period when he was seeking international business, while dealing with the illness and death of his brother Beau. The investigation is being overseen by David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware. He worked in the office during the Bush and Obama administrations, and was nominated to run it by Trump. Weiss has been permitted to remain in office until the Biden case is resolved. Hunter Biden told associates in recent months that he paid the federal taxes that had been the subject of Justice Department scrutiny. He told one associate that the tax liability was more than $1 million, and that he had to take out a loan to pay it off. Federal tax prosecutors generally fight to keep jurors from knowing whether defendants have paid their back tax bills, arguing that the crime happens when the return is falsely filed or not filed at all, said Jeffrey Neiman, a former Justice Department tax prosecutor and a partner at Marcus, Neiman, Rashbaum & Pineiro. Such knowledge could influence jurors, even if a judge asks them not to consider it. Neiman said that defense lawyers encourage clients to pay their back taxes if they believe they could be indicted on federal tax crimes, as it often helps with sentencing. Biden’s extensive work with foreign businesses came under scrutiny from prosecutors looking into whether he should have registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. Investigators have examined Biden’s relationships with interests in Kazakhstan, a Chinese energy conglomerate and Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company, according to people familiar with the investigation. They said prosecutors had investigated payments and gifts Biden or his associates had received from foreign interests, including a vehicle paid for using funds from a company associated with a Kazakh oligarch and a diamond from a Chinese energy tycoon. Prosecutors also sought documents related to corporate entities through which Biden and his associates conducted business with interests around the world. But there has been debate within the Justice Department over whether the available evidence proves that Biden intended to violate FARA, which the government must prove in order to secure a criminal conviction. The prosecutors have discussed approaching potential FARA violations as a civil matter, which would require Biden to register retroactively as a foreign agent, but would avoid criminal charges, according to the people familiar with the case. Such a resolution could complicate a potential money laundering case, since money laundering is typically charged in connection with another crime. Over the last two years, federal prosecutors in Delaware have issued scores of subpoenas for documents related to Hunter Biden’s foreign work and for bank accounts linked to him and his associates, including two formerly close business partners, Eric Schwerin and Devon Archer, according to people familiar with the investigation. Last year, prosecutors interviewed Archer and subpoenaed him for documents and grand jury testimony, the people said. Archer, who was sentenced last month in an unrelated securities fraud case in which a decision to set aside his conviction was reversed, had served with Biden on Burisma’s board, starting in 2014. People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had examined emails between Biden, Archer and others about Burisma and other foreign business activity. Those emails were obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Biden in a Delaware repair shop. The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation. In some of the emails, Biden displayed a familiarity with FARA, and a desire to avoid triggering it. In one email to Archer in April 2014, Biden outlined his vision for working with Burisma. In the email, Hunter Biden indicated that the forthcoming announcement of a trip to Ukraine by Vice President Biden — who is referred to in the email as “my guy,” but not by name — should “be characterized as part of our advice and thinking — but what he will say and do is out of our hands.” The announcement “could be a really good thing or it could end up creating too great an expectation. We need to temper expectations regarding that visit,” Hunter Biden wrote. The vice president traveled to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, about a week after the email. In the same April 2014 email, Hunter Biden indicated that Burisma’s officials “need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policymakers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other U.S. laws in the strictest sense across the board.” He suggested enlisting the law firm where he worked at the time, Boies Schiller Flexner, to help Burisma through “direct discussions at state, energy and NSC,” referring to two Cabinet departments and the National Security Council at the White House. The firm “can devise a media plan and arrange for legal protections and mitigate U.S. domestic negative press regarding the current leadership if need be,” Hunter Biden wrote in the email. Biden, Archer, Boies Schiller Flexner and Blue Star Strategies did not register under FARA on behalf of Burisma. In another set of emails examined by prosecutors, Hunter Biden and Archer discussed inviting foreign business associates, including a Burisma executive, to a dinner in April 2015 at a Washington restaurant where Joe Biden would stop by. It is not clear whether the Burisma executive attended the dinner, although the vice president did make an appearance, according to people familiar with the event. Prosecutors also subpoenaed records related to a lawsuit brought by the former employee of Hunter Biden’s, Lunden Alexis Roberts, in Arkansas state court, according to her lawyer. Roberts sued Biden for child support and paternity in 2019, after one of his companies ceased paying her and providing her with health insurance, according to court records. Biden and Roberts reached a settlement out of court in the paternity case in March 2020. Last year, prosecutors traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, and asked Roberts and her lawyer about Biden’s finances, including which corporate entity he used to pay her, and whether that entity had received payments from Burisma, according to a person familiar with the questioning. And last month, in response to another subpoena, Roberts testified before the grand jury in Delaware, according to her lawyer.

Hunter Biden paid tax bill, but broad federal investigation continues

Hunter Biden, the US president Joe Biden's son, was a founding board member of an investment business that helped a Chinese company buy one of the world's richest cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo from an American corporation, reports The New York Times.

According to the report, the US president’s son was part owner of a venture involved in the $3.8 billion purchase by a Chinese conglomerate of one of the world’s largest cobalt deposits. The metal is a key ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-biden-tried-to-sell-refined-analysis-of-russian-oligarch-oleg-deripaska-422820">Also read | Hunter Biden tried to sell refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska</a>

Hunter Biden, together with two other Americans and a few Chinese colleagues, founded the Bohai Harvest RST (BHR) Equity Investment Fund Management Company in 2013.

The American members of the Shanghai-based company's board of directors owned 30% of the company. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-is-us-president-and-hunter-biden-possesses-child-porn-teacher-fired-for-wrong-lessons-428428">Also read | 'Trump is US president and Hunter Biden possesses child porn': Teacher fired for wrong lessons</a>

Hunter Biden's father, President Joe Biden, was the vice president in office at the time the pact was signed, according to the New York Post.

According to the New York Times, a White House spokesman stated Joe Biden was ignorant of his son's involvement in the deal.

Furthermore, the mine is the world's largest supply of cobalt, according to Biden's White House, which stated in June that China's domination of the mineral "presents a key risk to the survival of the United States' domestic car sector."&nbsp;

In the meanwhile, the media continues to focus on Hunter Biden's financial ties, particularly his dealings with China.

According to Fox News, President Biden particularly referenced China's developing cobalt dominance as a stumbling block to America's aspirations to transition from gasoline to electric vehicles. Cobalt is a critical component of electric car batteries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hunter Biden, the US president Joe Biden's son, was a founding board member of an investment business that helped a Chinese company buy one of the world's richest cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo from an American corporation, reports The New York Times.

Hunter Biden, the US president Joe Biden's son, was a founding board member of an investment business that helped a Chinese company buy one of the world's richest cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo from an American corporation, reports The New York Times. According to the report, the US president’s son was part owner of a venture involved in the $3.8 billion purchase by a Chinese conglomerate of one of the world’s largest cobalt deposits. The metal is a key ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles. Also read | Hunter Biden tried to sell refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska Hunter Biden, together with two other Americans and a few Chinese colleagues, founded the Bohai Harvest RST (BHR) Equity Investment Fund Management Company in 2013. The American members of the Shanghai-based company's board of directors owned 30% of the company. Also read | 'Trump is US president and Hunter Biden possesses child porn': Teacher fired for wrong lessons Hunter Biden's father, President Joe Biden, was the vice president in office at the time the pact was signed, according to the New York Post. According to the New York Times, a White House spokesman stated Joe Biden was ignorant of his son's involvement in the deal. Furthermore, the mine is the world's largest supply of cobalt, according to Biden's White House, which stated in June that China's domination of the mineral "presents a key risk to the survival of the United States' domestic car sector." In the meanwhile, the media continues to focus on Hunter Biden's financial ties, particularly his dealings with China. According to Fox News, President Biden particularly referenced China's developing cobalt dominance as a stumbling block to America's aspirations to transition from gasoline to electric vehicles. Cobalt is a critical component of electric car batteries. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden's son helped China get control over vast cobalt mine in Africa: Report

A Ventura County middle school teacher who informed children that Donald Trump was still the president of the United States has been fired.

The unnamed history teacher allegedly told students that Trump is still president, that President Joe Biden's son Hunter is "doing deals with China and Ukraine where he was funnelling money illegally," and that "if you have a baby in the hospital, they don't want to give it back if you aren't vaccinated."

A student videotaped the teacher's comments during class.

Hunter Biden participated in incest with his niece and had child porn, according to the individual on the tape.&nbsp;

Officials from the Ventura Unified School System informed the that the female history teacher had left the middle school, but they wouldn't clarify whether she was still employed by the district.&nbsp;

The teacher has expressed regret over the incident.

The decision to remove the instructor from the classroom was made in accordance with the terms of the teachers' union's collective bargaining agreement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A Ventura County middle school teacher who informed children that Donald Trump was still the president of the United States has been fired. The unnamed history teacher allegedly told students that Trump is still president, that President Joe Biden's son Hunter is "doing deals with China and Ukraine where he was funnelling money illegally," and that "if you have a baby in the hospital, they don't want to give it back if you aren't vaccinated.

A Ventura County middle school teacher who informed children that Donald Trump was still the president of the United States has been fired. The unnamed history teacher allegedly told students that Trump is still president, that President Joe Biden's son Hunter is "doing deals with China and Ukraine where he was funnelling money illegally," and that "if you have a baby in the hospital, they don't want to give it back if you aren't vaccinated." A student videotaped the teacher's comments during class. Hunter Biden participated in incest with his niece and had child porn, according to the individual on the tape. Officials from the Ventura Unified School System informed the that the female history teacher had left the middle school, but they wouldn't clarify whether she was still employed by the district. The teacher has expressed regret over the incident. The decision to remove the instructor from the classroom was made in accordance with the terms of the teachers' union's collective bargaining agreement. (With inputs from agencies)

'Trump is US president and Hunter Biden possesses child porn': Teacher fired for wrong lessons

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden.

Hunter had sent an email to Alcoa's Vice President Daniel Cruise according to a report by 'The New York Post.'&nbsp;The asking price for phase one of the project was $25,000 while for a&nbsp;refined analysis it was $55,000.

Deripaska was of interest to Alcoa as he is the founder of Russian aluminum giant Rusal.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Cruise's colleague Pei Chang had shown interest in ''the list of Russian elites connected to OD [Deripaska] that would not otherwise be on the Government Affairs team's radar, including various Russian Committee Heads, Union leaders or Ministers.''

The emails have emerged after the FBI raided Washington and New York City homes linked to Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire and a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-hunter-biden%E2%80%99s-memoir-7-takeaways-from-%E2%80%98beautiful-things%E2%80%99-374496">Also read |&nbsp;Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’</a>

According to US Treasury Department, "There are allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman and had links to a Russian organised crime group."

Deripaska filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the Treasury Department, accusing it of illegally targeting him, but the suit was tossed out this year by a federal judge.

The suit claimed that Deripaska's net worth had dropped by $7.5 billion after the sanctions were imposed on him and six other Russian oligarchs by the Trump administration in April 2018.

Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska, 53, and other influential Russians because of their ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election which Moscow denies.

Deripaska once employed Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 of criminal charges arising from the US investigation into the alleged interference but was pardoned by then-president Trump in December.

(With inputs from agencies)

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden.

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden. Hunter had sent an email to Alcoa's Vice President Daniel Cruise according to a report by 'The New York Post.' The asking price for phase one of the project was $25,000 while for a refined analysis it was $55,000. Deripaska was of interest to Alcoa as he is the founder of Russian aluminum giant Rusal. Cruise's colleague Pei Chang had shown interest in ''the list of Russian elites connected to OD [Deripaska] that would not otherwise be on the Government Affairs team's radar, including various Russian Committee Heads, Union leaders or Ministers.'' The emails have emerged after the FBI raided Washington and New York City homes linked to Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire and a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Also read | Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’ According to US Treasury Department, "There are allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman and had links to a Russian organised crime group." Deripaska filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the Treasury Department, accusing it of illegally targeting him, but the suit was tossed out this year by a federal judge. The suit claimed that Deripaska's net worth had dropped by $7.5 billion after the sanctions were imposed on him and six other Russian oligarchs by the Trump administration in April 2018. Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska, 53, and other influential Russians because of their ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election which Moscow denies. Deripaska once employed Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 of criminal charges arising from the US investigation into the alleged interference but was pardoned by then-president Trump in December. (With inputs from agencies)

Hunter Biden tried to sell refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6.

“I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue. “I’ve bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, D.C., and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. I’ve been so desperate for a drink that I couldn’t make the one-block walk between a liquor store and my apartment without uncapping the bottle to take a swig. In the last five years alone, my two-decades-long marriage has dissolved, guns have been put in my face, and at one point I dropped clean off the grid, living in $59-a-night Super 8 motels off I-95 while scaring my family even more than myself.”

The book is equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict’s howl. Here is what readers will learn.

He remembers the accident that killed his mother and sister.

You probably know the story: It was Dec. 18, 1972. Joe Biden, then a newly elected senator, was in Washington. Neilia Hunter Biden — referred to as “my mommy” throughout “Beautiful Things” — took Hunter, who was 3; his brother, Beau, almost 4; and their 13-month-old sister, Naomi (known as “Caspy,” short for Casper the Friendly Ghost), to pick out a Christmas tree near their home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Hunter Biden describes how Naomi was “sound asleep in the front passenger seat tucked into a bassinet” — an eyebrow-raising detail by today’s standards. “Suddenly, I see my mother’s head turn to the right,” he writes. “I don’t remember anything else about her profile: the look in her eye, the expression of her mouth. Her head simply swings.” At a four-way intersection, their car was broadsided by a tractor-trailer carrying corncobs.

The next thing Biden remembers is waking up in a hospital bed next to Beau: “He’s mouthing three words to me, over and over: ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’ That’s our origin story.”

His romantic relationship with Beau’s widow stemmed from ‘grasping for the love we had both lost.’

What began as a “shared-travails bond” with Hallie Biden blossomed into a full-blown, live-in arrangement as Hunter Biden’s own marriage ended. He attempted to be a stable presence for his niece, nephew and sister-in-law but acknowledges that none of it worked out.

“Our relationship began as a mutually desperate grasping for the love we had both lost, and its dissolution only deepened that tragedy,” he writes. “It made the obvious clear: What was gone was gone permanently. There was no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

While his father was vice president, Biden spent a month in a Washington apartment bingeing on vodka.

Biden had his first glass of Champagne when he was 8. In his 20s, he started drinking heavily after work (“I could always drink five times more than anyone else”). He went to rehab and relapsed after seven years — not long after his father joined the Obama ticket, effectively ending his son’s lucrative lobbying career. Biden went back to rehab again, then relapsed in 2016 after Beau died.

The pattern continued, leading to 12- to 16-hour benders, withdrawal symptoms and a 20-pound weight loss: “I didn’t eat anything much beyond what was available at the liquor store: Doritos, pork rinds, ramen noodles. Eventually my stomach couldn’t even handle the noodles.”

Biden used a kitchen knife to remove the plastic nub that regulates the flow of vodka from its jug, allowing him to guzzle faster. He writes, “I learned to twist and contort my body in such a way as to lessen the weight of the bottle, to make it more manageable.”

His father, who was then vice president, arrived at his home and said, “I know you’re not fine, Hunter. You need help.” Hunter Biden recalls: “He never let me forget that all was not lost. He never abandoned me, never shunned me, never judged me, no matter how bad things got — and believe me, from there they would get much, much worse.”

He purchased crack from a homeless addict who later moved in with him.

“The relationship was symbiotic,” he writes. “It was two crack addicts who couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. A one-act crack farce.”

Biden bluntly describes his progression from smoking crack to cooking it; his abusive relationships with unsavory dealers and sticky-fingered hangers on; and the desperate tricks he used when faced with drug tests, including buying “clean urine.” He attempted to quit crack with the help of ketamine infusions, psychoactive compounds and 5-MeO-DMT therapy, “which employs the gland secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad.” He doesn’t disclose how he paid for these treatments.

“Once you decide that you’re the bad person everyone thinks you’ve become, it’s hard to find the good guy you once were,” Biden writes. “Eventually, I quit looking for him: I decided I wasn’t the person everybody who loved me thought I was anymore.”

Readers follow Biden weaving through a Los Angeles homeless encampment, looking to score his next hit. “I went through and stepped around people curled up on thin pieces of cardboard. Beyond them, I noticed a tilting, unlit tent. It was pitch black. All I saw was the gun pointed at my face,” he writes. In the next chapter, we see Joe Biden chasing his son down the driveway after a family intervention: “He grabbed me, swung me around and hugged me. He held me tight in the dark and cried for the longest time.”

Biden doesn’t make excuses for his addiction but describes feeling ‘alone in a crowd.’

Of the car accident that killed his mother and sister, Biden writes, “I want to make it clear: I don’t see that tragic moment as necessarily resulting in behaviors that lent themselves to addiction. That would be a cop-out.”

But he describes a long-running feeling of unease, particularly in social situations. “That kind of insecurity is almost universal among those with real addiction issues — a feeling of being alone in a crowd. I’ve always felt alone in a crowd,” he writes.

When it comes to Ukraine, Biden’s account is as dry as toast.

Hunter Biden’s first “legal-age employment” was at Wilmington’s Brandywine Zoo — “I shoveled piles of llama manure as tall as I was and unclogged the drain in the otter pool” — but he is best known for his board membership at Burisma Holdings. “The episode that led to the impeachment of a president and landed me in the heart of the decade’s biggest political fable is most remarkable for its epic banality,” he writes.

He then proceeds to cover the incident in an 18-page chapter that reads like a research paper compiled by a reluctant student. Was Biden appointed to the board because of his last name?

Perhaps, he writes, but: “My response has always been to work harder so that my accomplishments stand on their own.”

Did he display a lack of judgment? “No.”

Would he do it again? “I did nothing unethical, and have never been charged with wrongdoing.”

He credits his wife, Melissa Cohen, for his sobriety.

In March 2019, Hunter Biden was “done with the world of politics, of figuring out how to go out on the campaign trail with Dad, if it came to that, as I would have in any other election year.” He writes, “I was a crack addict and that was that.”

He had been asked to vacate a hotel in Los Angeles where he was living, but before he left, he befriended some people at the pool who gave him the number of a South African filmmaker named Melissa Cohen.

An hour into their first dinner, they declared their love to one another. An hour after that, Biden told Melissa he was a crack addict. She said, “Not anymore. You’re finished with that.”

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6. “I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue.

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6. “I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue. “I’ve bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, D.C., and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. I’ve been so desperate for a drink that I couldn’t make the one-block walk between a liquor store and my apartment without uncapping the bottle to take a swig. In the last five years alone, my two-decades-long marriage has dissolved, guns have been put in my face, and at one point I dropped clean off the grid, living in $59-a-night Super 8 motels off I-95 while scaring my family even more than myself.” The book is equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict’s howl. Here is what readers will learn. He remembers the accident that killed his mother and sister. You probably know the story: It was Dec. 18, 1972. Joe Biden, then a newly elected senator, was in Washington. Neilia Hunter Biden — referred to as “my mommy” throughout “Beautiful Things” — took Hunter, who was 3; his brother, Beau, almost 4; and their 13-month-old sister, Naomi (known as “Caspy,” short for Casper the Friendly Ghost), to pick out a Christmas tree near their home in Wilmington, Delaware. Hunter Biden describes how Naomi was “sound asleep in the front passenger seat tucked into a bassinet” — an eyebrow-raising detail by today’s standards. “Suddenly, I see my mother’s head turn to the right,” he writes. “I don’t remember anything else about her profile: the look in her eye, the expression of her mouth. Her head simply swings.” At a four-way intersection, their car was broadsided by a tractor-trailer carrying corncobs. The next thing Biden remembers is waking up in a hospital bed next to Beau: “He’s mouthing three words to me, over and over: ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’ That’s our origin story.” His romantic relationship with Beau’s widow stemmed from ‘grasping for the love we had both lost.’ What began as a “shared-travails bond” with Hallie Biden blossomed into a full-blown, live-in arrangement as Hunter Biden’s own marriage ended. He attempted to be a stable presence for his niece, nephew and sister-in-law but acknowledges that none of it worked out. “Our relationship began as a mutually desperate grasping for the love we had both lost, and its dissolution only deepened that tragedy,” he writes. “It made the obvious clear: What was gone was gone permanently. There was no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.” While his father was vice president, Biden spent a month in a Washington apartment bingeing on vodka. Biden had his first glass of Champagne when he was 8. In his 20s, he started drinking heavily after work (“I could always drink five times more than anyone else”). He went to rehab and relapsed after seven years — not long after his father joined the Obama ticket, effectively ending his son’s lucrative lobbying career. Biden went back to rehab again, then relapsed in 2016 after Beau died. The pattern continued, leading to 12- to 16-hour benders, withdrawal symptoms and a 20-pound weight loss: “I didn’t eat anything much beyond what was available at the liquor store: Doritos, pork rinds, ramen noodles. Eventually my stomach couldn’t even handle the noodles.” Biden used a kitchen knife to remove the plastic nub that regulates the flow of vodka from its jug, allowing him to guzzle faster. He writes, “I learned to twist and contort my body in such a way as to lessen the weight of the bottle, to make it more manageable.” His father, who was then vice president, arrived at his home and said, “I know you’re not fine, Hunter. You need help.” Hunter Biden recalls: “He never let me forget that all was not lost. He never abandoned me, never shunned me, never judged me, no matter how bad things got — and believe me, from there they would get much, much worse.” He purchased crack from a homeless addict who later moved in with him. “The relationship was symbiotic,” he writes. “It was two crack addicts who couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. A one-act crack farce.” Biden bluntly describes his progression from smoking crack to cooking it; his abusive relationships with unsavory dealers and sticky-fingered hangers on; and the desperate tricks he used when faced with drug tests, including buying “clean urine.” He attempted to quit crack with the help of ketamine infusions, psychoactive compounds and 5-MeO-DMT therapy, “which employs the gland secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad.” He doesn’t disclose how he paid for these treatments. “Once you decide that you’re the bad person everyone thinks you’ve become, it’s hard to find the good guy you once were,” Biden writes. “Eventually, I quit looking for him: I decided I wasn’t the person everybody who loved me thought I was anymore.” Readers follow Biden weaving through a Los Angeles homeless encampment, looking to score his next hit. “I went through and stepped around people curled up on thin pieces of cardboard. Beyond them, I noticed a tilting, unlit tent. It was pitch black. All I saw was the gun pointed at my face,” he writes. In the next chapter, we see Joe Biden chasing his son down the driveway after a family intervention: “He grabbed me, swung me around and hugged me. He held me tight in the dark and cried for the longest time.” Biden doesn’t make excuses for his addiction but describes feeling ‘alone in a crowd.’ Of the car accident that killed his mother and sister, Biden writes, “I want to make it clear: I don’t see that tragic moment as necessarily resulting in behaviors that lent themselves to addiction. That would be a cop-out.” But he describes a long-running feeling of unease, particularly in social situations. “That kind of insecurity is almost universal among those with real addiction issues — a feeling of being alone in a crowd. I’ve always felt alone in a crowd,” he writes. When it comes to Ukraine, Biden’s account is as dry as toast. Hunter Biden’s first “legal-age employment” was at Wilmington’s Brandywine Zoo — “I shoveled piles of llama manure as tall as I was and unclogged the drain in the otter pool” — but he is best known for his board membership at Burisma Holdings. “The episode that led to the impeachment of a president and landed me in the heart of the decade’s biggest political fable is most remarkable for its epic banality,” he writes. He then proceeds to cover the incident in an 18-page chapter that reads like a research paper compiled by a reluctant student. Was Biden appointed to the board because of his last name? Perhaps, he writes, but: “My response has always been to work harder so that my accomplishments stand on their own.” Did he display a lack of judgment? “No.” Would he do it again? “I did nothing unethical, and have never been charged with wrongdoing.” He credits his wife, Melissa Cohen, for his sobriety. In March 2019, Hunter Biden was “done with the world of politics, of figuring out how to go out on the campaign trail with Dad, if it came to that, as I would have in any other election year.” He writes, “I was a crack addict and that was that.” He had been asked to vacate a hotel in Los Angeles where he was living, but before he left, he befriended some people at the pool who gave him the number of a South African filmmaker named Melissa Cohen. An hour into their first dinner, they declared their love to one another. An hour after that, Biden told Melissa he was a crack addict. She said, “Not anymore. You’re finished with that.”

Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’

US&nbsp;Attorney General William&nbsp;Barr&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;rejected several of President Donald Trump's inflammatory and unfounded statements regarding the presidential election, saying&nbsp;he has no plans&nbsp;to name special counsels to investigate Hunter Biden or election fraud.

Hunter Biden disclosed earlier this month the US&nbsp;Attorney’s Office in Delaware is investigating his tax affairs.

Barr said Monday that a probe into the younger Biden, believed to be linked to tax-related issues over his business dealings in China, is being handled “responsibly” by Justice Department prosecutors. In what may be his final public briefing before stepping down on Wednesday, Barr said he has no plans to appoint a special counsel.

“To this point, I have not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel and I have no plan to do so before I leave,” Barr told reporters at what may have been his final public appearance before stepping down.

Barr also said he sees no reason to appoint a special counsel to look into election fraud, standing by his previous statement that there’s been no evidence of widespread fraud that would overturn Joe Biden’s November&nbsp;3 election win. Trump continues to claim without evidence that the vote was “rigged.”

“If I thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool and was appropriate, I would name one, but I haven’t and I’m not going to,” Barr said. The attorney general said he also sees “no basis now for seizing machines by the federal government,” something Trump has&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;inquired about.

Barr, who is set to leave office Wednesday, also broke with Trump by publicly blaming Russia for a massive cyberattack that has affected more than a half-dozen government agencies and an untold number of private companies, even as the president pointed the finger at China over the weekend and sought to downplay the breach.

"From the information I have, I agree with Secretary Pompeo’s assessment," Barr said, referring to State Department chief Mike Pompeo.&nbsp;"It certainly appears to be the Russians, but I’m not going to discuss it beyond that."

Trump has accused the media of inflating the seriousness of the cyberattacks and deflected blame from Russia, undermining his own administration’s warning last week that the cyberattacks believed to be tied to Russia continue to pose a “grave risk” to government networks and the private sector.

Biden’s transition team announced on December&nbsp;9 that Hunter Biden was under a federal criminal tax investigation. The Bidens have repeatedly insisted no wrongdoing was committed.

Hunter Biden has been the target of more than one federal criminal investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to a US Senate Committee report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;during the Obama administration.

The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641">&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;</a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."

The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president."&nbsp;

"Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden received $3.5 million in wire transfer from Elena Baturina who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow," it said.

"In particular these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was the vice-president of the US," the report claimed.

The report said Biden and Archer found "willing partners in Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime", adding that "their work began in China in 2009 with the creation of Rosemont Seneca Partners with Heinz, the stepson of the then secretary of state John Kerry.

"Hunter Biden's connections and financial associations appear to have accelerated significantly after he associated himself with Ye Jianming who had deep connections with the Communist regime and PLA," it said.

Last week,&nbsp;Barr's successor, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen,&nbsp;in a interview declined to say if he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden or election issues.

US Attorney General William Barr on Monday rejected several of President Donald Trump's inflammatory and unfounded statements regarding the presidential election, saying he has no plans to name special counsels to investigate Hunter Biden or election fraud.

US Attorney General William Barr on Monday rejected several of President Donald Trump's inflammatory and unfounded statements regarding the presidential election, saying he has no plans to name special counsels to investigate Hunter Biden or election fraud. Hunter Biden disclosed earlier this month the US Attorney’s Office in Delaware is investigating his tax affairs. Barr said Monday that a probe into the younger Biden, believed to be linked to tax-related issues over his business dealings in China, is being handled “responsibly” by Justice Department prosecutors. In what may be his final public briefing before stepping down on Wednesday, Barr said he has no plans to appoint a special counsel. “To this point, I have not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel and I have no plan to do so before I leave,” Barr told reporters at what may have been his final public appearance before stepping down. Barr also said he sees no reason to appoint a special counsel to look into election fraud, standing by his previous statement that there’s been no evidence of widespread fraud that would overturn Joe Biden’s November 3 election win. Trump continues to claim without evidence that the vote was “rigged.” “If I thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool and was appropriate, I would name one, but I haven’t and I’m not going to,” Barr said. The attorney general said he also sees “no basis now for seizing machines by the federal government,” something Trump has reportedly inquired about. Barr, who is set to leave office Wednesday, also broke with Trump by publicly blaming Russia for a massive cyberattack that has affected more than a half-dozen government agencies and an untold number of private companies, even as the president pointed the finger at China over the weekend and sought to downplay the breach. "From the information I have, I agree with Secretary Pompeo’s assessment," Barr said, referring to State Department chief Mike Pompeo. "It certainly appears to be the Russians, but I’m not going to discuss it beyond that." Trump has accused the media of inflating the seriousness of the cyberattacks and deflected blame from Russia, undermining his own administration’s warning last week that the cyberattacks believed to be tied to Russia continue to pose a “grave risk” to government networks and the private sector. Biden’s transition team announced on December 9 that Hunter Biden was under a federal criminal tax investigation. The Bidens have repeatedly insisted no wrongdoing was committed. Hunter Biden has been the target of more than one federal criminal investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president during the Obama administration. The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president." "Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden received $3.5 million in wire transfer from Elena Baturina who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow," it said. "In particular these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was the vice-president of the US," the report claimed. The report said Biden and Archer found "willing partners in Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime", adding that "their work began in China in 2009 with the creation of Rosemont Seneca Partners with Heinz, the stepson of the then secretary of state John Kerry. "Hunter Biden's connections and financial associations appear to have accelerated significantly after he associated himself with Ye Jianming who had deep connections with the Communist regime and PLA," it said. Last week, Barr's successor, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, in a interview declined to say if he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden or election issues.

Hunter Biden probe: Attorney General Barr finds no reason to name special counsel for investigation

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family. It is just more Fake News. Actually, I find it very sad to watch!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1339585047481917441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump's tweet came just one day after Jeffrey Rosen, the incoming Acting Attorney General, declined to say in an interview with Reuters whether or not he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has privately been mulling whether to pressure the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel for Hunter Biden, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to a US Senate Committee report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;to Democratic President Barack Obama.

The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641">&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;</a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."

On December 9, Hunter Biden disclosed his tax affairs were under investigation by the US&nbsp;Attorney for the District of Delaware.

However,&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Trump's allegations saying&nbsp;that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter. I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter. I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family. It is just more Fake News. Actually, I find it very sad to watch! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2020 × Trump's tweet came just one day after Jeffrey Rosen, the incoming Acting Attorney General, declined to say in an interview with Reuters whether or not he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings. Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has privately been mulling whether to pressure the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel for Hunter Biden, according to a person familiar with the matter. According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president to Democratic President Barack Obama. The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." On December 9, Hunter Biden disclosed his tax affairs were under investigation by the US Attorney for the District of Delaware. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Trump's allegations saying that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Have nothing to do with potential prosecution of Hunter Biden: Donald Trump

US President-elect Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden said on Thursday that the US Attorney's office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs. Hunter Biden who is often seen as the 'bad boy' of Biden family has had problems with drugs and alcohol in the past and his life has been in public eye. Hunter Biden is often targetted by US President Donald Trump and Republican Party in order to put Joe Biden in a tight spot.

"I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors," Hunter Biden said in a statement.

Hunter said he learned of the investigation on Tuesday when prosecutors informed his lawyers about the probe.

The transition team for President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday released a statement saying Biden "is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-17-states-back-texas-bid-to-overturn-us-election-result-at-supreme-court-348692">Trump, 17 states back Texas bid to overturn US election result at Supreme Court</a>

As per a report by CNN, investigators are looking at various issues including whether Hunter Biden violated tax and money laundering laws while making deals in foreign countries, principally China.

During US Presidential Election 2020 campaign, Donald Trump had called on China to investigate Hunter Biden's involvement in a fund that sought to raise Chinese capital. Trump had accused Hunter Biden of using his position of influence to secure China`s financial backing for his investments.

(With Reuters inputs)

US President-elect Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden said on Thursday that the US Attorney's office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs. Hunter Biden who is often seen as the 'bad boy' of Biden family has had problems with drugs and alcohol in the past and his life has been in public eye.

US President-elect Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden said on Thursday that the US Attorney's office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs. Hunter Biden who is often seen as the 'bad boy' of Biden family has had problems with drugs and alcohol in the past and his life has been in public eye. Hunter Biden is often targetted by US President Donald Trump and Republican Party in order to put Joe Biden in a tight spot. "I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors," Hunter Biden said in a statement. Hunter said he learned of the investigation on Tuesday when prosecutors informed his lawyers about the probe. The transition team for President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday released a statement saying Biden "is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger." Also Read: Trump, 17 states back Texas bid to overturn US election result at Supreme Court As per a report by CNN, investigators are looking at various issues including whether Hunter Biden violated tax and money laundering laws while making deals in foreign countries, principally China. During US Presidential Election 2020 campaign, Donald Trump had called on China to investigate Hunter Biden's involvement in a fund that sought to raise Chinese capital. Trump had accused Hunter Biden of using his position of influence to secure China`s financial backing for his investments. (With Reuters inputs)

US attorney's office is investigating my taxes, says Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden

US&nbsp;President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe&nbsp;Biden</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals.

Biden, in an interview with CNN, said ''My son, my family, will not be involved in any business, any enterprise, that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, with the appropriate distance from, the presidency and government.''

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-report-reveals-joe-biden-son-hunters-links-with-chinese-ukrainian-firms-329865">US Senate report reveals Joe Biden son Hunter's links with Chinese, Ukrainian firms</a>

According to a US Senate Committee report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;during the Obama administration.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641">&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;</a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."

The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president."&nbsp;

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had made accusations that&nbsp;Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited.

However,&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected Trump's criticism of Hunter and said that although he did ''make very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals. Biden, in an interview with CNN, said ''My son, my family, will not be involved in any business, any enterprise, that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, with the appropriate distance from, the presidency and government.'' Also read: US Senate report reveals Joe Biden son Hunter's links with Chinese, Ukrainian firms According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president during the Obama administration. The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president." Earlier, US President Donald Trump had made accusations that Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected Trump's criticism of Hunter and said that although he did ''make very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Joe Biden says his son Hunter’s business dealings will be kept away from presidency

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections. As per a Daily Mail report, Hunter Biden spent USD 11,400 in a strip club in a single night and also paid USD 21,000 for live feed from a porn website.

Hunter Biden is known for his depravities. But the extent of his activities has now come out in the open through his abandoned laptop. Daily Mail says that the laptop contains thousands of documents and photographs in which Hunter Biden can be seen taking drugs and engaging in sexual acts with women.

The report quoted sources to say that Hunter Biden's spending on porn sites was "staggering". So much so that his credit card was rejected several times because he had spent all funds.

The contents of the laptop are understood to have been poorly secured. That means that Hunter Biden has been open to blackmail for all these years.

Hunter Biden's bad reputation precedes him, but the recent leak has come just days before the US Presidential Election 2020 voting day. The data leak has potential to hurt Hunter's father Joe Biden's chances of winning the president's office.

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections.

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections. As per a Daily Mail report, Hunter Biden spent USD 11,400 in a strip club in a single night and also paid USD 21,000 for live feed from a porn website. Hunter Biden is known for his depravities. But the extent of his activities has now come out in the open through his abandoned laptop. Daily Mail says that the laptop contains thousands of documents and photographs in which Hunter Biden can be seen taking drugs and engaging in sexual acts with women. The report quoted sources to say that Hunter Biden's spending on porn sites was "staggering". So much so that his credit card was rejected several times because he had spent all funds. The contents of the laptop are understood to have been poorly secured. That means that Hunter Biden has been open to blackmail for all these years. Hunter Biden's bad reputation precedes him, but the recent leak has come just days before the US Presidential Election 2020 voting day. The data leak has potential to hurt Hunter's father Joe Biden's chances of winning the president's office.

Joe Biden's son Hunter spent thousands on strip club and adult sites, reveals data leak

A top aide to Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has admitted he helped fund a contentious report alleging links between Joe Biden's son and China. He, however, insisted his boss did not know about it.

Senior aide Mark Simon on Sunday stepped down from his post at Apple Daily after the admission.

The 64-page document by a fictitious author, which was circulated online and seized on by US President Donald Trump's supporters, alleged business connections between Hunter Biden and China.

Investigations in recent days, however, raised questions about its veracity and how it was compiled.

In a series of tweets over the weekend Lai said senior aide Mark Simon, a vocal critic of Biden, had "worked with the project". "Mark used my private company's money to reimburse for the research he requested. It's only US$10,000 so he didn't have to have my approval," Lai wrote.

"I know it is hard for anyone to believe that I didn't know about it and my integrity is damaged," he added.

Lai was one of the first people to be arrested under a new national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June following last year's pro-democracy protests.

Lai has long been a thorn in the side of Beijing and has spoken favourably of Trump's willingness to confront China. His Apple Daily newspapers and Next Magazine are unashamedly pro-democracy and he is routinely villified by China's state media.&nbsp;

According to AFP, Simon Sunday said he acted in his own capacity in paying for some of the research that ended up in the dossier.&nbsp;

"Apple Daily had nothing to do with the report and certainly Mr. Lai has nothing to do with it," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"All were completely unaware of me helping out with expenses of research."

Earlier on Friday, NBC published an investigation saying the 64-page dossier had "questionable authorship and anonymous sourcing". The investigation found the listed author, a supposed Swiss security analyst called Martin Aspen, was a fabricated identity and that his picture had been created using software.

According to NBC, blogger and academic Christopher Balding, a former associate professor at Fulbright University Vietnam, said he had contributed to the report and admitted Aspen did not exist. He said the report was was "commissioned by Apple Daily", Lai's staunchly pro-democracy and anti-Beijing newspaper in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The paper denied that characterisation, as did Simon.&nbsp;

"I nor anyone at Apple did anything in terms of research or writing, just no role whatsoever.&nbsp;&nbsp;All arms length," he said.&nbsp;

"$10k is well within my discretion, but putting Apple people and Jimmy in the firing line was wrong. I was far too casual with using Apple Daily name, I abused the trust I have been given," he added, explaining his decision to resign.

Apple Daily's newsroom was raided by more than 200 police officers and authorities accuse Lai of "colluding with foreign forces" and money laundering.

(with inputs)

A top aide to Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has admitted he helped fund a contentious report alleging links between Joe Biden's son and China. He, however, insisted his boss did not know about it.

A top aide to Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has admitted he helped fund a contentious report alleging links between Joe Biden's son and China. He, however, insisted his boss did not know about it. Senior aide Mark Simon on Sunday stepped down from his post at Apple Daily after the admission. The 64-page document by a fictitious author, which was circulated online and seized on by US President Donald Trump's supporters, alleged business connections between Hunter Biden and China. Investigations in recent days, however, raised questions about its veracity and how it was compiled. In a series of tweets over the weekend Lai said senior aide Mark Simon, a vocal critic of Biden, had "worked with the project". "Mark used my private company's money to reimburse for the research he requested. It's only US$10,000 so he didn't have to have my approval," Lai wrote. "I know it is hard for anyone to believe that I didn't know about it and my integrity is damaged," he added. Lai was one of the first people to be arrested under a new national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June following last year's pro-democracy protests. Lai has long been a thorn in the side of Beijing and has spoken favourably of Trump's willingness to confront China. His Apple Daily newspapers and Next Magazine are unashamedly pro-democracy and he is routinely villified by China's state media. According to AFP, Simon Sunday said he acted in his own capacity in paying for some of the research that ended up in the dossier. "Apple Daily had nothing to do with the report and certainly Mr. Lai has nothing to do with it," he said. "All were completely unaware of me helping out with expenses of research." Earlier on Friday, NBC published an investigation saying the 64-page dossier had "questionable authorship and anonymous sourcing". The investigation found the listed author, a supposed Swiss security analyst called Martin Aspen, was a fabricated identity and that his picture had been created using software. According to NBC, blogger and academic Christopher Balding, a former associate professor at Fulbright University Vietnam, said he had contributed to the report and admitted Aspen did not exist. He said the report was was "commissioned by Apple Daily", Lai's staunchly pro-democracy and anti-Beijing newspaper in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The paper denied that characterisation, as did Simon. "I nor anyone at Apple did anything in terms of research or writing, just no role whatsoever. All arms length," he said. "$10k is well within my discretion, but putting Apple people and Jimmy in the firing line was wrong. I was far too casual with using Apple Daily name, I abused the trust I have been given," he added, explaining his decision to resign. Apple Daily's newsroom was raided by more than 200 police officers and authorities accuse Lai of "colluding with foreign forces" and money laundering. (with inputs)

Hong Kong media tycoon Lai unaware of Biden dossier, aide says

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia.&nbsp; The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again."&nbsp;

The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party.&nbsp;"Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing.

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We’re baaaaaaack <a href="https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV">https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV</a> <a href="https://t.co/SkVtp4o9ew">pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1322304510736371713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban."

The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son.

The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation.&nbsp;"The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account. New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia. The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again." The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party. "Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing. We’re baaaaaaack https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew — New York Post (@nypost) October 30, 2020 × New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban." The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son. The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation. "The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

'We are back': New York Post returns to Twitter after account is unfrozen

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said he personally had "nothing to do with" a report on alleged China business links of the son of U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden, but admitted funds from his private firm had been used to fund it.

Lai, a prominent democracy advocate in Hong Kong and a staunch China critic, said on Twitter that he was "sorry" that his flagship newspaper, Apple Daily, had been implicated in an article by U.S. media outlet NBC.

In the article, NBC alleged that a 64-page document circulating on the internet about the purported connections of Hunter Biden to the Chinese Communist Party and his business dealings in China had "questionable authorship and anonymous sourcing".

The article cited the co-author of the "intelligence document", Christopher Balding, as saying the document had been "commissioned by Apple Daily", which the paper said in a statement were "false allegations".

Balding, an academic, didn`t immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

While Lai said that his newspapers had not personally commissioned the 64-page document, he admitted that his senior executive, Mark Simon, had "worked with the project".

"Mark used my private company’s money to reimburse for the research he requested. It’s only US$10,000 so he didn’t have to have my approval," Lai added on Twitter.

"I know it is hard for anyone to believe that I didn’t know about it and my integrity is damaged."

In a statement posted online, Simon said he had resigned because of the incident, and apologised for having "allowed damage to Jimmy on a matter he was completely in the dark on".

He gave no further details when contacted by Reuters.

The Apple Daily recently published two articles on Hunter Biden and his ties to a Taiwanese businessman who the paper said was a purported broker "enabling Hunter Biden’s deals in mainland China over a decade".

But the paper said in a statement that these stories had been carried out by its own journalists in Taiwan with independent verification of their own findings, and were separate from the 64-page document.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said he personally had "nothing to do with" a report on alleged China business links of the son of U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden, but admitted funds from his private firm had been used to fund it.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said he personally had "nothing to do with" a report on alleged China business links of the son of U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden, but admitted funds from his private firm had been used to fund it. Lai, a prominent democracy advocate in Hong Kong and a staunch China critic, said on Twitter that he was "sorry" that his flagship newspaper, Apple Daily, had been implicated in an article by U.S. media outlet NBC. In the article, NBC alleged that a 64-page document circulating on the internet about the purported connections of Hunter Biden to the Chinese Communist Party and his business dealings in China had "questionable authorship and anonymous sourcing". The article cited the co-author of the "intelligence document", Christopher Balding, as saying the document had been "commissioned by Apple Daily", which the paper said in a statement were "false allegations". Balding, an academic, didn`t immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. While Lai said that his newspapers had not personally commissioned the 64-page document, he admitted that his senior executive, Mark Simon, had "worked with the project". "Mark used my private company’s money to reimburse for the research he requested. It’s only US$10,000 so he didn’t have to have my approval," Lai added on Twitter. "I know it is hard for anyone to believe that I didn’t know about it and my integrity is damaged." In a statement posted online, Simon said he had resigned because of the incident, and apologised for having "allowed damage to Jimmy on a matter he was completely in the dark on". He gave no further details when contacted by Reuters. The Apple Daily recently published two articles on Hunter Biden and his ties to a Taiwanese businessman who the paper said was a purported broker "enabling Hunter Biden’s deals in mainland China over a decade". But the paper said in a statement that these stories had been carried out by its own journalists in Taiwan with independent verification of their own findings, and were separate from the 64-page document.

Hong Kong media boss distances himself from contentious Hunter Biden-China report

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.

Putin's rejection of US President&nbsp;Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden family business comes with almost a week to go for the US election 2020 on November 3.

Trump, who is trailing behind Biden in opinion polls, has used the debates to make accusations that&nbsp;Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-election-2020-opinion-polls-show-joe-biden-holding-substantial-lead-337842/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Putin, who has praised Trump in the past for saying he wanted better ties with Moscow, has said Russia will work with any US&nbsp;leader while noting what he called Joe Biden's "sharp anti-Russian rhetoric".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-hit-trump-team-slams-failure-biden-337891" hreflang="en">Covid-hit Trump team slams 'failure' Biden</a>

Putin&nbsp;appeared less friendly towards Trump in remarks broadcast by Russian state TV on Sunday. In what may be seen by some analysts as an attempt to try to curry favour with the Biden camp, he took the time to knock down what he made clear he regarded as false allegations from Trump about the Bidens.

"Yes, in Ukraine he (Hunter Biden) had or maybe still has a business, I don't know. It doesn't concern us. It concerns the Americans and the Ukrainians," said&nbsp;Putin.

"But well yes he had at least one company, which he practically headed up, and judging from everything he made good money. I don't see anything criminal about this, at least we don't know anything about this (being criminal)."

Putin&nbsp;also reacted with visible irritation when asked about comments Trump has made concerning&nbsp;Putin's ties to the former mayor of Moscow, and to an alleged payment made to Hunter Biden by the ex-mayor's widow.&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;said he knew nothing about the existence of any commercial relationship between Hunter and the woman. Joe Biden says the accusation about his son is not true.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies concluded that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election to tilt the contest in Trump's favour, an allegation Moscow has denied.

Russia has also dismissed accusations by US&nbsp;intelligence agencies of trying to interfere with this year's election too.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business. Putin's rejection of US President Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden family business comes with almost a week to go for the US election 2020 on November 3. Trump, who is trailing behind Biden in opinion polls, has used the debates to make accusations that Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited. Putin, who has praised Trump in the past for saying he wanted better ties with Moscow, has said Russia will work with any US leader while noting what he called Joe Biden's "sharp anti-Russian rhetoric". Also read: Covid-hit Trump team slams 'failure' Biden Putin appeared less friendly towards Trump in remarks broadcast by Russian state TV on Sunday. In what may be seen by some analysts as an attempt to try to curry favour with the Biden camp, he took the time to knock down what he made clear he regarded as false allegations from Trump about the Bidens. "Yes, in Ukraine he (Hunter Biden) had or maybe still has a business, I don't know. It doesn't concern us. It concerns the Americans and the Ukrainians," said Putin. "But well yes he had at least one company, which he practically headed up, and judging from everything he made good money. I don't see anything criminal about this, at least we don't know anything about this (being criminal)." Putin also reacted with visible irritation when asked about comments Trump has made concerning Putin's ties to the former mayor of Moscow, and to an alleged payment made to Hunter Biden by the ex-mayor's widow. Putin said he knew nothing about the existence of any commercial relationship between Hunter and the woman. Joe Biden says the accusation about his son is not true. US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to tilt the contest in Trump's favour, an allegation Moscow has denied. Russia has also dismissed accusations by US intelligence agencies of trying to interfere with this year's election too.

US election 2020: Vladimir Putin rejects Donald Trump's criticism of Hunter Biden's business

Former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/the-white-house">White House</a> Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, is back in the news a few weeks before the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a> and has made claims regarding the President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> and the former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

Bannon's first claim was that everything found on Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden's hard drive/laptop is true and he accused Biden of being a "stone cold liar".

"Joe Biden has lied about this for years," Bannon told Sky News in an interview Sunday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-trump-say-theyre-fighting-for-americas-soul-what-does-that-mean-336269">Also read|&nbsp;Biden and Trump say they’re fighting for America’s ‘soul.’ What does that mean?</a>

Detailing further, he said, "What Fox did, which was very interesting on that issue but also on the Chinese – they actually went to the people on the emails and contacted them. What was so stunning is that they reported last night that one, the guys on the emails said absolutely the meetings happened. This is not off of some Russia intelligence operation. That emails correct, the meanings correct and, by the way, that 10 per cent of the equity is Joe Biden's."

He also offered proof about the hard drive being Hunter Biden's, and claimed that the Biden's lawyers have tried contacting Bannon and the repair shop&nbsp;multiple times. "We have the emails from the Lawyer, if we need to release them, we'll release them," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-may-have-to-leave-country-donald-trump-says-about-losing-to-biden-in-us-election-336195">Also read|&nbsp;'I may have to leave country': Donald Trump says about losing to Biden in US election</a>

"The stunning thing about these emails… is that Biden has basically said to the American people, 'I knew nothing about it.' Now we actually see they had meetings set up.

"That sets the predicate that Joe Biden has lied consistently over the last couple years to the American people. He lied on the debate stage with President Trump," he said.

Trump&nbsp;immediately took to Twitter to criticise his opponent, calling him a corrupt politician. "Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, and everybody knows it. Now you have the proof, perhaps like never was had before on a major politician. Laptop plus. This is the second biggest political scandal in our history!," he tweeted.

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Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, and everybody knows it. Now you have the proof, perhaps like never was had before on a major politician. Laptop plus. This is the second biggest political scandal in our history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1317852810302558208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Bannon also made the prediction of&nbsp;the upcoming&nbsp;US elections&nbsp;claiming that "Trump will win on election day".

'I'll make this prediction right now: if for any reason the election is stolen from or in some sort of way Joe Biden is declared the winner, Trump will announce he's going to run for re-election in 2024," Bannon said.

He also predicted that the election result may go to Supreme Court or may&nbsp;be conferred to the House of Representative in January, adding a warning that the results will not be "settled any time soon".

Former White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, is back in the news a few weeks before the US election and has made claims regarding the President Donald Trump and the former Vice President Joe Biden.

Former White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, is back in the news a few weeks before the US election and has made claims regarding the President Donald Trump and the former Vice President Joe Biden. Bannon's first claim was that everything found on Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden's hard drive/laptop is true and he accused Biden of being a "stone cold liar". "Joe Biden has lied about this for years," Bannon told Sky News in an interview Sunday. Also read| Biden and Trump say they’re fighting for America’s ‘soul.’ What does that mean? Detailing further, he said, "What Fox did, which was very interesting on that issue but also on the Chinese – they actually went to the people on the emails and contacted them. What was so stunning is that they reported last night that one, the guys on the emails said absolutely the meetings happened. This is not off of some Russia intelligence operation. That emails correct, the meanings correct and, by the way, that 10 per cent of the equity is Joe Biden's." He also offered proof about the hard drive being Hunter Biden's, and claimed that the Biden's lawyers have tried contacting Bannon and the repair shop multiple times. "We have the emails from the Lawyer, if we need to release them, we'll release them," he said. Also read| 'I may have to leave country': Donald Trump says about losing to Biden in US election "The stunning thing about these emails… is that Biden has basically said to the American people, 'I knew nothing about it.' Now we actually see they had meetings set up. "That sets the predicate that Joe Biden has lied consistently over the last couple years to the American people. He lied on the debate stage with President Trump," he said. Trump immediately took to Twitter to criticise his opponent, calling him a corrupt politician. "Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, and everybody knows it. Now you have the proof, perhaps like never was had before on a major politician. Laptop plus. This is the second biggest political scandal in our history!," he tweeted. Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, and everybody knows it. Now you have the proof, perhaps like never was had before on a major politician. Laptop plus. This is the second biggest political scandal in our history! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2020 × Bannon also made the prediction of the upcoming US elections claiming that "Trump will win on election day". 'I'll make this prediction right now: if for any reason the election is stolen from or in some sort of way Joe Biden is declared the winner, Trump will announce he's going to run for re-election in 2024," Bannon said. He also predicted that the election result may go to Supreme Court or may be conferred to the House of Representative in January, adding a warning that the results will not be "settled any time soon".

If he doesn't win, Donald Trump will be back in 2024: Steve Bannon

Tech giant&nbsp;Twitter has annouced&nbsp;changes in its&nbsp;hacking policy after trying to bury&nbsp;a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Twitter&nbsp;policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving&nbsp;feedback on its enforcement earlier.

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So, what’s changing? 
 
1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 
 
2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter
— Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijaya/status/1316923557268652033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Twitter and&nbsp;Facebook had&nbsp;limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fumes-as-facebook-twitter-limit-reach-of-smoking-gun-article-on-biden-and-his-son-335344">Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son</a>

Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false."

The New York Post story stated&nbsp;that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm.

Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this.

US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step.

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Congratulations to the <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a> for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1316580278568022016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the&nbsp;@NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump.

However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy,&nbsp;the New York Post story would still be blocked.

A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information."

Twitter's Chief Executive&nbsp;Jack Dorsey said&nbsp;blocking New York Post article without context was wrong.

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Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. <a href="https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887">https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887</a>
— jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1317081843443912706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Twitter policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving feedback on its enforcement earlier. So, what’s changing? 1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter — Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) October 16, 2020 × Twitter and Facebook had limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Also read: Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false." The New York Post story stated that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm. Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this. US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step. Congratulations to the @nypost for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2020 × "So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump. However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy, the New York Post story would still be blocked. A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information." Twitter's Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said blocking New York Post article without context was wrong. Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887 — jack (@jack) October 16, 2020 ×

Twitter changes policy on hacking after Biden censorship expose fiasco

Are social media giants trying to manipulate the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections? If not, why then have Facebook and Twitter restricted the reach of an article on Hunter Biden? Palki Sharma Upadhyay has the details.

Gravitas: Is social media manipulating U.S. polls?

US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired an angry tweet against Facebook and Twitter's decision to limit online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The story raises allegations against Hunter Biden and his actions that involved Joe Biden.

"So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the&nbsp;@NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump.

The New York Post story says that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm.

Donald Trump has been in dock in past over allegations that he colluded with Russia to secure victory in US Presidential elections 2020. Donald Trump's son was investigated for his contact with a Russian lawyer who had Russian spy agency as her client.

Given the background, latest allegations against Hunter Biden and Joe Biden may well present Trump with an opportunity to score political brownie points close to elections.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-son-barron-tests-positive-for-covid-19-335340">Trump's son Barron tests positive for COVID-19</a>

Meanwhile, Facebook Spokesperson Andy Stone said that the New York Post story had enough for it to be eligible for a fact check.

"While I will intentionally not link to the New York Post, I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact-checked by Facebook's third-party fact-checking partners. In the meantime, we are reducing its distribution on our platform," tweeted Andy Stone, Facebook Spokesperson.

Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired an angry tweet against Facebook and Twitter's decision to limit online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired an angry tweet against Facebook and Twitter's decision to limit online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The story raises allegations against Hunter Biden and his actions that involved Joe Biden. "So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump. The New York Post story says that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm. Donald Trump has been in dock in past over allegations that he colluded with Russia to secure victory in US Presidential elections 2020. Donald Trump's son was investigated for his contact with a Russian lawyer who had Russian spy agency as her client. Given the background, latest allegations against Hunter Biden and Joe Biden may well present Trump with an opportunity to score political brownie points close to elections. Also Read | Trump's son Barron tests positive for COVID-19 Meanwhile, Facebook Spokesperson Andy Stone said that the New York Post story had enough for it to be eligible for a fact check. "While I will intentionally not link to the New York Post, I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact-checked by Facebook's third-party fact-checking partners. In the meantime, we are reducing its distribution on our platform," tweeted Andy Stone, Facebook Spokesperson. Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this.

Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son

According to a US Senate Committee report, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a> son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;during the Obama administration.

Watch:

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The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641"> Biden </a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-biden-wins-china-wins-trump-at-election-rally-329313">Also Read: If Biden wins, China wins, says&nbsp;Trump at election rally</a>

The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president."&nbsp;

"Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden received $3.5 million in wire transfer from Elena Baturina who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow," it said.

"In particular these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was the vice-president of US," the report claimed.

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The report said Biden and Archer found "willing partners in Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime", adding that "their work began in China in 2009 with the creation of Rosemont Seneca Partners with Heinz, the stepson of the then secretary of state John Kerry.

"Hunter Biden's connections and financial associations appear to have accelerated significantly after he associated himself with Ye Jianming who had deep connections with the Communist regime and PLA," it said.

The Senate report accused Hunter Biden of making "millions from the relationship".

According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president during the Obama administration.

According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president during the Obama administration. Watch: The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." Also Read: If Biden wins, China wins, says Trump at election rally The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president." "Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden received $3.5 million in wire transfer from Elena Baturina who allegedly received illegal construction contracts from her husband, the former mayor of Moscow," it said. "In particular these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was the vice-president of US," the report claimed. × The report said Biden and Archer found "willing partners in Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime", adding that "their work began in China in 2009 with the creation of Rosemont Seneca Partners with Heinz, the stepson of the then secretary of state John Kerry. "Hunter Biden's connections and financial associations appear to have accelerated significantly after he associated himself with Ye Jianming who had deep connections with the Communist regime and PLA," it said. The Senate report accused Hunter Biden of making "millions from the relationship".

US Senate report reveals Joe Biden son Hunter's links with Chinese, Ukrainian firms

Did Joe Biden's son Hunter do business with Chinese nationals linked to the PLA? Palki Sharma Upadhyay analyses a new explosive report released by a Republican Senate committee.

Gravitas: Hunter Biden's business links with China

Chris Wallace reveals major topics for the first presidential debate. The brutal supreme court nomination battle, the worst pandemic in a century, a flattened national economy and the ongoing nation-wide protests. With the latest report on Hunter Biden, the debate can swiftly turn towards the records of contenders & integrity of elections.

US Election 2020: Trump & Biden gear up for live face-off

Six weeks before election, Republican-led senate committee releases report on Hunter Biden's financial dealings with the Chinese Communist Party & Ukraine government. given the timing of this politically charged report, will this revelation overshadow the first presidential debate? or cost Joe Biden his presidency?

US Election 2020: Hunter Biden's connection with China & Ukraine

Speaking exclusively to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, former White House staffer Mike McCormick has claimed that Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden is unfit to become the President of the United States. The author of 'Joe Biden Unauthorized: And the 2020 Crackup of the Democratic Party'&nbsp;also spoke on topics such as nepotism and the release of tell-all books before the election.

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Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Mike McCormick says about Biden that he is ''completely different from what he was in 2017. Biden has lost his step and does not have mental equity, he worked closely with him during 2011-2017, travelled around the world with him. At DNC, he was reading every word from a prompter. Used to make fun about prepared speeches and talked from his heart''. 
&nbsp; 
WION: Could it be because he was nervous. Not known for his oratorical skills and the recent scrutiny about his style.

Mike McCormick: Biden has always been very proud and a strong speaker. He has never used any speeches by his writers. DNC speech was approximately 25 minutes but usually goes on to 45 minutes because he is getting weak and does not have that sort of energy and vitality but Donald Trump is getting stronger because he is able able to do it.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravitas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravitas</a> | Speaking exclusively to <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a>, former White House Stenographer Mike McCormick (<a href="https://twitter.com/15_deplorable?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@15_deplorable</a>) has claimed that Democratic Presidential Nominee <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> is unfit to become the President of the US<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USElection2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USElection2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/HFpNewT6dT">pic.twitter.com/HFpNewT6dT</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1304301165136375816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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WION: You have written two pro-Trump books and your narrative is the same as his... Trump says, 'he doesn't have a clue. He was good during his prime time but not anymore. Let's face it, Joe's short'' Is it a coincidence that your books promote the Trump campaign?

Mike McCormick: It is not a coincidence. I worked as a stenographer in the White House for 15 years from 2002 to 2017. This includes a year with Trump. I saw Americans who were not being listened to and were being listened to Donald Trump. Joe makes a fool of himself in front of dictatorial leaders. Vladimir Putin made Biden look foolish in Moscow when he invited him to tell about his history with Russia. When Biden did not stop talking, Putin shut the lights and the microphone while Biden was still speaking. It left Biden speechless.

Similarly, Xi Jinping made fun of him in Beijing in front of me in 2011 during his early period of vice-presidency and I wrote a chapter on it in my book', they demonstrated that he is too weak to be a world leader. People in the United States did not see that side of Joe Biden because it was never reported.

WION: You're saying he is physically and mentally weak and thus, incapable of being a world leader. You were described as a constant presence during his vice presidency and so, you were privy to a lot of information.

Mike McCormick: No, I wouldn't say that. My job at the White House was that of a stenographer in the press office. My job was to record what Biden said to the press. So, I travelled with him. But he never got the level of attention as a president gets.

WION: Talking about nepotism. What's worse, to have your son's business benefit because you're the vice-president or to have your daughter and son-in-law as presidential advisors despite no specific qualification?

Mike McCormick: It depends on the job they do. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have done a good job as advisers to US President Donald Trump.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravitas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravitas</a> | Former White House Stenographer Mike McCormick (<a href="https://twitter.com/15_deplorable?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@15_deplorable</a>) says that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have done a good job as advisers to US President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>. Here is an exclusive conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/jaredkushner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaredkushner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IvankaTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USElection2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USElection2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/h8p69jytCh">pic.twitter.com/h8p69jytCh</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1304302898319245312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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WION: But Ivanka Trump also has business interest in China.

Mike McCormick: Ivanka has not got into any trouble unlike Hunter Biden who was caught by US Navy for possessing cocaine in 2013 when he went to China but the White House tried to cover it up.

WION: She's not been caught yet. That's what you are saying?

Mike McCormick: &nbsp;She has done no such thing. No, the reason for her to get caught. Hunter Biden keeps doing it. A 2019 article in the New Yorker magazine also said he said he led a life of degradation. It has ended up in such a manner that he is hardly a part of life anymore.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-book-troubles-for-donald-trump-in-2020-326488">US election 2020: Book troubles for Donald Trump in 2020</a>

WION: Donald Trump's health has also been questioned recently. He suffered a couple of "series strokes". Do you agree that age is not the strong suit of either of the presidential contenders?

Mike McCormick: No, I do not agree with it at all. I think Donald Trump is one of the most highly energetic people. When I worked with him for a year, that is, during 2017-2018, I did not see him missing a step. He is engaging and active in front of people. He handles the press better than any American President whereas Joe Biden is afraid to go out and talk to the press. He cannot hold press conferences day after day.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-controversies-associated-with-watergate-scandal-reporter-bob-woodward-326637">US election 2020: Controversies associated with Watergate scandal reporter Bob Woodward</a>

WION: Bob Woodward's book "Rage" is in the headlines these days. In it he claims that Trump downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic, how conveniently timed are these publications to exploit the election fever.

Mike McCormick: I wrote my book in March. I thought I was publishing my book for the primary season, a time when Americans decide the Democratic leader. Joe Biden became the frontrunner and the pandemic hit. All democratic party events went online. No one got the chance to see what Biden was doing for months. In June, I sent a copy of my book to every Senator on the list of Senate Homeland Security Committee who are investigating Hunter Biden's activities. Joe Biden's Vice Presential pick Kamala Harris got a copy of my book in the mail in June. If she didn't they do not post the US Pose Service. I wrote my second book to tell the truth about Joe Biden. My first book was about how the White House press is lenient towards Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

WION: Are tell-all books by close staffers an ethical practice?

Mike McCormick:&nbsp;Tell-all books need to be judged by their merit and credibility. In my case, I was an eye witness and used White House sources and transcripts. An informed voter is the best voter and they need to know the truth before the elections.

Speaking exclusively to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, former White House staffer Mike McCormick has claimed that Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden is unfit to become the President of the United States.

Speaking exclusively to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, former White House staffer Mike McCormick has claimed that Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden is unfit to become the President of the United States. The author of 'Joe Biden Unauthorized: And the 2020 Crackup of the Democratic Party' also spoke on topics such as nepotism and the release of tell-all books before the election. Here is an excerpt of the interview: Mike McCormick says about Biden that he is ''completely different from what he was in 2017. Biden has lost his step and does not have mental equity, he worked closely with him during 2011-2017, travelled around the world with him. At DNC, he was reading every word from a prompter. Used to make fun about prepared speeches and talked from his heart''. WION: Could it be because he was nervous. Not known for his oratorical skills and the recent scrutiny about his style. Mike McCormick: Biden has always been very proud and a strong speaker. He has never used any speeches by his writers. DNC speech was approximately 25 minutes but usually goes on to 45 minutes because he is getting weak and does not have that sort of energy and vitality but Donald Trump is getting stronger because he is able able to do it. #Gravitas | Speaking exclusively to @palkisu, former White House Stenographer Mike McCormick (@15_deplorable) has claimed that Democratic Presidential Nominee @JoeBiden is unfit to become the President of the US#USElection2020 pic.twitter.com/HFpNewT6dT — WION (@WIONews) September 11, 2020 × WION: You have written two pro-Trump books and your narrative is the same as his... Trump says, 'he doesn't have a clue. He was good during his prime time but not anymore. Let's face it, Joe's short'' Is it a coincidence that your books promote the Trump campaign? Mike McCormick: It is not a coincidence. I worked as a stenographer in the White House for 15 years from 2002 to 2017. This includes a year with Trump. I saw Americans who were not being listened to and were being listened to Donald Trump. Joe makes a fool of himself in front of dictatorial leaders. Vladimir Putin made Biden look foolish in Moscow when he invited him to tell about his history with Russia. When Biden did not stop talking, Putin shut the lights and the microphone while Biden was still speaking. It left Biden speechless. Similarly, Xi Jinping made fun of him in Beijing in front of me in 2011 during his early period of vice-presidency and I wrote a chapter on it in my book', they demonstrated that he is too weak to be a world leader. People in the United States did not see that side of Joe Biden because it was never reported. WION: You're saying he is physically and mentally weak and thus, incapable of being a world leader. You were described as a constant presence during his vice presidency and so, you were privy to a lot of information. Mike McCormick: No, I wouldn't say that. My job at the White House was that of a stenographer in the press office. My job was to record what Biden said to the press. So, I travelled with him. But he never got the level of attention as a president gets. WION: Talking about nepotism. What's worse, to have your son's business benefit because you're the vice-president or to have your daughter and son-in-law as presidential advisors despite no specific qualification? Mike McCormick: It depends on the job they do. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have done a good job as advisers to US President Donald Trump. #Gravitas | Former White House Stenographer Mike McCormick (@15_deplorable) says that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have done a good job as advisers to US President @realDonaldTrump. Here is an exclusive conversation with @palkisu.@jaredkushner @IvankaTrump #USElection2020 pic.twitter.com/h8p69jytCh — WION (@WIONews) September 11, 2020 × WION: But Ivanka Trump also has business interest in China. Mike McCormick: Ivanka has not got into any trouble unlike Hunter Biden who was caught by US Navy for possessing cocaine in 2013 when he went to China but the White House tried to cover it up. WION: She's not been caught yet. That's what you are saying? Mike McCormick: She has done no such thing. No, the reason for her to get caught. Hunter Biden keeps doing it. A 2019 article in the New Yorker magazine also said he said he led a life of degradation. It has ended up in such a manner that he is hardly a part of life anymore. Also see: US election 2020: Book troubles for Donald Trump in 2020 WION: Donald Trump's health has also been questioned recently. He suffered a couple of "series strokes". Do you agree that age is not the strong suit of either of the presidential contenders? Mike McCormick: No, I do not agree with it at all. I think Donald Trump is one of the most highly energetic people. When I worked with him for a year, that is, during 2017-2018, I did not see him missing a step. He is engaging and active in front of people. He handles the press better than any American President whereas Joe Biden is afraid to go out and talk to the press. He cannot hold press conferences day after day. Also see: US election 2020: Controversies associated with Watergate scandal reporter Bob Woodward WION: Bob Woodward's book "Rage" is in the headlines these days. In it he claims that Trump downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic, how conveniently timed are these publications to exploit the election fever. Mike McCormick: I wrote my book in March. I thought I was publishing my book for the primary season, a time when Americans decide the Democratic leader. Joe Biden became the frontrunner and the pandemic hit. All democratic party events went online. No one got the chance to see what Biden was doing for months. In June, I sent a copy of my book to every Senator on the list of Senate Homeland Security Committee who are investigating Hunter Biden's activities. Joe Biden's Vice Presential pick Kamala Harris got a copy of my book in the mail in June. If she didn't they do not post the US Pose Service. I wrote my second book to tell the truth about Joe Biden. My first book was about how the White House press is lenient towards Joe Biden and Barack Obama. WION: Are tell-all books by close staffers an ethical practice? Mike McCormick: Tell-all books need to be judged by their merit and credibility. In my case, I was an eye witness and used White House sources and transcripts. An informed voter is the best voter and they need to know the truth before the elections.

US election 2020: Biden is 'unfit' to become the next president, says former White House stenographer Mike McCormick to WION

As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-not-lift-sanctions-to-negotiate-with-iran-donald-trump-276694">Donald Trump</a>'s impeachment continues in the Senate, his former national security adviser <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-had-ukraine-aid-withheld-reveals-boltons-new-book-276814">John Bolton</a> has confirmed in his new book that Trump&nbsp;had withheld military aid to Ukraine to force the country into probing his rival <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-lawyers-say-voters-should-decide-trumps-fate-276578">Joe Biden</a> and his son <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-accuse-trump-at-impeachment-trial-of-corrupt-scheme-to-pressure-ukraine-276105">Hunter </a>Biden.

According to an unpublished manuscript of Bolton's book accessed by the New York Times, Trump called for a month-long hold on a three-hundred-and-ninety-one million dollars aid to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-zelensky-rejects-pms-resignation-after-leaked-recording-274964">Ukraine</a>&nbsp;which is embroiled in a conflict with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-invite-nato-members-for-international-army-games-defence-minister-shoigu-276426">Russia</a>.

Trump allegedly wanted the Ukrainian government to open investigations into the Bidens.

Watch:&nbsp;Trump had Ukraine aid withheld, Reveals Bolton's new book

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-had-ukraine-aid-withheld-reveals-boltons-new-book-276814/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Hunter Biden had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was the&nbsp;US vice-president under ex-president Obama.

The leaked manuscript comes at a time when Democrats are criticising Bolton for refusing to voluntarily testify in the Senate.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-lawyers-say-voters-should-decide-trumps-fate-276578">White House lawyers say voters should decide Trump's fate</a>

The former national security adviser is among the most sought after and high profile witnesses in the Trump trial.

While Bolton himself refused to testify, other national security council members have confirmed that he was concerned with the Ukraine scandal.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-caught-saying-get-rid-of-ukraine-ambassador-on-tape-report-276592">Trump caught saying 'get rid' of Ukraine ambassador on tape: report</a>

Bolton has said that he will testify in Senate only if he is subpoenaed.

Meanwhile, Trump has rejected Bolton's admission saying that his former aide is spreading lies to "sell"&nbsp;his book.

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I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1221663763138588672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The former security adviser's admission comes a day after video from 2018 showed Trump interacting with his donors about Ukraine.

The US president was heard telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman&nbsp;that he wanted the American envoy to the Ukraine Mary Yovanovich fired.

John Bolton had served as US national security adviser for over a year and was among highest-ranking officials to express concerns over Ukraine.

His testimony will likely be damning for Trump as he will be his closest aide to testify if he appears before the Senate.

As Donald Trump's impeachment continues in the Senate, his former national security adviser John Bolton has confirmed in his new book that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine to force the country into probing his rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

As Donald Trump's impeachment continues in the Senate, his former national security adviser John Bolton has confirmed in his new book that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine to force the country into probing his rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. According to an unpublished manuscript of Bolton's book accessed by the New York Times, Trump called for a month-long hold on a three-hundred-and-ninety-one million dollars aid to Ukraine which is embroiled in a conflict with Russia. Trump allegedly wanted the Ukrainian government to open investigations into the Bidens. Watch: Trump had Ukraine aid withheld, Reveals Bolton's new book Hunter Biden had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was the US vice-president under ex-president Obama. The leaked manuscript comes at a time when Democrats are criticising Bolton for refusing to voluntarily testify in the Senate. Also read: White House lawyers say voters should decide Trump's fate The former national security adviser is among the most sought after and high profile witnesses in the Trump trial. While Bolton himself refused to testify, other national security council members have confirmed that he was concerned with the Ukraine scandal. Also read: Trump caught saying 'get rid' of Ukraine ambassador on tape: report Bolton has said that he will testify in Senate only if he is subpoenaed. Meanwhile, Trump has rejected Bolton's admission saying that his former aide is spreading lies to "sell" his book. I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020 × The former security adviser's admission comes a day after video from 2018 showed Trump interacting with his donors about Ukraine. The US president was heard telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman that he wanted the American envoy to the Ukraine Mary Yovanovich fired. John Bolton had served as US national security adviser for over a year and was among highest-ranking officials to express concerns over Ukraine. His testimony will likely be damning for Trump as he will be his closest aide to testify if he appears before the Senate.

Trump withheld aid to Ukraine, reveals Bolton's new book

Democrats in the US&nbsp;House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-win-impeachment-fight-us-president-donald-trump-266504">Donald Trump's presidency</a>.

The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-abused-power-us-house-to-draft-impeachment-charges-against-him-nancy-pelosi-266490">impeachment</a>, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday.

On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless."

Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US&nbsp;election.

Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal.

While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail.

The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees.

Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday.

The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election.

Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated.

Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense.

They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify.

Trump is the fourth US&nbsp;president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal. 
&nbsp;

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency. The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of impeachment, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday. On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless." Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US election. Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal. While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail. The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees. Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. "That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday. The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election. Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated. Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens. The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense. They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify. Trump is the fourth US president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal.

Democrats to spend weekend drafting impeachment charges against Donald Trump

Hunter Biden denied any wrongdoing in his business dealings in Ukraine and China but acknowledged he exercised poor judgment and cashed in on the fame of his last name.

In an interview to be aired Tuesday on ABC News, Biden said he had failed to anticipate how those activities would be become fodder for critics of his father, former vice president Joe Biden, as he runs for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Did I make a mistake? Maybe in the grand scheme of things," Biden said in the interview, excerpts of which were released ahead of its airing Tuesday evening before another Democratic presidential debate.

"But did I make a mistake based on some ethical lapse? Absolutely not," Biden, 49, insisted.

"I don’t think there’s a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn’t Biden," Biden said.

Biden held a lucrative position on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, while his father was vice president under Barack Obama and helped engineer the ouster of that country's prosecutor general on grounds he was weak on corruption.

A lawyer for Biden Jr&nbsp;said Sunday that Biden is leaving his position on the board of a Chinese private equity company.

Hunter Biden has kept out of public view since the impeachment scandal surrounding President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine erupted last month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-says-he-wont-tie-biden-concerns-to-trade-deal-with-china-253812">Trump has disparaged Biden Jr</a>&nbsp;and taunted him with tweets like this one last week: "WHERE'S HUNTER?"

Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated charges that Biden Sr&nbsp;intervened in Ukraine to protect his son. And news that Trump's request in a July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine that he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-violated-his-oath-of-office-he-should-be-impeached-biden-254850">probe the Bidens</a> has triggered the fast-moving impeachment investigation that is now consuming the Trump administration.

Biden Jr said in the interview that the administration has spread a "ridiculous conspiracy theory" about his work in Ukraine.

"I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father," Biden said.

"That’s where I made the mistake. So I take full responsibility for that. Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever," he added.

Hunter Biden denied any wrongdoing in his business dealings in Ukraine and China but acknowledged he exercised poor judgment and cashed in on the fame of his last name.

Hunter Biden denied any wrongdoing in his business dealings in Ukraine and China but acknowledged he exercised poor judgment and cashed in on the fame of his last name. In an interview to be aired Tuesday on ABC News, Biden said he had failed to anticipate how those activities would be become fodder for critics of his father, former vice president Joe Biden, as he runs for the Democratic presidential nomination. "Did I make a mistake? Maybe in the grand scheme of things," Biden said in the interview, excerpts of which were released ahead of its airing Tuesday evening before another Democratic presidential debate. "But did I make a mistake based on some ethical lapse? Absolutely not," Biden, 49, insisted. "I don’t think there’s a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn’t Biden," Biden said. Biden held a lucrative position on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, while his father was vice president under Barack Obama and helped engineer the ouster of that country's prosecutor general on grounds he was weak on corruption. A lawyer for Biden Jr said Sunday that Biden is leaving his position on the board of a Chinese private equity company. Hunter Biden has kept out of public view since the impeachment scandal surrounding President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine erupted last month. Trump has disparaged Biden Jr and taunted him with tweets like this one last week: "WHERE'S HUNTER?" Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated charges that Biden Sr intervened in Ukraine to protect his son. And news that Trump's request in a July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine that he probe the Bidens has triggered the fast-moving impeachment investigation that is now consuming the Trump administration. Biden Jr said in the interview that the administration has spread a "ridiculous conspiracy theory" about his work in Ukraine. "I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father," Biden said. "That’s where I made the mistake. So I take full responsibility for that. Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever," he added.

Hunter Biden admits error in judgment but insists no wrongdoing

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