Newly uncovered documents from the Department of Justice reveal a striking disparity in how a top lawyer for the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma was treated compared to Hunter Biden, who served on the company’s board.
This discrepancy, exposed through files obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, raises serious questions about fairness in federal oversight, as reported by DailyMail.com.
Back in 2016, John Buretta, a prominent attorney from Cravath, Swaine & Moore, was hired by Burisma amid potential investigations by U.S. authorities. He held multiple meetings with high-ranking government officials, including State Department and Justice Department figures, to advocate for a more favorable view of Burisma’s owner, Mykola Zlochevsky. By 2022, the DOJ determined Buretta should have registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for these efforts.
Buretta’s interactions included discussions with officials like Catherine Novelli and Bruce Swartz, pushing Burisma’s interests. It wasn’t until January 2024, over eight years later, that he and his firm finally registered, disclosing nearly $350,000 in payments from Burisma between 2016 and 2017. One might wonder why such a delay was tolerated, but at least the rule was eventually enforced.
Contrast this with Hunter Biden, who joined Burisma’s board in 2014 and remained until 2019. Emails from his laptop, obtained by the FBI, show he arranged meetings between Burisma executives and U.S. officials, including a notable 2015 dinner at Cafe Milano in Washington, D.C., where then-Vice President Joe Biden met Burisma’s Vadym Pozharskyi. Yet, no FARA registration was ever required of him.
Hunter also facilitated a 2015 meeting with then-Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and emails reveal further attempts to connect Blinken with Burisma-hired lobbyists. Despite these clear engagements with U.S. officials on behalf of a foreign entity, the DOJ took no action. It’s hard to ignore the optics of a well-connected name seemingly dodging the same accountability others faced.
Mike Howell, president of the conservative nonprofit The Oversight Project, which obtained these files, didn’t mince words in his critique. “The only reason Hunter wasn’t forced to register as a foreign agent is because he was the President’s son,” Howell told DailyMail.com. If true, this suggests a troubling double standard in how justice is applied, a concern that resonates with many who value equal treatment under the law.
Howell further argued that Hunter’s actions mirrored Buretta’s, describing the comparison as “apples to apples.” He accused the DOJ of twisting itself into knots to avoid scrutinizing the Biden family, pointing to a broader pattern of evasion by federal entities. While one can empathize with the complexities of high-profile cases, such apparent leniency fuels distrust in our institutions.
Adding to the controversy, other Burisma associates, like lobbyists from Blue Star Strategies, hired at Hunter’s behest, were also forced to register under FARA in 2022 after a probe. Emails show Hunter was instrumental in connecting Blue Star with Burisma, yet he faced no similar mandate. This selective enforcement only deepens the perception of favoritism.
Further evidence of Hunter’s involvement comes from a fellow Burisma board member, Devon Archer, who reportedly testified to a grand jury about these dealings. Archer himself met with Joe Biden at the White House in 2014, just before joining Burisma. These connections, while not inherently illicit, certainly warrant the same scrutiny applied to others.
Two IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who investigated Hunter’s taxes, claimed to Congress that potential FARA violations related to his Burisma work were evident. They alleged that DOJ officials blocked a deeper inquiry into these matters. If accurate, this obstruction undermines the very principles of transparency we hold dear.
Even in a dramatic 2023 court hearing in Delaware, the DOJ admitted Hunter could be liable for FARA charges during discussions over a plea deal on unrelated gun and tax issues. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned what some called an overly lenient arrangement, which later unraveled when prosecutors hinted at possible future FARA charges. Yet, no such charges materialized, leaving many to ponder why.
Howell lamented what he sees as a corrupt chapter in American history, urging the public to demand truth and accountability. “If you don’t solve these things, things will get worse,” he warned. His call for clarity strikes a chord with those frustrated by perceived elitism in governance.
The pardon Hunter received before Joe Biden left office, covering potential crimes dating back to 2014, effectively closed the door on further prosecution. While legal, this move only amplifies questions about whether justice was truly blind in this case. It’s a bitter pill for those who believe no one should be above the law.
Ultimately, this saga isn’t just about one individual or company; it’s about trust in our system. When rules seem to bend for the powerful, public faith erodes, and that’s a loss we can ill afford. Let’s hope for a future where accountability isn’t a privilege but a standard applied to all.
