Due to the fact he is apparently a legal commodity market expert, Hunter Biden, the son of US Vice President Joe Biden, has a new position with Ukraine’s largest private gas producer, Burisma Holdings.
According to a statement released on its website, the Ukraine gas company will utilize Biden’s talents to engage in “support” efforts with international organizations.
Escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia
Escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia have been a major issue, with military implications if gas is cut off from Russia to the European Union. In the the past several weeks the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has tried to step in to influence Russia not to stop natural gas shipments to Ukraine. Russia is demanding that Ukraine pays $3.5 billion in debts, using this as a chip in a high stakes poker game.
This is the high stakes entanglement that Biden, and the US government, may find themselves entangled. Biden’s hiring, however, has in no way been endorsed by the White House, presidential spokesperson Jay Carney was quoted as saying. “Hunter Biden and other members of the family are obviously private citizens and where they work is not an endorsement by the president or vice president,” he said in the report.
Vice president Biden’s response
Vice President Biden’s press spokeswoman, Kendra Barkoff, did not respond to questions about whether Hunter Biden discussed the job with his father or sought his approval before accepting it, the report said. “Hunter Biden is a private citizen and a lawyer,” she said. “The vice president does not endorse any particular company and has no involvement with this company. For any additional questions, I refer you to Hunter’s office.” A spokeswoman for Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, a national law firm based in New York where Hunter Biden works, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the report noted.
Alan Apter, chairman of Burisma Holdings board of directors, said in a statement: “The company’s strategy is aimed at the strongest concentration of professional staff and the introduction of best corporate practices, and we’re delighted that Mr. Biden is joining us to help us achieve these goals.”
