Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is facing a congressional ethics probe into his international business dealings, but that hasn’t stopped him from raking in big bucks from his latest art exhibition in New York City.
Despite the controversy surrounding his business practices, Hunter’s art is being sold at prices ranging from $65,000 to $200,000 at the Georges Bergès Art Gallery in SoHo.
Some critics have argued that buyers are paying for the Biden last name, rather than the quality of the art itself. “There is simply no way an artist who has never even juried into a community center art fair is going to suddenly show up in New York selling art for half a million a pop,” said Walter Shaub, former ethics chief under President Obama.
“Let’s talk about the magnitude of this… That’s $6.5 million going to the president’s son for being the president’s son, not for being an artist, and I just think that’s absolutely appalling.”
The congressional ethics probe into Hunter’s business dealings is expected to heat up once Republicans take control of the House in early 2023. Committee Republicans have already released an interim report detailing President Biden’s connection to his son’s business dealings and activity abroad, which raised concerns that the Biden family may be “susceptible to influence, blackmail or extortion by foreign entities.”
The art industry has also been known to be a breeding ground for money laundering and fraud, and with the buyers of Hunter’s art remaining confidential, it is possible that some may be trying to gain favor with the first family.
Despite the controversy, Hunter has continued to profit from his art, and he was even seen viewing his own pieces with his family at the New York City gallery. It remains to be seen how the congressional ethics probe will impact the younger Biden’s fledgling art career.
