House Republicans sent a letter to Hollywood producer Lanette Phillips on Thursday asking that she participate in a transcribed interview to discuss her ties with Hunter Biden.
Phillips introduced the first son to Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris and Georges Bergès, who later became Biden’s art representative.
In the letter obtained by National Review, House Oversight chairman James Comer and House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan note Morris told the committees that he met Biden in November 2019 at a fundraiser for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“After you made these introductions, Morris purchased art from Hunter Biden through sales facilitated by Bergès,” the lawmakers wrote to Phillips. “In total, Morris spent at least $875,000 to purchase art by Hunter Biden through his limited liability company, Kuliaky Art, LLC. Morris has also provided at least $5.6 million in ‘loans’ to Hunter Biden and has represented Hunter Biden in legal matters.”
“Given Hunter Biden’s long record of influence peddling, the Committees seek to understand whether Kevin Morris’s substantial financial support for Hunter Biden was intended to benefit, curry favor with, or gain access to Joe Biden,” the lawmakers wrote. “As the person who introduced Morris to Hunter Biden, the Committees believe that you have information relevant to that question.”
Morris, for his part, told the committees his financial support was intended only to help his “friend and client,” not to curry favor with President Biden.
“In this country there is no prohibition against helping a friend in need with no ulterior motive,” Morris testified. “In addition to legal advice and friendship, over the course of the last four years, I have loaned Hunter money to help him through his difficulties. When needed, we each have had attorneys separately advise us on these transactions. I am confident Hunter will repay these loans.”
“I did not and do not have any expectations of receiving anything from Hunter’s father or the Biden administration in exchange for helping Hunter, nor have I asked for anything from President Biden or his administration,” he added.
Bergès, meanwhile, has facilitated at least $1.5 million in art sales by Hunter Biden, a novice painter. The lawmakers note Phillips marketed Hunter Biden’s October 2021 art show at Bergès’s gallery by providing names of potential invitees and buyers, including Elizabeth Naftali, who bought two pieces by Hunter Biden in 2021 and 2022 for a combined $94,000.
Morris and Naftali account for more than $900,000 of Biden’s art sales.
President Biden later appointed Naftali to the the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad in July 2022.
“The Committees must understand the nature of Hunter Biden’s art endeavor. Indeed, the
high-dollar sales of paintings by a novice like Hunter Biden raise considerable suspicion given
his years of peddling access to his father and capitalizing on the Biden name. For example, the
Committees seek to understand whether Naftali’s presidential appointment was in any way
influenced by her purchase of Hunter Biden’s artwork. The Committees believe that you are in a
position to shed light on that and other issues, given that you introduced Naftali to Bergès,” the lawmakers write.
The lawmakers ask Phillips to respond to their request by February 8.
The interview comes as part of the committees’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
The House Oversight Committee has said that financial records show the Biden family created a complex web of more than 20 shell companies “in a concerted effort to hide payments from foreign adversaries.” The family, its business associates, and their companies raked in more than $24 million from foreign nationals over a period of five years. That includes millions of dollars from China, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Kazakhstan.
Former Hunter Biden business associate Devon Archer testified that then–vice president Joe Biden joined at least 20 phone calls and in-person meetings with Hunter’s foreign business associates during their time working together. He explained that access to the vice president served as the selling point of the Biden “brand” that allowed him and Hunter several lucrative financial opportunities, including joining the board of Burisma.