House lawmakers Thursday issued a new round of subpoenas in the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, including to an art gallery owner selling Hunter Biden‘s paintings and a wealthy Democratic donor who bought his artwork.
Gallery owner Georges Bergés and Los Angeles real estate investor Elizabeth Naftali were among four people issued subpoenas by House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer.
Mr. Comer also issued subpoenas to a pair of Hunter Biden‘s ex-business associates, Eric Schwerin and Mervyn Yan, who helped him secure lucrative foreign business deals witnesses say leveraged his father’s powerful position as vice president.
The panel has also requested interviews with four additional individuals, some connected to Americore Holdings LLC, about loans Mr. Biden allegedly made to his brother, James Biden. The panel has uncovered checks from James Biden to the president totaling $240,000 and labeled “loan repayment.” The checks were sent to Mr. Biden after his brother received payments from lucrative business deals secured in part by leveraging his brother’s name.
Mr. Comer, Kentucky Republican, is seeking transcribed interviews with Ms. Naftali and Mr. Berges “related to the high-dollar art transactions on Hunter Biden‘s art.”
Ms. Naftali purchased at least one of Hunter Biden‘s paintings from Mr. Berges’ New York Gallery. She has been a frequent White House visitor and was appointed in July 2022 by Mr. Biden to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. It is unknown whether the appointment followed her purchase of the artwork or what price she paid for it.
She was named to the board, an unpaid position by Mr. Biden eight months after Hunter Biden formally debuted his artwork, according to Insider, which obtained internal gallery documents.
Mr. Berges has ignored requests for an interview by House investigators, Mr. Comer said Thursday.
Hunter Biden‘s art is priced as high as $500,000 apiece and the Biden administration has defended his son’s right to produce and sell his artwork as a private citizen.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.