During a recent congressional testimony, Jim Biden, the brother of President Joe Biden, admitted to contacting high-ranking US government officials regarding a New York infrastructure contract for a Chinese government-linked company.
This revelation has sparked concerns about potential violations of foreign lobbying laws and has led to intense scrutiny of Jim Biden’s actions.
The 74-year-old Jim Biden gave a deposition to the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees on February 21, with the transcript of the hearing being released on Friday.
Jim Biden (Credits: The Washington Post)
Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz was particularly aggressive in his questioning of Jim Biden, focusing on his relationship with the Chinese government-linked oil giant CEFC.
Gaetz highlighted a 2017 email in which Jim Biden discussed the possibility of securing infrastructure contracts for CEFC with the assistance of US government officials.
The admission by Jim Biden has raised eyebrows and could potentially lead to legal consequences. Violations of foreign lobbying laws can carry serious penalties, including fines and even imprisonment.
The fact that Jim Biden acknowledged contacting government officials in relation to a contract involving a Chinese government-linked company is likely to attract further scrutiny from lawmakers and law enforcement agencies.
The controversy surrounding Jim Biden’s actions comes at a time when the Biden administration is already facing a number of challenges, both domestic and international.
The administration has been criticized for its handling of various issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. The revelation about Jim Biden’s involvement with CEFC could further complicate matters for the administration and undermine its credibility.
The Biden administration has not yet commented on the matter, and how it will respond to the allegations against Jim Biden remains to be seen. However, the administration is likely to face pressure to address the issue and take action if any wrongdoing is found.
Jim Biden’s admission to contacting US government officials regarding the CEFC contract has raised serious questions about potential violations of foreign lobbying laws.
The matter is likely to attract further scrutiny and could have implications for the Biden administration as it grapples with a range of challenges both at home and abroad.
