Rep. James Comer subpoenas Hunter Biden’s art dealer, business cronies

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer blasted out subpoenas and transcribed interview requests to eight more Biden family associates Thursday, including Hunter Biden’s art dealer, one day after subpoenaing the first son and first brother James Biden.

Comer (R-Ky.) is specifically seeking depositions from Soho gallerist George Bergès and art patron Elizabeth Naftali, as well as Biden cronies Eric Schwerin and Mervyn Yan.

The panel is also seeking transcribed interviews with Carol Fox, a trustee at Americore Health, LLC; associate Joey Langston, Ukrainian-American businessman John Hynansky, and associate Jason Galanis.

Comer is spearheading the House Republican impeachment probe of President Biden, which began in September and has drawn in the House Oversight Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Ways and Means Committee.

“Today’s subpoenas represent another step in holding President Biden accountable. House Republicans are committed to doing the oversight work that the American people deserve,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a statement.

Comer subpoenaed Hunter Biden’s art dealer..CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Investigating the loans

Most of the four transcribed interview requests pertain to loans that members of the Biden family received. Of particular interest is Americore’s Fox.

The rural hospital chain piqued Republican investigators’ curiosity over its financial dealings with James Biden.

The since-defunct operator was responsible for at least $600,000 in loans that the president’s brother received, according to records obtained by the panel.

James Biden was given those loans from the financially distressed firm “based upon representations that his last name, ‘Biden,’ could ‘open doors’ and that he could obtain a large investment from the Middle East based on his political connections,” per bankruptcy records.

In March 2018, Joe Biden received a $200,000 check from James Biden — described as a “loan repayment” — on the same day that James Biden received that amount from the hospital chain, according to the records.

Georges Berges outside his gallery the Georges Berges Gallery.William Farrington
Hunter Biden holds a viewing of his artwork at George Berges Gallery in SoHo.Stephen Yang

Hunter Biden’s art

This latest batch of subpoenas also takes aim at Hunter Biden’s high-priced art dealings, with subpoenas directed at Bergès and Naftali.

The panel had repeatedly sought a transcribed interview with Bergès to investigate sales of the first son’s art, but the Manhattan art dealer refused to comply. Comer had repeatedly threatened a subpoena in response.

Paintings by the scandal-plagued first son range in asking price from $75,000 to $500,000 and had been featured in at least two solo shows at Bergès’ galleries.

Hunter Biden accrued at least $375,000 for five prints that were sold at Hollywood art show in 2021 and in total has earned at least $1.3 million in art sales, according to a July report by Business Insider.

Republican investigators have expressed interest in ascertaining the identities of those buyers in order to examine any possible conflicts of interest, but Bergès has sought to keep that information confidential.

Naftali, a Democratic donor, was identified as one of the donors by Business Insider.

Visitor logs show she has visited the Biden White House at least 13 times, and in July 2022 — about eight months after Hunter’s first art show — the president appointed her to the prestigious Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.

Hunter Biden recently penned an op-ed accusing congressional investigators of weaponizing his addiction and personal struggles.Paul Morigi

Hunter’s partners

The subpoenas against Schwerin and Yan highlight the panel’s longstanding interest in finding connections between the first son’s business partners and Joe Biden.

Schwerin is a long time friend of Hunter’s who is known to have dropped by either the White House or Naval Observatory on numerous occasions during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.

He served as the managing director of the now-defunct investment firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors, which Hunter Biden helped co-found — though the pair may have met while working in the Commerce Department during the Clinton administration.

President Biden has rejected claims of wrongdoing and scoffed at the impeachment inquiry.Getty Images

“Materials [IRS whistleblowers] provided confirm that Eric Schwerin played a significant role in Hunter Biden’s financial dealings and apparently had interactions directly with Joe Biden,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Yan, who had reportedly been subpoenaed for financial records previously, likely has insights into Hunter Biden’s dealings with Chinese energy firm CEFC.

Reaction

Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell has admonished the probe as “partisan,” and even demanded that newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) quash the inquiry.

“This is yet another political stunt aimed at distracting from the glaring failure of Rep. Comer and his MAGA allies to prove a single one of their wild and now discredited conspiracies about the Biden family,” Lowell said. 

The White House has long blasted the investigations into the first family and the impeachment inquiry, adamant that the president never inappropriately meddled in his son’s business affairs.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre contended during a briefing that the subpoenas against Hunter and James Biden were based on “a smear campaign” and that Comer was conducting a “baseless investigation.”

Comer has stood by his work.

“A plethora of bank records, texts, emails, and a transcribed interview with Biden family associate Devon Archer all show the Bidens and their business partners sold access to the highest levels of our government, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of America’s interests,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement. 

“Americans across this country have made it clear to President Joe Biden, the Biden family, and their associates that the gig is up.”

On Sunday, Comer foreshadowed that “this is going to be a big week,” and publicly backed impeaching the president.

It is rare for Congress to subpoena the children and direct family members of a sitting president.