Biden Aide's Emails With Hunter's Partner on Burisma? Jean-Pierre: 'I Get the Question' (September 6, 2023)

House Republicans had cited emails between a Biden aide and Hunter Biden’s business partner, and a reporter asked the White House to explain. “The letter sites email traffic between Kate Bedingfield and Eric Schwerin — who’s a longtime Hunter Biden business associate — in which Bedingfield signed off on quotes that should be used to respond to media inquiries about Hunter’s involvement in Burisma,” the reporter said on Sept. 6, 2023 [1].

“How do you respond to criticism that that shows there was no wall between then-Vice President Biden’s work and his family’s business dealings?” the reporter asked [1].

“I understand the question. I appreciate the question. I get the question. I’m just going to let the White House Counsel team answer that question,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, according to the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the Sept. 6, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the Clerk of the House [1][2].

”Does the White House Support the Transparency?”

The reporter had started with the request itself. “House Republicans have just sent a letter to National Archives requesting unredacted records from the office of then-Vice President Biden. Does the Whi- — does the White House support the transparency on these records?” [1]

“So, look, I’m just going to let — I know the White House — my — my team at the White House Counsel’s Office has responded to this. I’m just going to let them deal with that — that information,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

A Daughter Named Heather

The same reporter then asked about a White House statement on the death of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. “The initial statement from the President about the passing of Governor Bill Richardson included condolences for his wife of 50 years, Barbara, and their daughter, Heather. That line about Heather, the daughter, has been removed because they didn’t have a daughter named Heather — or a daughter,” the reporter said [1].

“So can you walk us through how these press releases are factchecked; who signs off on them in the end; and then, in this case, how this error was made?” [1]

“So, look, we apologize for the error,” Jean-Pierre said. “We do have fact checkers here. We do have multiple people who take a look at — at the press releases, especially from the President. This was just a miss, unfortunately.” [1]

“Has the source of the error been identified and dealt with to prevent it from happening again?” the reporter asked. “You know, we will do our best,” she said [1].

”Is He Out of Practice?”

Days after the first lady tested positive for COVID, Biden had taken off his mask at a Medal of Honor ceremony. “The President, of course, did wear that mask in the Medal of Honor ceremony, but then took it off and didn’t ta- — put it back on. Was that a mistake?” a reporter asked [1].

Jean-Pierre said Biden “took off his mask, as I said he would, to deliver incredibly powerful remarks about this captain.” [1]

“But he didn’t put it back on. Is he out of practice? Is he, like so many Americans, in a different phase?” the reporter asked. “Look, I — what I can say is: We got to put this all in context,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

A third reporter pressed on the ceremony. “Then why not wear a mask when he was putting the medal around his neck and he was so close to him like that? Was that an oversight by the President?” [1]

“What I can tell you is that the President took off his mask to deliver incredibly powerful remarks about the captain. That was done, certainly, on — I think, on purpose — right? — wanting to give him that Medal of Honor,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Another reporter asked, “Is the First Lady the only member of the Biden family that’s tested positive for COVID since this weekend?” Jean-Pierre answered: “I would — I would refer you to the First Lady’s office.” [1]

“If Prices Continue to Spiral Out of Control”

Saudi Arabia had just extended its oil production cuts. “I know the administration is currently trying to refill the Strategic Pe- — Petroleum Reserve, but if prices continue to spiral out of control, would you consider tapping it and selling more on the market to lower prices?” a reporter asked [1].

“So, I don’t want to get too much into hypotheticals of what may or may not happen. Just want to be very careful,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

By the Numbers

50 years: how long Richardson had been married, per the reporter [1].
0: daughters Richardson had, per the reporter [1].
221-212: the House vote formalizing the impeachment inquiry three months later [2].
0: Democrats who voted for it [2].

What Happened Next

The House made the inquiry official. On Dec. 13, 2023, the House voted 221 to 212 for H.Res. 918, “directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden.” Every Republican voted yes, and every Democrat voted no [2].

For the White House on Hunter Biden’s stake in a Chinese firm, see HYGO News’ page on Oct. 26, 2022. For her answers on Biden’s Lake Tahoe vacation the day before, see the page on Sept. 5, 2023.