A White House official was left stunned when a reporter asked him if United States President Joe Biden is “corrupt”. The reporter asked the question during a press conference on Wednesday, May 31.
The question from New York Post reporter Steven Nelson took National Security Council spokesman John Kirby somewhat by surprise. It came as the official was taking questions on foreign policy-related issues.
Nelson, referencing the Republican-led House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into the Biden family, said: “There have been many developments in the House investigations into the first family’s international business dealings recently.”
The reporter noted the committee’s effort to obtain FBI documentation that allegedly details a “scheme” involving Biden and a foreign national, relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions, reports FoxNews.
He also mentioned an IRS whistleblower who claims there was an attempt by the Department of Justice to slow-walk its investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances. Nelson then touched on a recent poll that claimed voters believed the president was involved in an “influence peddling scheme” when vice-president.
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“So what do you say to the majority of Americans who believe that the president is himself corrupt?” Nelson asked Kirby.
“Wow,” Kirby said as he shook his head. He then followed up with a lengthy pause.
“The president has spoken to this and there’s nothing to these claims. And as for the whistleblower issue that you talked about and in the document — I believe the FBI has spoken to that, and you’re going to have to go to them on that,” he eventually said.
House Oversight Committee chairmain, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., is reportedly prepared to start the process of holding the FBI in contempt of Congress if it does not comply with a subpoena for the document allegedly related to the possible criminal scheme involving Biden.
Comer first subpoenaed the document in May. But the FBI did not turn it over and instead explained that it needed to protect the bureau’s confidential human source program.
The committee wants to see the document after a whistleblower approached Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, alleging that the FBI and the DOJ were in possession of it. The source claimed it would detail “a precise description of how the alleged criminal scheme was employed as well as its purpose.”
The White House however says the investigation launched by the committee is “evidence-free” and “politically motivated”. It also maintained the President had not been involved with his son’s business dealings.
