After the election, it appeared the saga of Hunter Biden — including his work for a Ukranian energy company Burisma and a leak of material from what was allegedly his laptop — might fade away. Instead, President Biden's son has "remained in the headlines," writes Politico, muddying ethical waters once again when it was revealed he would begin selling his artwork at starting prices as high as $500,000. The painting venture — alongside new information regarding the laptop material and "emerging evidence" about the dealings of other family members — suggests the issue of Hunter Biden is not going away, and could "threaten to complicate the White House's efforts to position Biden as a global anti-corruption crusader," writes Politico.
"Even though this administration isn't corrupt on the same level as the previous administration, which seemed to embrace the corruption," said Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert, "the public has reason to be concerned." The president has said he does not discuss with relatives' their business dealings.
The case for "close scrutiny" of an administration who has contended to have the "highest ethical standards of any ... in history" only "grows stronger" the more the situation is analyzed, writes Politico. Left unaddressed, the first son's dealings might frustrate the president's "intention to restore public confidence in the executive branch."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Even with attention moving toward Hunter Biden's artwork (and the criticized arrangement set up to accomodate its sale), earlier incidents, like the laptop and work for Burisma, "remain murky," writes Politico, and could undermine a White House global anti-corruption push if not "aired out."
"Hiding the ball," said Clark, in reference to the White House's approach to the sale of paintings, "is not the way to protect the public trust." Read more at Politico.
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailoutTalking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Crossword: October 5, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denialSpeed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feudSpeed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protestersSpeed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoffSpeed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsionSpeed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deploymentSpeed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland
