US Democratic nomination candidate Joe Biden sees his campaign shaken by convictions for his son's professional activities in Ukraine. Under criticism in the Ukrainian case, President Donald Trump accuses Hunter Biden of corruption as part of his activities in a Ukrainian company, Burisma, of which he was a member of the board of directors between 2014 and 2019.
Trying to help his father, the son of former Vice President Barack Obama spoke on Tuesday, Oct. 15, on ABC News: "Did I make a mistake? to be yes, in the absolute, "he acknowledged half-heartedly. "But did I make a mistake in the sense of ethics? Absolutely not."
Wanting to dispel any scent of scandal, his lawyer announced that the former financier of 49 years would leave on October 31 the board of directors of a Chinese company, BHR Equity Investment Fund Management Company.
"Trump's tactic is to make diversion"
"When Hunter continued his professional activities, he always did so, believing that he acted appropriately and in good faith." He had never contemplated the barrage of unfounded accusations against him. his father by the President of the United States, "writes George Mesires, the council of second son Biden. Finally, Hunter Biden also assured that he would stop any activity abroad in the event that his father would be elected president, reports the New York Times.
For the time being, there is no evidence that the activity of the former lobbyist has led to irregularities. Nevertheless, his presence on the board of the Burisma gas company in Ukraine, even though his father was in charge of the Ukrainian file in the Obama administration until 2016, obviously raises questions.
"Even though this case does not raise any legal problems, the media noise that surrounds it can obviously hurt the campaign of Joe Biden." Donald Trump's tactic is to first diversion to cover his own shortcomings, "says Jacob Maillet , specialist in American politics and professor at Paris Descartes University, contacted by France 24.
" $ 50,000 per month"
A major private gas producer, Burisma has a sulphurous reputation. The company founded in 2002 belongs to the Ukrainian millionaire Mykola Zlotchevsky, Minister of the Environment from 2010 to 2012 under the presidency of the Prorusse Viktor Yanukovych. A position that allows the businessman to grow the business of his company that had previously yielded modest returns. Having become the private sector leader, Burisma has raised Mykola Zlotchevsky to eleventh place in the ranking of the richest Ukrainians, says Le Monde.
So, what's the point of the company hiring the son of a US vice-president? "I think the number one reason for integrating Hunter Biden into the board was to strengthen Burisma's reputation," a western source in Kiev told AFP, adding that his activities in the group did not seem suspicious. per se: "$ 50,000 a month (salary) is the price to pay for a good reputation."
Following the flight of President Viktor Yanukovych to Russia in 2014 following pro-European protests, Burisma seeks to improve its image by collaborating with Hunter Biden and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
But the coming to power of pro-European leader Petro Poroshenko signals the beginning of corruption investigations within the group. Mykola Zlotchevsky is targeted by several investigations, including money laundering. These investigations are being conducted from Ukraine by Attorney General Viktor Chokine, whom Joe Biden will demand the dismissal, accusing him ... of covering the corruption of his country.
A favorable climate for Elizabeth Warren
Therefore, for Donald Trump and his lawyer, the former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden would have especially wanted to protect his son from possible prosecution. An assumption that is difficult to convince Ukraine. As a reminder, the departure of the prosecutor general, notorious corrupt, was also demanded by the European Union and Ukrainian civil society.
"We can consider the possibility that Joe Biden covered his son, nevertheless it will be very difficult to prove it," says Jacob Maillet. "For the time being, there is no evidence of an interview between the Democratic candidate and a Ukrainian official about it," said the teacher. And to continue: "The logic of influence is very difficult to prove.When Hunter receives benefits because of the position of his father or vice versa, it remains implicit.We can offer him contracts hoping he touches a word to his father without it being clear, we know there are networks but nothing is official. "
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Still, the case could be expensive for the Democratic candidate caught up in the polls by the academic Elizabeth Warren (29.4% for him, against 23.4% for her, according to the latest average set by RealClearPolitics). "Between the case that jostles Joe Biden and the health problems of Bernie Sanders, the Senator of Massachusetts could pull out of the game," said Jacob Maillet.