WASHINGTON — The recent criminal charges against Gal Luft, a former witness against the Biden family, have been seized upon by Republicans as evidence supporting their claims against the Bidens. Luft, who failed to register as a foreign agent while working for the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC), is accused of recruiting former CIA Director James Woolsey to spread pro-China propaganda in the U.S. Although Hunter Biden also had a working relationship with CEFC, it is unclear if he engaged in the political activity that would require him to register as a foreign agent.
Republicans have sought to draw connections between Hunter Biden’s work with CEFC and his position on the board of Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma. They have claimed that these connections influenced then-Vice President Joe Biden’s actions in Ukraine. However, State Department officials have testified that Joe Biden’s actions were in line with the consensus of the foreign policy establishment and not driven by protecting his son’s interests.
Republicans have also pointed to emails found on a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden, suggesting that he may have tried to set up meetings between business associates and government officials. Critics argue that there is not enough evidence to indict Hunter Biden for failing to register as a foreign agent, although further investigation may be warranted.
It should be noted that Hunter Biden has faced personal struggles, including addiction, which may have impacted his ability to fulfill the obligations of his foreign contracts. The case against Hunter Biden is being overseen by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration, who has stated that the investigation is still ongoing. There are charges against Hunter Biden for failing to pay taxes.
While Republicans have accused the Biden family of federal crimes, it remains unclear exactly what Hunter Biden did to earn his foreign compensation. The FBI has been asked to provide its documents related to interviews with Gal Luft, who claims to have derogatory information about the Bidens.
Overall, the extent of Hunter Biden’s political activity and potential violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act are a subject of ongoing investigation and debate.