Media Miss: Left-leaning news outlets didn’t cover $40k payment to Joe Biden
Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the left as only 0% of the coverage is from left leaning media. Learn more about this dataThe House Oversight Committee said President Biden received $40,000 in laundered money from China in 2017. They contend this personal check from his brother and sister-in-law proves it.
According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning (if applicable: and center-oriented) outlets are covering this story, fewer – if any – left-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.
Here’s a look at some of the reporting:
The New York Post –
The payment, “allegedly involves the same business deal in which Joe Biden was called the “big guy” and penciled in for a 10% cut — and would be the first proven instance of the commander-in-chief getting a piece of his family’s foreign income.”
National Review –
“The committee says the series of payments establish a direct benefit Biden received from his family’s business dealings, despite Biden’s claims that he has not been involved.”
Here’s how the committee says it traced the money:
- On July 30, 2017, Hunter Biden sent a WhatsApp message to Raymond Zhao—an associate of the Chinese company CEFC—regarding a $10 million capital payment. The message stated: Z- Please have the director call me- not James or Tony or Jim- have him call me tonight. I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.
- On August 8, another Chinese company affiliated with CEFC transferred $5 million dollars into a business bank account Hunter Biden had opened. The committee says that wire transfer was the only money in the account.
- Hunter Biden then transferred $400,000 to his professional corporation that same day.
- On August 14, 2017 Hunter Biden transferred $150,000 of the China money to the Lion Hall group, a company used by the President’s brother and sister-in-law to conduct various financial transactions.
- On August 28, 2017 Sara Biden, the president’s sister in law, withdrew $50,000 from the Lion Hall group and put it in a personal savings account. Before that deposit, the account had about 46 dollars in it. After, the deposit and a $1,000 withdrawal it had $49,000.
- On September 3, 2017 Sara Biden signed a check for $40,000 to Joe Biden for $40,000. It stated loan repayment in the memo.
“In taking funds sourced to a CCP-linked company that wanted to advance China’s interests, Joe Biden exposed himself to future blackmail and put America’s interests behind his own desire for money,” Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement.
Critics of the Republican led investigation argue the committee has never proven that Joe Biden directly benefited from his family’s business dealings.
“Every single witness Chairman Comer has brought in has explained Joe Biden was not involved in his family’s business ventures. But Republicans keep peddling deceptive claims to try to revive their old debunked narrative,” Oversight Democrats posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Despite the criticism, Chairman Comer said he will continue their investigation into what they call the Biden family’s corruption.