Joe Biden’s brother Jim accused of trading on family name in Saudi deal
US President Joe Biden’s younger brother was allegedly hired in 2012 to resolve a dispute with the Saudi government because of his connection to the then-VP.
US President Joe Biden’s younger brother has been accused of cashing in on the family name by secretly acting for a Philadelphia-based construction company in Saudi Arabia, according to court documents.
James Biden, 73, known as “Jim”, allegedly was hired surreptitiously by Hill International in 2012 because of his connection with Joe Biden, who was then the vice-president, to help to resolve a dispute with the Saudi government over claims of an unpaid $US140m ($203m) debt.
According to documents filed with a court in Virginia, Jim Biden told a former senior US Treasury official who was working as a private investigator that he had been hired to negotiate with the Saudis “because of his position and relationship” with his brother. It is claimed that Jim Biden was chosen because Saudi Arabia “would not dare stiff the brother of the vice-president who would be instrumental to the deal”.
His alleged role is likely to be examined by the House of Representatives’ oversight committee investigation into the money-making activities of Biden family members based on their association with the president.
The committee has focused so far on Hunter Biden, 53, the president’s son, and allegations based on emails found on a laptop he abandoned that his father had been involved in some of his business dealings, despite his denials.
President Biden, 80, has consistently maintained that he had no knowledge of business deals involving his brother or his son.
Jim Biden was a fundraiser for his brother’s initial senate race in 1972 and helped in later political campaigns. His business activities have included nightclubs and insurance brokering. His alleged role for Hill International, a global project management company, came to light in an affidavit from May 2021 sworn by Thomas Sullivan, a private investigator. Sullivan was hired by Lankford & Reed, a law firm, which claims it was contracted to resolve the $US140m debt for a 40 per cent fee but was cut out when Hill International secretly hired Jim Biden to negotiate the settlement.
A representative of Jim Biden denied any negotiations had taken place. “This entire story is yet another attempt to smear Jim Biden,” the representative told the New York Post. “Mr Biden never negotiated with the Saudi government on behalf of Hill or any other entity.” Hill International did not respond to a request for comment.
The Times
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