Biden Super-Donor Named To Prestigious Commission By President Also Bought Hunter's 'Art'

Los Angeles real estate investor Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, a major Democratic Party donor in general and to President Joe Biden in particular, was appointed to a prestigious commission, however, her appointment was with a catch. According to reports, she was revealed to be one of the purchasers of first son Hunter Biden's so-called 'art,' despite the president's promise of an "absolute wall" between his official duties and his family's business matters.

According to new reports from Business Insider and The Post Millennial, Naftali, who gave $13,414 to the Biden campaign directly, $29,700 to the Democratic National Campaign Committee; over $200,000 to the Biden Victory Fund; and purchased some of Hunter Biden's 'art,' was appointed to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad in July 2022. Though Insider couldn't determine precisely what Naftali paid for the 'art,' they found that overall Hunter's work brought in $1.3 million and a single buyer, still unidentified, spent $875,000

As reported by Insider, in 2021 when Hunter Biden's paintings and their sales were questioned by the press, the White House assured the nation that Hunter's team had a process for "carefully vetting buyers" and that their identities would be known only to the gallery, not to Hunter himself. This suggests that his work would be purchased by non-politically affiliated collectors. However, neither of these has turned out to be true.

"Hunter Biden is a private citizen who is entitled to have his own career as an artist," Ian Sams, a White House spokesperson told the outlet. "We are not involved in his art sales, and any buyers of his art are not disclosed to the White House."

It is presently unknown if Naftali made the purchase before or after her appointment to the commission. Ethicist and ethics trainer Bruce Weinstein explained to Insider that much of the issue comes down to this timing. "If it was done after her appointment, and she likes the painting, it's less of an issue," he said. 

"It's more of an issue if she's deciding to buy it beforehand. Then it might be perceived as a quid pro quo." 

One way or another Weinstein told the outlet, "If you really wanted to choose the most ethically appropriate course of action, that would not involve any conflict of interest, real or perceived, then you don't buy the painting."

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has also taken notice, sharing the story from Business Insider with the comment, "Major Democratic donor and Biden-appointed commissioner Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali has been revealed as a buyer of Hunter Biden’s art, revealing potentially another pay-to-play scheme."