Joe Biden’s brother-in-law requested help from Hunter Biden to obtain Chinese business license, emails show

Joe Biden’s brother-in-law reached out to Hunter Biden in 2014 to help secure a business license in China, according to emails obtained by Fox News

The president’s brother-in-law, John Owens, reportedly asked for Hunter’s help to secure a business license in China to expand his telemedicine company, saying it needed to be “secured very quickly,” per the emails, which were dated May 9, 2014. 

Owens’ companies, MediGuide America and MediGuide Insurance Services International, were deep in negotiations with a China-based insurance company when he needed Hunter Biden’s help to “seal the deal.” 

The email suggests that Owns wasn’t able to do so without a “Chinese business license.” 

"Time pressures are very tight, plus the fact that we do not yet have one has caused a slight credibility bump in the company's mind. This all translates into a need for a Business License, and one secured very quickly," Owens wrote, per emails viewed by Fox News. "While this might seem to be a mundane task, I have come to understand that matters such as a Business License can end up taking an inordinate amount of time.....time we just do not have."

Owens told Hunter in the email that he would be “most appreciative of any help,” prompting the president’s son to reply less than an hour later. 

"Working on it-back to you ASAP,” Hunter Biden reportedly wrote. 

The younger Biden forwarded Owens’ email to Thornton Group Chairman James Bulger, the nephew of infamous James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger Jr., the organized crime boss on whom the Johnny Depp movie Black Mass was based. 

Hunter Biden reportedly also forwarded the email to Michael Lin, a member of the Committee of 100, an advocacy group with ties to the United Front, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party. 

Fox News reports that the so-called committee has run multiple conferences sponsored by China Daily, an arm of China’s propaganda operation worldwide. 

"See email below. It's from my Uncle Jack. Is there a way we can help him expedite this? Time is of the essence here," Hunter Biden wrote.

Bulger replied the next morning confirming that he would discuss with Lin how they could “help.” Three days later, Bulger sent a follow-up to Hunter confirming that he and Michael Lin spoke to Owens and “I think we have a solution for hi[s] China problem.” 

Another follow-up email, written days later by Bulger, asks Owens to “give until Monday to review a few more laws and regulations in Beijing.” 

"I may have you answer a few question[s] on Monday so we can get specific with the appropriate authority's in China," Bulger wrote.

Fox News reports that the outcome of the negotiations remains unclear, or whether Bulger and Lin’s efforts were enough to procure a business license for Owens in China. However, the MediGuide website claims to have come to “an agreement with AnyHealth Shanghai.” 

The Washington Post reported last December that Owens, who is married to President Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, owns MediGuide, a company that describes itself as a "Delaware-based telemedicine company that markets itself as a solution" to pandemic-related restrictions. The company has operations in Europe and Asia. 

Fox News reports:

More than a year later, responding to a September 2015 email from then-Vice President Biden's executive assistant Kathy Chung that extended an invitation to attend the State Department luncheon honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted by Biden, Owens signaled his desire to attend. 

"Yes Kathy," Owens responded. "I would like to attend this one. I know I have passed up everything else, but this is a bit different. I just rec’d this so I do not know what VBO [Valerie Biden Owens] is going to do. Do you have my info to respond with picture, etc, or do you want me to do that."

Fox News reached out to the White House to ask whether Biden introduced Owens to Xi during the luncheon or whether Mediguide came up in discussion between Owens and Biden before, during or after the luncheon. Fox News also asked whether any senior officials from the Biden White House or the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) have been in contact with Mediguide staff or affiliates since Biden took office in January.

"No," a White House official said to each of these questions.

Ian Miles Cheong

Contributor

Ian Miles Cheong is a freelance writer, graphic designer, journalist and videographer. He’s kind of a big deal on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/stillgray

COMMENTS

Be the first to comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.