A prominent Democratic mega-donor, characterized by Joe Biden as “one of my closest friends,” could potentially benefit from the ban imposed on the latest version of Apple Watches, a ban that has received support from the president himself.
Initially backed by Biden, the ban faced a temporary halt from a federal appeals court as Apple endeavors to overturn it. The ban stems from a protracted legal dispute involving medical technology company Masimo, which alleges that Apple, the Silicon Valley giant, has infringed upon its intellectual property.
Joe Kiani, the millionaire founder and CEO of Masimo, has been a significant contributor to Democratic causes, particularly aligning closely with Biden. Kiani’s substantial donations include $1 million to the Biden Foundation. Despite his support for the president, his legal battle with Apple resulted in a ruling by the US International Trade Commission, declaring that certain Apple Watch models breached Masimo’s patent related to blood-oxygen level reading technology, warranting a ban on their import.
The White House had the option to overturn the ban before Christmas Day by having US Trade Representative Katherine Tai intervene, but it chose not to, allowing the ban to take effect. However, a federal appeals court intervened on Wednesday, temporarily halting the ban as Apple formally sought to appeal the ruling and secured an emergency order to pause the ban.
The financial implications for both Apple and Masimo remain undisclosed. Nevertheless, Kiani’s close association with Biden is underscored by his substantial donations, including the $1 million contribution to the Biden Foundation and $750,000 to the pro-Biden Unite the Country PAC in 2020, in addition to nearly $3 million in bundled donations to the president’s campaign, super PAC, and inaugural committee.
Despite the legal battle, a spokesman for Masimo asserted that Kiani and his team never lobbied Biden or Tai over the Apple Watch dispute. Instead, they accused Apple CEO Tim Cook of engaging in his own lobbying efforts.
“This dispute has never been about money for Masimo,” the spokesman said. “The company’s motivation has always been and remains to hold Apple accountable for infringing Masimo’s patents and to restore integrity to the marketplace.”
In December 2022, Kiani and his wife, Sarah, attended a state dinner held in honor of France’s President Emmanuel Macron. Subsequently, in March 2023, they were guests at a White House reception commemorating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.
“Thank you @POTUS and @FLOTUS for celebrating #Nowruz at the White House,” Kiani posted on X. “You really have been the President for all Americans.”
In April of the same year, Kiani and his wife played host to Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen, at their expansive Kiani Preserve, an 8,000-acre estate located three hours north of Los Angeles. Valued at $50 million, the Santa Ynez property boasts a main house, a guest house, both equipped with amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, and a vineyard.
Kiani’s connections with the Biden family extend beyond social engagements. In July 2018, he extended an $85,000-a-year job offer to Caroline Biden, Hunter Biden’s niece, as revealed in emails and text messages retrieved from Hunter Biden’s laptop. This position would have allowed her to relocate to Los Angeles, where she intended to be close to her cousin Hunter while serving a two-year probation term for a stolen credit card. However, she dismissed the offer as effectively “below minimum wage.”
Reciprocally, the Bidens have also assisted the Kianis. In 2021, Kiani was appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, granting him a substantial platform as the sole body responsible for making science, technology, and innovation policy recommendations to the President and the White House.
Additionally, Kiani’s daughter, Catherine, secured her first job out of college working in Jill Biden’s office in the East Wing of the White House, further solidifying the intertwining relationships between the Kianis and the Biden family.
