Manhattan art dealer Georges Bergès informed Congress that he chose not to renew his contract with Hunter Biden after generating $1.5 million in sales from the first son’s fledgling art, distributed among 10 buyers. This decision has left Hunter without a publicly known representative at a time when House Republicans are actively pursuing an impeachment inquiry into alleged corruption involving the Biden family.
Bergès disclosed that the contract with Hunter, who is 53, quietly expired on September 1, 2023. This lapse raises questions about who has been representing Hunter for the past 4 1/2 months, especially as the impeachment inquiry delves into Joe Biden’s connections to business ventures involving Hunter and his uncle James Biden in countries such as China and Ukraine.
During a closed-door interview with the House Oversight and Judiciary committees last Tuesday, Bergès stated, “We’ve discussed extending it. At the moment, I opted not to.” He elaborated that working with Hunter “hasn’t been the best decision for me,” citing unexpected challenges like security issues, death threats, and misconceptions about his political affiliation.
“It was a little bit more than I could chew… obviously I kind of wanted my life back. So I haven’t agreed to renew that contract now,” Bergès concluded.
Bergès earned a 40% commission from the sales, resulting in Hunter receiving approximately $900,000 over a period spanning more than two years—an amount roughly equivalent to his father’s $400,000 annual presidential salary.
The art dealer’s collaboration with Hunter commenced after a connection facilitated by Hollywood producer Lanette Phillips, a host of fundraisers for Joe Biden. Bergès, revealing political differences with Hunter, expressed personal affinity toward him.
While Bergès only disclosed three buyers accounting for 70% of sales, contrary to previous reports of an ethics plan to keep names anonymous, he confirmed that Hunter knew the identities of these buyers. Notably, Kevin Morris, described as Hunter’s “sugar brother” and a wealthy entertainment attorney, paid $875,000 for 11 paintings in January 2023, a transaction involving an unconventional commission arrangement.
Besides Morris, two other buyers were identified: Democratic donor Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, appointed to a prestigious position after purchasing Hunter’s art, and gallery co-owner William Jacques. The remaining seven purchasers remained unnamed, with Bergès asserting that their motivations were non-political.
Sources suggest that congressional Republican leaders aim to compel Bergès to disclose the additional buyers’ identities and assess whether their names should be made public.
Despite Hunter maintaining regular contact with Bergès, the art dealer expressed frustration, revealing that he had to finance Hunter’s art shows. “I took a gamble, and it didn’t really pay off, but that’s one of the reasons I haven’t really renewed the contract,” Bergès stated.
