Joe Biden’s brother accused of using president’s name in dealings with collapsed hospital chain
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Joe Biden’s name was used by his younger brother James in his dealings with a hospital chain that later collapsed, it has been alleged.
Republicans in Congress have been pursuing the Biden family’s business dealings, and James Biden, 74, is due to appear before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday, a week before the president’s son, Hunter.
Already facing questions about his involvement with Chinese state-linked CEFC China Energy, James Biden is also under scrutiny over Americore, a hospital chain providing health care in rural areas in states including Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
The Politico website claims James Biden used his links to his brother, then the vice-president, as part of his pitch for consulting work for the company.
One former Americore executive told Politico James Biden spoke of plans to give his brother a stake in the company and a place on the board.
The younger Biden, who allegedly described himself as an adviser to Joe Biden, said that if Americore proved successful in providing rural healthcare, it could be promoted in a future presidential campaign.
He also offered to secure Middle Eastern funding for Americore, Politico alleged.
When the money did not arrive, it allegedly added to Americore’s financial problems, culminating in its eventual bankruptcy and affecting the care of patients. Americore has since been the subject of several investigations.
Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused one of Jim Biden’s business partners of fraud related to loans to the company. The allegations have been denied.
And the Justice Department has alleged Americore’s hospital in Pennsylvania paid kickbacks in a scheme which saw Medicare billed for unnecessary lab tests.
According to Politico, Joe Biden never involved himself in Americore. However, on the day James Biden was paid $200,000 by Americore, he wrote a cheque to his brother.
The White House says the cheque was in repayment of a loan.
Paul Fishman, James Biden’s lawyer, said the president’s brother, who is not accused of criminal wrongdoing, had “conducted himself ethically and honorably in all his business dealings”.
It is not the first time that James Biden has been accused of exploiting his family connections for business purposes. Last year, court documents emerged that alleged he was hired by a US construction company to help business negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
According to affidavits, he claimed that the country “would not dare stiff the brother of the vice-president, who would be instrumental to the deal”.
The US president has insisted that he never discussed the business affairs of either his son Hunter or his brother.
But James Comer, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, has accused the Biden family of using the president’s name to enrich themselves.
The Telegraph has approached the White House and James Biden’s attorney for comment.
