President-elect Joe Biden says he still believes that a story published by The New York Post about his son’s, Hunter Biden, business dealings was part of a Russian disinformation campaign to influence the election.
As he walked away from the podium at the end of a press conference on Tuesday, Biden was asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy if he believes stories about Hunter Biden from before the election were Russian disinformation and a smear campaign.
As Doocy was asking the question, Biden chuckled, then said, “Yes, yes, yes. God love you, man. You’re a one-horse pony. I tell you.”
He added, “I promise you my Justice Department will be totally on its own in making its judgments about how they should proceed.”
Watch the video below:
Reporter: "Do you still think that the stories from the fall about your son Hunter were Russian disinformation and a smear campaign like you said?"
— The Hill (@thehill) December 22, 2020
Joe Biden: "Yes yes yes. God love you, man. You're a one-horse pony." pic.twitter.com/lMvx3QvFq7
In October, The New York Post published a story on Hunter Biden that included a trove of documents that were purportedly retrieved from his laptop. The Post’s story suggested that the elder Biden was connected to his son’s business dealings.
More than 50 intelligence officials signed a letter that claimed the story had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” However, they admitted they did not have evidence to support their claim.
They warned if the story was disinformation, “This is Russia trying to influence how Americans vote in this election, and we believe strongly that Americans need to be aware of this.”
However, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe pushed back on that and said the documents were “not part of some Russian disinformation campaign.”
During the second presidential debate, President Donald Trump brought up the story in an attempt to attack the Bidens. But, Joe Biden noted the letter from the former intelligence officials and claimed the story was part of a “Russian plan” to influence the election.
“What he’s saying is a bunch of garbage,” he added.
Earlier this month, Hunter Biden revealed that he is under investigation regarding his “tax affairs.” However, CNN reports that federal investigators are probing his foreign business dealings and whether he broke money-laundering laws.
News of the investigation has led Republican lawmakers to argue that there should be a special counsel appointed to continue the investigation after Biden is sworn in as president.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) shared Tuesday’s exchange on Twitter and said, “Biden still thinks reports about Hunter being under investigation were ‘Russian disinformation’?”
“Hunter has confirmed the reports! This is delusional. We need a Special Counsel,” he added.
Biden still thinks reports about Hunter being under investigation were "Russian disinformation"?
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) December 22, 2020
Hunter has confirmed the reports!
This is delusional. We need a Special Counsel.
And the media needs to start asking more questions. https://t.co/wwH2bdBK0L
Still, Biden’s aides have maintained that he will not discuss the investigation into his son with Justice Department officials while in office, and will let them come to their own conclusions on what steps to take in the investigation.
