America First Legal (AFL) has reported that the Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) has granted an extension under the Presidential Records Act, delaying the release of records from Joe Biden's vice presidency. This delay, requested by representatives of both President Biden and former President Obama, postpones the public availability of these documents until November 6, 2024, the day after Election Day.
In August 2022, AFL initiated a Freedom of Information Act investigation to obtain records from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) related to Joe Biden's tenure as Vice President and Hunter Biden's foreign business activities. Following NARA's refusal to comply with their request, AFL filed a lawsuit in September 2022 seeking access to these documents.
The records in question include emails involving James Biden, Lion Hall Group, and Hunter Biden’s firm Rosemont Seneca. They also cover photographs from White House visits involving then-Vice President Biden and his brother James, as well as preparation materials for financial disclosures and tax forms for 2015.
According to AFL's findings, in 2015 Hunter Biden received payments from Ukrainian gas company Burisma and Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu. Special Counsel Weiss revealed evidence suggesting Hunter received compensation intended to influence U.S. policy regarding Romania.
Additionally, James Biden reportedly received substantial loans from Hynansky—a major donor to Joe Biden’s campaign—who benefited from federal loans for business expansion into Ukraine. The connection between these loans and the preparation of Joe Biden’s tax forms is under scrutiny.
Dan Epstein, Vice President of America First Legal stated: “NARA has arbitrarily deferred to former President Obama and current President Biden’s requests to delay disclosure of likely embarrassing records until after the election that shows then-Vice President Biden’s communications with Rosemont Seneca and financial disclosures that may reveal profits from Burisma through Rosemont!”
The invocation of this statutory extension is seen by some as a means to prevent potentially damaging information from being released before voters head to the polls.