Amid Hunter Biden Art Controversy, Florida Lawmaker Introduces Transparency Bill Targeting Biden Family

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's artwork, Florida Rep. Michael Waltz is preparing to introduce a bill requiring presidents to disclose their non-dependent children's finances.

The said legislation is also applicable for vice presidents. Waltz announced the move in light of a much-criticized art exhibition of President Joe Biden's son, New York Post reported.

The Republican congressman told Fox News that his bill aims to stop "the obvious and shameless grift" that is happening with Hunter's art sales. He added that Hunter Biden is not qualified to do it and is only doing it to continue to profit from his family name.

Waltz named his legislation the Preventing Anonymous Income by Necessitating Transparency of Executive Relatives (PAINTER) Act. The said requirement is already stated under the Ethics in Government Act.

Under the said act, spouses and dependent children of presidents are required to disclose their finances. The Florida lawmaker noted that Hunter Biden was an equity holder in China's nuclear power group, which was blacklisted for trying to steal American warhead technology.

The Florida Lawmaker's PAINTER Act

Michael Waltz said that people should know who is "backchanneling, backdooring, and buying influence" to the president of the U.S. He noted that "transparency and shining a light on this" are what the legislation is all about.

The Florida lawmaker said it bothers him that Hunter Biden had flown on Air Force Two on official business and weeks later was given a billion dollars from China's central bank.

He noted that he would also like to know what type of technologies Hunter Biden has been facilitating and if these technologies would have had export controls.

Michael Waltz added that he thinks there is a lot to be learned about how Hunter Biden "is profiting off of his family name."

The Florida lawmaker also said that some people would likely point to former President Donald Trump and his children. But he noted that there's a distinction "if you have adult children with long, established careers both before office and then continuing into office," so he had "no problem with that."

Art Exhibition of Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden's art dealer is labeled as one of the leading art experts on Chinese contemporary art. The said art dealer once declared that he would be the lead guy in China on finding and collecting Chinese art.

Some people, including government ethics watchdogs and art critics, had expressed their concerns regarding Hunter's art exhibit, as the paintings of Joe Biden's sons are expected to fetch between $75,000 and $500,000, and buyers will remain anonymous.

Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, said the whole thing is a bad idea, according to another NY Post report.

Painter noted that people's initial reaction would be that Hunter is capitalizing on being the son of a president and wants people to give him money.

Walter Shaub, former head of the Office of Government Ethics during the Obama administration, said the identities of the buyers being anonymous pose a problem as they will have no way of monitoring whether people are buying access to the artwork or access to the White House.

Shaub added that what these people are paying for is Hunter's last name. Hunter Biden's exhibit is scheduled to open in October at the Georges Berges' Gallery in Soho. In September, private collectors in Los Angeles will catch a glimpse of his work in a private viewing.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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