FLASHBACK: Bobulinski claims Biden's brother cited 'plausible deniability' over foreign business concerns
Former Hunter Biden business partner Tony Bobulinski claimed in October that now-President-elect Joe Biden's brother, Jim Biden, cited 'plausible deniability' when asked whether he was concerned about his family's ties to a Chinese energy firm
Former Hunter Biden business partner Tony Bobulinski claimed now-President-elect Joe Biden lied about being unfamiliar with his son's foreign business dealings.
Bobulinski, in an Oct. 27 interview with Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight," said he raised concerns in 2017 about the former vice president's alleged ties to a possible joint venture with Chinese energy firm CEFE to his brother Jim Biden.
He recalled a conversation with Jim Biden about the family's ties to CEFE, when he asked, "'How are you guys getting away with this? Aren't you concerned?'" to which Bobulinski claimed Jim Biden laughed.
WFP USA Board Chair Hunter Biden introduces his father Vice President Joe Biden during the World Food Program USA's 2016 McGovern-Dole Leadership Award Ceremony. (Kris Connor/WireImage)
"Plausible deniability," Bobulinski said he remembered Jim Biden responding. "He said it directly to me in a cabana at the Peninsula Hotel."
The retired U.S. Navy lieutenant was the former CEO of SinoHawk Holdings, which he said was the partnership between Ye Jianming, the chairman of Chinese energy company CEFE, and Hunter Biden.
The New York Post initially published emails in October, which were later obtained by Fox News, related to Hunter Biden's business dealings with CEFE and a Ukrainian energy firm that were purportedly discovered on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden.
Bobulinski also claimed during the interview that Biden's denial of knowing about his son's business affairs with the Chinese energy firm was a "blatant lie."
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Bobulinski described a scene during the interview in which Joe Biden arrived for a conference held partially at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and how Jim Biden and Hunter Biden introduced him to the former vice president.
"I didn't request to meet with Joe [Biden]," he told Carlson. "They requested that I meet with Joe [Biden]. They were putting their entire family legacy on the line. They knew exactly what they were doing."
In 2019, the former vice president told reporters: "I have never discussed with my son or my brother or anyone else anything having to do with their businesses. Period."
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Bobulinski said he wouldn't have gone public with his story had House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff's comments saying his claims were part of a “Russian disinformation” campaign been retracted.
Separately, Hunter Biden confirmed in a Wednesday statement that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware is currently investigating his "tax affairs," saying he is taking the matter "very seriously" and is "confident" he handled his affairs "legally and appropriately."
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It is unclear whether an investigation into Hunter Biden's alleged laptop or the emails currently exists.
Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
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