The Department of Justice has agreed to extend the release of key vice-presidential records related to Joe Biden, following a request by legal representatives for both President Biden and former President Barack Obama.

This delay has drawn criticism from watchdog group America First Legal (AFL), particularly given that the records, tied to Biden's tenure as vice president, include emails and photographs allegedly connected to controversial business dealings involving Biden's family, specifically Hunter Biden, as the Post Millennial reports.

In 2022, America First Legal filed a lawsuit against the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), accusing the agency of failing to comply with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the Biden family's foreign business ventures. This lawsuit was part of AFL's broader effort to scrutinize the Biden family’s financial dealings, specifically those involving Hunter Biden and his firm, Rosemont Seneca.

AFL Criticizes NARA Over Postponement

NARA initially planned to release the requested documents, but the Department of Justice intervened after legal representatives for Biden and Obama cited concerns under the Presidential Records Act. The request, approved by the DOJ, effectively blocked the release of the documents until after the election. This move has sparked accusations from AFL that the delay is politically motivated.

AFL, in a press release, criticized the delay, stating that Biden and Obama's legal teams had been reviewing the records since June, and the additional time requested was "not credible." The group implied that the postponement may be intended to avoid damaging revelations before Election Day, referring to it as a potential effort to prevent an "October Surprise."

Emails Linked to White House Visits

Among the documents in question are emails and photographs from Biden’s time as vice president. AFL alleges that these communications involve figures such as James Biden, Lion Hall, and Hunter Biden, raising concerns about financial ties and potential conflicts of interest.

One key piece of evidence AFL highlighted includes emails related to a 2015 White House visit by James Biden, Joe Biden’s brother. The visit involved discussions around tax forms and financial disclosures, topics that AFL argues could be linked to business activities involving the Biden family’s foreign dealings.

The records also include communications that may shed light on the relationship between James Biden and Michael Hynansky, a campaign donor who provided loans to James Biden and Lion Hall. Hynansky, a businessman with federal loans for projects in Ukraine, has come under scrutiny for his financial ties to the Biden family.

Allegations Of Romanian Ties Emerge

Another focal point of AFL’s case is the alleged connection between a 2015 White House visit by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and business dealings involving Gabriel Popoviciu, a Romanian businessman. AFL suggests that photographs of James Biden during the White House visit may have relevance to this connection.

According to AFL, Popoviciu made payments to an associate of the Biden family around the same time as Iohannis’s visit. The group has raised questions about whether these financial transactions could indicate a conflict of interest involving then-Vice President Biden.

2015 Financial Disclosures Under Scrutiny

In addition to the emails and photographs, AFL is particularly focused on documents related to Biden’s 2015 tax forms and financial disclosures. The watchdog group has questioned whether the records may reveal repayments from his brother, James Biden, and how these repayments might connect to broader allegations of foreign business involvement.

AFL has argued that NARA’s decision to delay the release of these documents until after the election shows undue deference to the legal teams of Biden and Obama. "NARA has arbitrarily deferred," said Dan Epstein, AFL’s vice president, adding that the delay will prevent voters from learning critical information before they cast their ballots.

AFL Presses for Transparency

AFL has not only questioned the legal justification for the delay but has also raised concerns about transparency and the public’s right to know. In its press release, AFL stated that this postponement was an effort to "cover up" what could be an embarrassing set of records for Biden, particularly those related to his communications with Rosemont Seneca.

The group also posed direct questions regarding the relevance of Jim Biden’s White House visit and its potential connection to the Romanian president's visit. "Would the photographs of Jim Biden during a White House visit be relevant to the Romanian President's visit?" the AFL press release asked.

Political Implications of Record Delay

With the 2024 election fast approaching, the decision to delay the release of these documents has become a focal point of controversy. Critics argue that withholding these records could influence voter perception and that any damaging information could be a deciding factor for voters if it were released before Election Day.

AFL contends that the American public has a right to see the records, particularly if they shed light on potential conflicts of interest or questionable business practices involving the Biden family. The group remains determined to hold NARA accountable for the release of the documents.

Conclusion

The Biden and Obama legal teams’ successful effort to delay the release of vice-presidential records until after the 2024 election has raised questions about transparency and accountability.

With America First Legal pushing for disclosure of potentially damaging documents related to the Biden family’s business dealings, the delayed release has drawn significant political attention.

Whether or not these documents contain revelations that could impact the election remains to be seen, but the delay has certainly sparked a heated debate over executive privilege and public access to information.