Senator Chuck Grassley has released an FBI document containing an allegation that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter accepted bribes from a Ukrainian energy company. The unclassified memo from June 2020 outlines claims by a foreign informant.
The informant alleged that Hunter Biden was hired by Burisma in 2013 to gain support from his father, then US vice-president. It claims Burisma made two $5m payments to "the Bidens" as part of efforts to remove Ukraine's prosecutor general Viktor Shokin, and that audio recordings exist. However, there is no evidence Joe Biden received any payments, and senior Republicans acknowledge the allegation is unverified.
Grassley, who obtained the lightly redacted memo from a justice department whistleblower, said releasing it was in the public interest. The FBI and Democrats have warned that disclosure risks compromising intelligence sources and methods.
The White House condemned the release as part of a "shameless, dishonest political" campaign. The FBI said it unnecessarily risks the safety of a confidential source. The allegations echo those previously pushed by Rudy Giuliani, which were central to Donald Trump's first impeachment.
Republicans have launched multiple investigations into the Bidens since regaining the House majority.
