Jen Psaki faced a challenging interaction with a reporter this week, as she was faced with multiple questions about Hunter Biden.
The 52-year-old son of President Joe Biden once again hit headlines this week, after The New York Times deemed the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop authentic, stating that emails obtained by the publication "from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Mr. Biden in a Delaware repair shop" were indeed "authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation".
With the story resurfacing in the press, New York Post correspondent Steven Nelson repeatedly pressed White House press secretary Jen Psaki for answers regarding the story.
During Wednesday's White House press briefing, Nelson started by saying to Psaki: "I’ve got a quick clarification and two questions about presidential conflicts of interest in foreign affairs.
"The first brief clarification is: The New York Times reported this week that the First Son remains under criminal investigation. Does the President still intend to stay out of that case?"
Watch the uncomfortable and challenging exchange below:Psaki, 43, replied briefly: "Yes. It’s the Department of Justice, and I would point you to them."
Leading into the first of his two questions, Nelson then said: "My two questions about conflicts of interest in foreign affairs. First, I have a question about Russia and then one about China.
"On Russia: You told me last year that you were unfamiliar with the Senate report that alleged that the First Son — or a company linked to the First Son received $3.5 million from the richest woman in Russia.
"Subsequent reporting indicates that President Biden, when he was Vice President, had a dinner in Georgetown with the same woman in 2015.
"This Yelena Baturina, she has not been sanctioned yet by the US government. How is President Biden navigating conflicts of interest when it comes to sanctioning people who have done business with his family? And can you explain to us what this $3.5 million was for?"
Psaki, once again answering conservatively, replied: "I don’t have any confirmation of the accuracy of that report, so I have no more further details."
When pushed to provide comments about any "conflicts of interest". Psaki revealed that President Biden "has continued to sanction oligarchs more than we’ve ever sanctioned in the past".
To which Nelson replied: "But she [Baturina] hasn’t been sanctioned, though."
What followed was an awkward moment of Psaki attempting to receive a question from another reporter, as Nelson continued to push for answers.
Eventually allowing Nelson his second question, he asked: "My question about the conflict of interests when it comes to China."
"Last year, the First Son’s attorney said that he divested from a Chinese investment fund controlled by Chinese state-owned entities," Nelson said. "We have received not even basic transparency about who bought out his stake, when this happened, and how much money changed hands. Did he actually divest? And if so, can you agree to basic transparency?"
Psaki responded: "He’s a private citizen. He doesn’t work for the government. I’d point you to his representatives. Thank you."
"But there’s a blaring conflict of interest for his father’s role as President, dealing with China," Nelson replied.
Finally, Psaki shut down the questioning, telling Nelson: "I think we’re done here. Thank you very much."
The Justice Department's federal investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings is ongoing, with the NY Times reporting that a grand jury is now seeking information regarding his international payments.
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