WASHINGTON — Retiring President Biden loaded up his household Tuesday for a last Thanksgiving on Nantucket island — returning to the dear Massachusetts vacation spot after kicking again at billionaire David Rubenstein’s compound there yearly whereas in workplace.
Two-time felon Hunter Biden, 54, was noticed by reporters on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews following a motorcade from the White Home — as hypothesis swirls about whether or not his dad will pardon him earlier than leaving workplace Jan. 20.
Biden, 82, has all through his presidency loved free lodging from distinguished Democrats — in some situations after asking to be used of the property — and has then didn’t listing the freebies on annual ethics disclosure types.
Biden and Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, have been coy about whether or not the president reimburses the personal fairness titan to be used of the house — not like different stays by which the gifted lodging has been confirmed by one of many events.
Spokespeople for Biden and Rubenstein wouldn’t verify to The Put up whether or not the primary household is paying, although the sample of the president’s holidays point out he seemingly just isn’t.
Biden spoke at a September lunch placed on by the Financial Membership of Washington, D.C., of which Rubenstein is president.
“The issue is the not disclosing. And it makes us very arduous for these of us who’re very important of the Supreme Court docket justices who should not disclosing this type of stuff,” stated College of Minnesota legislation professor Richard Painter, who was the highest ethics lawyer within the George W. Bush White Home.
“It’s not simply the home, I’m certain this man has greased the skids in all types of how together with his cash for Biden and the Democrats,” stated Painter, who was closely important of President-elect Donald Trump on ethics points throughout his first time period.
“I believe that what’s alienating American voters is {that a} presidential election and elections for the Congress are simply perceived as a contest between competing groups of billionaires. Would you like the [George] Soros candidate or the Elon Musk candidate?” he went on.
“It actually hurts the Democrats as a result of they’ve all the time been claiming to be the get together of the folks, and but, time and time once more, you discover the president of the USA staying in the home of a billionaire.”
“Does he want to remain in a billionaire’s home?” Painter added. “It creates the impression of elitism.”
Rubenstein served as an adviser to former President Jimmy Carter earlier than putting it wealthy within the enterprise world.
His philanthropy has been unfold throughout Washington — with Rubenstein ponying up $7.5 million to restore the Washington Monument in 2012 following an earthquake, giving $50 million subsequent 12 months to finance a Kennedy Middle enlargement and $10 million in 2020 to refurbish the Library of Congress.
Different Biden holidays have been confirmed to be free — together with a trio of journeys to St. Croix, the place his household spent the New Yr’s vacation at what’s sometimes a VRBO beachfront rental owned by businesspeople Invoice and Connie Neville, who scored tickets to Biden’s first state dinner.
Biden most lately stayed in August together with his household on the California ranch of billionaire megadonor Joe Kiani, whom Home Republicans famous obtained almost $3 million in federal contracts since Biden took workplace.
He beforehand stayed without cost on the Kiawah Island, S.C., house of Maria Allwin, the widow of hedge fund founder James Allwin, and spent every week on the Lake Tahoe house of billionaire environmental investor Tom Steyer.
A Biden rep claimed that trip was paid for — prompting a neighborhood authorities investigation into Steyer’s lack of a rental allow. The probe was referred to as off with out clarification.
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