By Stephen Zogopoulos, USNN World News
On Monday, Senator Chuck Grassley, a prominent Republican, revealed a significant development regarding the claims made by an FBI informant. According to Grassley, Mykola Zlochevsky, the Ukrainian oligarch involved in the alleged “criminal bribery scheme” connected to Joe and Hunter Biden, reportedly possessed 17 recorded conversations as a form of insurance.
Sources familiar with the contents of the FBI record, who spoke to the Washington Examiner, disclosed that Zlochevsky referred to Joe Biden as the “big guy” in a conversation that took place several years prior to the June 2020 document. Additionally, Grassley highlighted that the FD-1023 form indicated that the foreign national had 15 audio recordings of phone calls with Hunter Biden and two audio recordings of phone calls with then-Vice President Joe Biden.
Grassley also drew attention to the suggestion within the FBI record that Joe Biden may have been involved in facilitating Hunter Biden’s employment at Burisma. The ongoing federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware, led by U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed during the Trump administration. Grassley expressed concerns about Weiss’s actions in relation to the alleged recordings involving Joe and Hunter Biden and their connection to the high-stakes bribery scheme.
Previously, sources informed the Washington Examiner that the Burisma owner discussed an alleged bribe of $5 million to Joe Biden and another $5 million to Hunter Biden, as relayed by a paid FBI informant who claimed to have heard this from Zlochevsky. The sources further stated that Zlochevsky believed it would be challenging to uncover the alleged bribery scheme for at least a decade due to the involvement of numerous bank accounts.
It’s worth noting that Zlochevsky’s reference to Joe Biden as the “big guy” appears separate from a similar reference made by a business associate of Hunter Biden during negotiations with Chinese intelligence-linked businessmen. The mention of the “big guy” in the context of China occurred in a previously undisclosed May 2017 email, which only came to light in October 2020.
The existence of the FD-1023 document related to Ukraine came to Grassley’s attention through whistleblowers in 2022. In October, Grassley urged the Justice Department and FBI to provide all records, including FD-1023 documents that mentioned Mykola Zlochevsky, Hunter Biden, James Biden, and Joe Biden.
House Republicans asserted that the alleged bribery scheme was connected to Joe Biden’s efforts as vice president to pressure Ukraine to dismiss Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin. They claimed that the bribes mentioned in the FBI form were intended to halt a corruption investigation. FBI Director Christopher Wray allowed members of Rep. James Comer’s House Oversight Committee to review the FD-1023, albeit with significant redactions, after facing potential contempt of Congress charges for failing to comply with a subpoena.
Grassley expressed dissatisfaction with the redactions made by Director Wray, highlighting that the document was already unclassified. He further criticized the FBI for requiring Congress to review a redacted unclassified document in a classified facility, illustrating what he perceived as the FBI’s lack of respect for Congress.
Burisma gained significant attention when President Donald Trump mentioned it during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 2019. The call prompted a whistleblower complaint, which ultimately led to impeachment proceedings led by Democrats in the House. Democrats denied that Shokin had genuinely been investigating Burisma, while Republicans argued the opposite.
President Trump and his Republican allies alleged that Joe Biden improperly utilized his position as vice president to pressure Ukraine into firing Shokin in order to protect his son from an investigation into Burisma. Democrats refuted these claims and argued that the focus on Burisma was an attempt to tarnish Joe Biden’s reputation. When asked about the bribery allegations, Joe Biden dismissed them as “a bunch of malarkey” and made a lighthearted remark, saying, “Where’s the money? I’m joking.”
In June 2020, Ukrainian officials stated that they had been offered $5 million in bribes to halt criminal investigations into Burisma and allow Zlochevsky, who is currently residing abroad, to return to Ukraine. They emphasized that this was unrelated to Joe and Hunter Biden.
The recent revelations surrounding the 17 recorded conversations involving Joe and Hunter Biden and the Burisma owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, have caused a significant stir in the political landscape. However, equally troubling is the alleged collusion between the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), certain media outlets, and the Biden administration to suppress and conceal potential evidence of corruption within the Biden family.
As questions continue to mount regarding Joe Biden’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s employment at Burisma and the alleged bribery scheme, it is crucial to prioritize transparency and conduct a thorough investigation. The American people deserve to know the truth about any potential wrongdoing and its potential impact on national security and the integrity of public office.
The allegations of collusion raise serious concerns about the impartiality and independence of key institutions responsible for upholding justice and safeguarding the public’s interests. It is imperative for the DOJ and FBI to act with utmost integrity, ensuring impartial investigations free from any undue influence.
Additionally, it is the media’s responsibility to report on these matters objectively and without bias. The public relies on the press to hold those in power accountable, and any attempt to suppress or manipulate information undermines the principles of a free and fair society.
In the upcoming weeks and months, the handling of these revelations and the pursuit of a comprehensive investigation will undoubtedly be closely watched. The truth must prevail, and any attempts to obstruct justice or bury evidence of corruption must be firmly opposed. The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and a government that operates with integrity and in their best interests.
