Hunter Biden’s allies are considering setting up a legal defense fund to help cover his mounting legal fees as he faces two upcoming criminal trials. Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who had previously funded Biden’s defense, can no longer continue as the main financier. Two people close to President Joe Biden were briefed on a potential legal defense fund near the end of last year, but no decision has been made to move forward with the fund due to lack of financial support.
The idea of a public small-donation fund has been discussed by Biden’s allies as a last resort if efforts to secure larger financial support fail. Both of Biden’s criminal trials are scheduled to begin in June, one in Delaware and one in California, with significant jail time at risk if convicted. The defense fund could help cover his estimated $10 million in legal fees. However, no official legal defense fund has been established, and donors have expressed concerns about potential scrutiny and harassment if their names were made public.
In early December, lawyer and former Republican Congressman David Jolly was tasked with briefing two people close to President Biden on a potential legal defense fund for Hunter Biden. Jolly outlined how the fund would operate as a blind trust, ensuring transparency and compliance with ethical standards. He recommended that all donations remain private to avoid any conflicts of interest, and that the fund could only be used for legal expenses, not other types of costs. However, the fund never came to fruition due to lack of donor support.
Despite efforts to create a legal defense fund for Hunter Biden, no formal leadership or official fund has been established. Potential donors have reportedly been dissuaded from contributing, possibly due to concerns about public exposure and scrutiny. Some Democratic operatives believe that pressure from the president’s advisers has prevented the creation of the fund. The White House has maintained a hands-off approach to Hunter Biden’s legal issues, with the president and first lady expressing support for him but not getting directly involved in his legal defense.
Hunter Biden’s allies have expressed a desire for more public support for him coming from the White House or Democratic surrogates. The president and first lady have shown pride in his recovery from addiction and publicly maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing. White House aides have avoided having high-profile Democrats defend Hunter Biden to prevent any appearance of interference in his legal matters. However, some argue that the president’s support for his son is important for voters to see as a reflection of his values and personal connection to the issue.
