Ranking Member Raskin Warns Chairman Comer About Truthfulness, Credibility, and Motivations of Tony Bobulinski

Washington, D.C. (February 12, 2024)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, sent a letter to Chairman James Comer raising concerns about the credibility and motivations of Anthony “Tony” Bobulinski, who will appear tomorrow for a transcribed interview as part of the Committee’s 14-month long investigation.

“You made assurances that ‘100% of what Tony Bobulinski said has proven to be true’ and described Mr. Bobulinski as ‘the one solid guy [in Hunter Biden’s orbit] that tried to do the right thing and was honest.’  However, publicly available information about Mr. Bobulinski, including his own contradictory statements, his mysterious ties to the Trump campaign, his refusal to engage with the Committee’s Democratic staff, and his problematic personal finances, raise significant concerns about his truthfulness, credibility, and motivations,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

Less than three weeks before the 2020 presidential election, Mr. Bobulinski, together with Trump White House and Trump campaign associates, spoke with the Wall Street Journal claiming to have “firsthand knowledge” that Joe Biden had been involved in SinoHawk Holdings, a short-lived business venture Mr. Bobulinski, Hunter Biden, James Biden, and two other business partners had in 2017.  After reviewing materials he provided, the Wall Street Journal dismissed Mr. Bobulinski’s claims outright, concluding that the records provided by Mr. Bobulinski “show[ed] no role for Joe Biden” in SinoHawk Holdings.”  Fox News similarly rejected Mr. Bobulinski’s claims.

Donald Trump and his allies elevated Mr. Bobulinski’s discredited accusations against President Biden in the lead-up to the 2020 election.  Trump aides arranged for Mr. Bobulinski to give a press conference at the final presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020.  Even at his own press conference, however, Mr. Bobulinski’s claims began to unravel—conceding he never discussed business dealings with Joe Biden.

The day after his press conference organized by the Trump campaign, Mr. Bobulinski provided a voluntary interview with the FBI, but refused to allow the FBI to make forensic copies of three cell phones that he claimed contained text messages, emails, and other information directly connecting Joe Biden to Hunter Biden’s business activities, insisting on showing the agents only select, carefully hand-picked documents and messages.   After the interview, Mr. Bobulinski and his attorney, former deputy Trump White House counsel, asked to be driven to the Trump Hotel.

A week later, Mr. Bobulinski attended a Trump campaign rally in Rome, Georgia, on November 1, 2020. Mr. Bobulinski reportedly appeared in a ski mask” to conceal his identity and received from then- White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows “what appeared to be a folded sheet of paper or small envelope.”

Mr. Bobulinski revealed in an interview with Sean Hannity in November 2022 that he was assisting then incoming-Chairmen Comer and Jordan, claiming to have “provided extensive amount of facts” about the Biden family to their offices. Mr. Bobulinski has refused to speak with the Committee’s Democratic staff, despite multiple requests sent to his counsel.

These concerns about Mr. Bobulinski’s collaboration with Donald Trump and pattern of distorting information are exacerbated by the fact that he experienced significant financial difficulties at the time he became involved with the Trump campaign in 2020.  

“Collectively, these facts are worthy of extended investigation to understand Mr. Bobulinski’s personal motives and adequately evaluate the credibility of his allegations.  If you insist on moving forward with Mr. Bobulinski’s transcribed interview despite this large field of giant red flags, it is imperative that you ensure the Committee has access to all the information needed to assess Mr. Bobulinski’s claims.  This means, at a minimum, requiring individuals such as Mark Meadows, Arthur Schwartz, Eric Herschmann, and Jason Miller—who have direct knowledge on how Mr. Bobulinski came to be involved with persons in the Trump Administration and campaign—to come before the Committee to shed some light on Mr. Bobulinski’s puzzling and deeply suspicious motivations,” continued Ranking Member Raskin.

Click here to read the letter.

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