# Burisma and the Bidens: A Critical Examination **Key Finding:** Despite persistent allegations, no credible evidence shows that [[Joe Biden]] used his vice-presidential office to benefit Burisma, [[Hunter Biden]], or Burisma's owner [[Mykola Zlochevsky]]. Investigations by Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]], Special Counsel [[John Durham]], and the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General made no findings of wrongdoing by [[Joe Biden]] or [[Hunter Biden]] in connection with Burisma. ## Burisma Holdings: Background and Leadership [Burisma Holdings Limited](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burisma) was one of Ukraine's largest private natural-gas producers until its dissolution in 2023. Founded in 2002 by [[Mykola Zlochevsky]], a former Ukrainian environment minister, it expanded rapidly through acquisitions of exploration and production assets in Eastern Ukraine, Crimea, and the Carpathian Basin. In 2016–17, Burisma invested in fracking fleets and the region's most powerful drilling rig for $40 million, and pursued international projects in Kazakhstan, Italy, and Germany. **Board of Directors (2014–2019):** |Director|Role|Notable Background| |---|---|---| |[[Alan Apter]]|Chairman|Investment banker| |[[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]]|Board Member|Former President of Poland| |[[Joseph Cofer Black]]|Board Member|Former [[CIA]] Counterterrorism Chief| |[[Karina Zlochevska]]|Board Member|Daughter of owner [[Mykola Zlochevsky]]| |[[Christina Sofocleous]]; [[Riginos Charalampous]]; [[Marina Pericleous]]|Board Members|Cyprus business executives| |[[Devon Archer]]|Board Member (2014–2018)|Ex-Obama campaign adviser| |[[Hunter Biden]]|Board Member (2014–April 2019)|Attorney, [son of U.S. Vice President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Biden)| [[Hunter Biden]] was compensated up to $50,000 per month for advising on corporate governance and transparency, despite having no prior energy-sector experience. ## Joe Biden's Role and Viktor Shokin's Ouster ### Official U.S. Policy on Prosecutor Shokin In early 2015, Western governments and anti-corruption activists criticized Ukraine's Prosecutor General [[Viktor Shokin]] for failing to pursue high-level corruption cases. The U.S., EU, World Bank, and IMF publicly pressed for his removal. ### Threat to Withhold Loan Guarantees In December 2015, as part of this multilateral effort, then-Vice President [[Joe Biden]] informed Ukrainian leadership he would withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees unless [[Viktor Shokin]] was dismissed. The [Ukrainian parliament complied](https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/110331/documents/HMKP-116-JU00-20191211-SD440.pdf) in March 2016. ### Absence of a Burisma Probe at the Time Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities confirm that by early 2016, [[Viktor Shokin]]'s office was **not** actively investigating Burisma. His removal **increased** the likelihood of revived probes, [not halted them](https://www.rferl.org/a/why-was-ukraine-top-prosecutor-fired-viktor-shokin/30181445.html). ## Investigations into Burisma and the Bidens ### Mueller Report Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]]'s 2019 report on Russian election interference discussed Russian hacking and social-media operations targeting the 2016 election but made **no mention** of [[Hunter Biden]] or Burisma. ### Durham Report Special Counsel [[John Durham]]'s 2023 report scrutinized the [[FBI]]'s handling of the Russia investigation's origins and did **not** identify any coordination between the Bidens and Burisma or Ukrainian officials. The [Durham report findings](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/15/durham-report-takeaways-00097060) showed no evidence of wrongdoing. ### Justice Department OIG and Senate Committee Findings The [[DOJ]] Inspector General found no evidence that Biden family business dealings influenced U.S. foreign policy. A joint [Senate Finance and Homeland Security inquiry](https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/imo/media/doc/200923_FullReport_PetersHSGACWydenFinance.pdf) concluded there was **no wrongdoing** by [[Joe Biden]] or his son in relation to Burisma. Additional findings were detailed in the [joint committee report](https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HSGAC%20-%20Finance%20Joint%20Report%202020.09.23.pdf). ## Hunter Biden's Explanation and Public Statements ### Memoir "Beautiful Things" In his 2021 memoir, [[Hunter Biden]] acknowledged joining Burisma in 2014 as a board member and defended it as a [legitimate consulting role](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/memoir-hunter-biden-seeks-reframe-political-scandals-omits/story?id=76813811): > "I'm not saying I would not have taken Burisma's offer if Beau hadn't gotten sick — the money helped…" He described the criticism as a "political fable" weaponized against his father's ambitions. ### Interviews and Congressional Testimony - ABC News (2019): [[Hunter Biden]] labeled allegations of corruption "conspiratorial delusion." - Upcoming House Oversight testimony (2024): He plans to reiterate his denial of any wrongdoing as board member. ## Joe Biden's Responses in Debates and Public Forums During the 2020 Democratic primary and general election debates, [[Joe Biden]] was repeatedly asked about Burisma. His consistent responses: > "There is no evidence that I did anything improper or that my son did anything wrong." > "He's my son — like a lot of Americans, he struggled with addiction. None of this is illegal or unethical." ## Burisma's Ukrainian Oligarch and Intelligence Connections - **[[Mykola Zlochevsky]]**: Former environment minister, [under probe for corruption](https://cdn.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/427618359-Shokin-Statement-1.pdf) and tax irregularities before [[Hunter Biden]]'s appointment. - **Russian Hacking**: In 2019–20, [Burisma was targeted by GRU-linked phishing campaigns](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ukrainian-gas-firm-burisma-hacked-russians-familiar-phishing/story?id=68259768) aiming to compromise email credentials, but no evidence linked the Bidens to classified national-security breaches. ## Classified Documents and "Garage Lift" Allegations No credible evidence supports claims that [[Hunter Biden]] removed or "lifted" classified intelligence from his father's garage or other White House premises. These assertions originate in unverified political misinformation and are absent from any official report or credible investigative finding. ## Legal Analysis of Potential Culpability No federal or state prosecutors have brought or alleged criminal charges related to Burisma against [[Joe Biden]] or [[Hunter Biden]]. The [[DOJ]]'s extensive investigations yielded **no indictments** on corruption, bribery, or undue influence. Civil or professional-licensing challenges were not pursued, and no impeachment articles were based on Burisma before being dismissed in 2024. Recent developments include the [Special Counsel [[David Weiss]] final report](https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Weiss-January-2025.pdf) and related investigations that found no evidence of corruption related to Burisma. An [[[FBI]] informant who fabricated bribery allegations](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/08/ex-fbi-informant-who-fabricated-bribery-story-00197237) was charged for providing false information about the Bidens and Burisma. **Conclusion:** A decade of inquiries—from international anti-corruption bodies to U.S. Special Counsels—have failed to substantiate allegations that the Bidens profited illicitly from Burisma or that [[Joe Biden]] used official actions to benefit his son's Ukrainian employer. The narrative linking [[Viktor Shokin]]'s firing to Burisma protection is contradicted by contemporaneous U.S. policy objectives and Ukrainian anti-corruption evidence. The [fact-checking analysis](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/10/21/fact-check-joe-biden-leveraged-ukraine-aid-oust-corrupt-prosecutor/5991434002/) and [comprehensive investigations](https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/trump-revives-false-narrative-on-biden-and-ukraine/) have consistently found no evidence supporting corruption allegations.