Jim Biden’s Qatari Financial Ties: New Testimony Reveals Deeper Links between President’s Brother and Foreign Government

A new report has shed light on alleged financial ties between President Joe Biden’s brother, Jim Biden, and the Qatari government. Testimony obtained by Politico from a former business partner of Jim Biden’s, Michael Lewitt, revealed that two companies involved in his healthcare ventures were part-owned by “members of the Qatari government”. This would represent the closest financial links between a relative of the president and a foreign state.
According to public records and emails reviewed by Politico, shortly after Biden left the vice presidency under Barack Obama’s administration in 2017, Jim Biden began seeking funding from sources in Qatar for projects within the US. This came at a time when neighbouring countries had cut diplomatic ties with Qatar due to allegations of support for terrorism.
Jim Biden reportedly approached fundraising efforts by partnering directly with Platinum Group USA and securing financial backing from Obermeyer Engineering Consulting, both companies involved in his healthcare initiatives. Lewitt’s testimony suggests that these alleged arrangements go beyond what was previously known about Jim Biden’s ties to Qatar.
Lewitt is scheduled for a planned interview with House impeachment inquiry investigators but has not yet been given a date. In February, Jim Biden told congressional investigators he had ceased his efforts due to the lack of viable projects available. However, Lewitt’s testimony suggests that these ties between Jim Biden and Qatar are more extensive than previously acknowledged.
Jim Biden allegedly attempted to circumvent restrictions on moving money internationally in order to fundraise for healthcare ventures while he was working closely with Americore Health LLC, another business implicated by this controversy. According to reports, Qatari funding played a significant role during the period of diplomatic unease between neighbouring countries and Qatar itself as it sought closer ties with both the US and European nations in 2017.
In February last year, Lewitt’s investment fund Third Friday made several loans to Americore Health LLC to keep the company afloat until $30 million was secured for hospital acquisitions. However, legal issues surrounding international funding transfers hindered these efforts as Jim Biden and his partners reportedly waited on World Bank approval before proceeding with their plans.
Lewitt’s email correspondence reveals that in mid-2018 he and Jim Biden travelled to Qatar to continue fundraising endeavours, but it is not clear whether a meeting between Jim Biden and then finance minister of Qatar Ali Sharif Al Emadi took place during this visit. The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on these allegations regarding the president’s brother.
The controversy surrounding Jim Biden’s alleged business ties with foreign governments extends beyond his efforts in healthcare funding, as a group of investors from Lewitt’s company sued him earlier this year claiming that he embezzled their money through Americore Health LLC and other related dealings involving Joe Biden’s brother, the Rustom brothers and Third Friday. A federal court in Florida is currently investigating these claims along with additional legal controversies regarding Jim Biden’s business activities during his time working alongside Lewitt and Platinum Group USA.