Comer accuses Biden of abusing power by letting son travel on foreign trips, demands flight records

House Government and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer on Wednesday formally accused Joe Biden of abusing his power as vice president by allowing his son to travel aboard Air Force Two to help score foreign business deals, formally demanding the National Archives turn over all flight records from such trips.

"The Committee seeks unrestricted special access under the Presidential Records Act (PRA) to certain records related to then-Vice President Biden’s foreign travel with his family on Air Force Two and Marine Two," Comer and fellow committee member Rep. Byron Donald, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to the National Archives and Records Administration.

It has long been known that Hunter Biden took trips aboard his father's government jet during the Obama administration, including one in late 2013 to Beijing in which Joe Biden met with one of his son's prospective business partners in a major investment fund in China. Fox News recently reported there were at least 15 such trips during the Obama era.

The revelations have taken on more relevance since former business partner Devon Archer testified to Congress that Hunter and Joe Biden were sold as a "brand" to foreign clients in Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan and other countries seeking influence in Washington, directly disputing Joe Biden's claim he had nothing to do with his son's business.

Comer alleged in the new letter that such trips were part of an influence peddling scheme that enriched the Biden family, eroded public trust and wasted taxpayer money.

"Then-Vice President Biden’s misuse of Air Force Two and Marine Two is indicative of yet another way in which the President has abused his various offices of public trust and wasted taxpayer money to benefit his family’s enterprise, which consisted of nothing more than access to Joe Biden himself," Comer and Donalds wrote.

"Devon Archer, a longtime Biden family associate, has stated it is 'categorically false' that Joe Biden played no role in his son’s foreign business dealings. Flights on Air Force Two around the world to seal business deals are evidence of that role," the letter also states.

You can read the full letter here.

The lawmakers demanded the National Archives turn over all responsive records on Air Force Two flights to help Congress craft new legislation that would outlaw close family members from profiting from public officials' duties and positions.

"The Committee’s need for these Vice-Presidential records is specific and well documented. The Committee seeks to craft legislative solutions aimed at deficiencies it has identified in the current legal framework regarding ethics laws and disclosure of financial interests related to the immediate family members of Vice Presidents and Presidents – deficiencies that may place American national security and interests at risk," Comer wrote.

"The Committee is concerned that foreign nationals have sought access and influence by engaging in lucrative business relationships with high-profile political figures’ immediate family members, including members of the Biden family."

While the Biden White House has repeatedly ridiculed Comer's investigation and requests, a veteran U.S. senator serving as Joe Biden's 2024 campaign co-chairman conceded recently that Hunter Biden's effort to make money off his family name and concerns about deals Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, had struck overseas had raised enough concern to warrant considering tougher ethics rules.

“That may be worth looking at," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told NBC News last month.