Romney says he hasn't been in touch with Burisma board member within last year

Romney says the focus of the Homeland Security Committee's Hunter Biden and Burisma Holdings investigation isn't clear enough

By Nicholas Ballasy

Published: March 11, 2020 1:57pm

Updated: May 26, 2020 7:11pm

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Wednesday he hasn't been in touch with Burisma Holdings board member Joseph Cofer Black within the past year and that he wants a "better sense" of the Senate Homeland Security Committee's investigation into Hunter Biden and Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma.

Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma while his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, oversaw U.S. relations with Ukraine.

The former vice president has boasted of demanding the ouster of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who at the time was investigating corruption at Burisma, even while he was also being widely criticized for a lack of zeal in prosecuting corruption endemic in the nation.

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is planning multiple subpoenas as part of the senate investigation.

Romney had initially signaled reluctance to vote for a subpoena related to the investigation, saying the probe "appears political." The Utah Republican is potentially the deciding vote on the committee of eight Republicans and six Democrats

After apparently receiving assurances from Johnson that witness testimony would be heard in a closed setting, Romney came around to supporting the subpoena.

Black was a national security advisor to Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. He joined the Burisma board in 2017 and served with Hunter Biden, who left the board in April of 2019.

When asked if he has been in contact with Black within the past year, Romney replied, "No."

Romney was also asked on Wednesday if he's ever discussed Burisma with Black.

"If I haven’t been in touch with him, how would I have discussed something with him?" he replied.

He was asked on Wednesday if he will support additional subpoenas related to the investigation.

"Certain subpoenas I can support, and others I couldn’t," Romney said.

"I would like to understand precisely what it is that is being investigated before I can make a comment about whether I will support this effort down the road," he added.