Mike - With all of the Hunter Brandon “news” lately I’ve been thinking about the diamond story with Hunter and the guy who ran CEFC.
The rough outline of the story goes like this:
Hunter met with some execs from CEFC. Of course, they were very impressed and wanted to strike up a biz relationship with Hunter who of course was the son of the VP. CEFC was the energy wing of China’s Belt and Road initiative which would make “loans” to poor countries for infrastructure projects. (much of which probably ended up in the Swiss bank accounts of politicians) In return the Chinese now had big influence over these countries and the officials they did business with. At one of these meetings in China, the chairman of CEFC gave Hunter a 3.16 Carat Diamond. Pictures of the diamond were found on Hunter’s abandoned laptop. Here is a link to a NYP story that covers the details:
What little coverage has been given to this episode seems to be of the following flavor:
“So, some Chinese Billionaire gave Hunter a 3.16 Carat Diamond.” Yeah, the Chinese are kind of weird like that……Nothing to see here…..NYT.
But I have been mulling some questions:
First, how much was that diamond worth? (NYP says $80,000)
Did Hunter receive only the one diamond? or were there others?
Did Hunter maybe prefer Diamonds as payment?
I think Diamonds are an interesting form of exchange. Years ago, it was disclosed that Swiss bankers would smuggle diamonds in half empty tubes of toothpaste. In addition, when you fill out the customs documents they ask you if you are carrying $10,000 or more in cash…..but they don’t ask about diamonds. They ask you to declare things of value that you purchased….but not “gifts”
if I accept a diamond as a payment or a gift….no W2 is generated.
If I sell a diamond to a dealer for cash is a 1099 generated?
Did Hunter declare the Diamond upon returning to the US?
And finally,
When you return to the US from international destinations on Air Force 2……do you go through customs? or do you just walk straight to you limo and go straight home?
My point is this:
Diamonds are the PERFECT mode of smuggling great sums of value and the activity can be easily hidden from the government.
Is it possible that all of those trips Hunter took on AF2 to China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan etc. were more than just tag along trips of convenience? Were they a mode of smuggling illicit payments into the US.
And of course, what did Joe Brandon know and when did he know it?
I wonder if this is something you’ve thought about or covered any of this? I know the MSM hasn’t.
Busy just now, shoot you a call tomorrow..
Mike - With all of the Hunter Brandon “news” lately I’ve been thinking about the diamond story with Hunter and the guy who ran CEFC.
The rough outline of the story goes like this:
Hunter met with some execs from CEFC. Of course, they were very impressed and wanted to strike up a biz relationship with Hunter who of course was the son of the VP. CEFC was the energy wing of China’s Belt and Road initiative which would make “loans” to poor countries for infrastructure projects. (much of which probably ended up in the Swiss bank accounts of politicians) In return the Chinese now had big influence over these countries and the officials they did business with. At one of these meetings in China, the chairman of CEFC gave Hunter a 3.16 Carat Diamond. Pictures of the diamond were found on Hunter’s abandoned laptop. Here is a link to a NYP story that covers the details:
https://nypost.com/2021/11/28/chinese-titan-lavished-hunter-biden-with-3-carat-gem-offer-of-30-million/
What little coverage has been given to this episode seems to be of the following flavor:
“So, some Chinese Billionaire gave Hunter a 3.16 Carat Diamond.” Yeah, the Chinese are kind of weird like that……Nothing to see here…..NYT.
But I have been mulling some questions:
First, how much was that diamond worth? (NYP says $80,000)
Did Hunter receive only the one diamond? or were there others?
Did Hunter maybe prefer Diamonds as payment?
I think Diamonds are an interesting form of exchange. Years ago, it was disclosed that Swiss bankers would smuggle diamonds in half empty tubes of toothpaste. In addition, when you fill out the customs documents they ask you if you are carrying $10,000 or more in cash…..but they don’t ask about diamonds. They ask you to declare things of value that you purchased….but not “gifts”
if I accept a diamond as a payment or a gift….no W2 is generated.
If I sell a diamond to a dealer for cash is a 1099 generated?
Did Hunter declare the Diamond upon returning to the US?
And finally,
When you return to the US from international destinations on Air Force 2……do you go through customs? or do you just walk straight to you limo and go straight home?
My point is this:
Diamonds are the PERFECT mode of smuggling great sums of value and the activity can be easily hidden from the government.
Is it possible that all of those trips Hunter took on AF2 to China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan etc. were more than just tag along trips of convenience? Were they a mode of smuggling illicit payments into the US.
And of course, what did Joe Brandon know and when did he know it?
I wonder if this is something you’ve thought about or covered any of this? I know the MSM hasn’t.