Referencing as yet unsubstantiated claims of corruption that he seized upon during his failed 2020 re-election bid, former President Donald Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly Tuesday to release any evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden, the son of current President Joe Biden.
Trump’s claim involves an alleged illegal payment given to Hunter Biden by Elena Baturina, former wife of a deceased former Moscow mayor, an allegation that originated in a partisan Senate report released in the leadup to the 2020 election.
While speaking with Just the News, Trump implored Putin to back that claim up.
“She gave him $3.5 million, so now I would think Putin would know the answer to that. I think he should release it,” Trump said. “I think we should know that answer.”
It’s not the first time Trump has very publicly endeavored to ask for Putin’s aid. While initially running for President in 2016, a bid he was successful in, Trump asked for Putin’s help in hacking his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump said at a press conference at the time.
Additionally, Trump’s first impeachment during his only term as President was tied to reports that he tried to leverage the release of already-promised aid to Ukraine in return for a Ukrainian investigation into Hunter Biden’s ties to a Ukrainian business during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump also initially called Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine “genius” just hours before Russia attacked its neighboring country.
Since then though, Trump has been critical of the violence while also blaming his Presidential successor Joe Biden for not doing more to stem the aggression.
“Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Joe Biden totally failed to deter Russia’s disgraceful invasion of Ukraine,” Trump said Saturday. “All of those people are dead. Putin’s heinous attack on a proud and sovereign nation shocks the conscience of every person of goodwill.”
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