A Prestigious Law Firm, has belatedly, 8 years, Registered as a Foreign Agent of a Ukrainian Energy Company, linked to Hunter Biden. The Filing is the latest sign of the far-reaching Legal Fallout related to Burisma, which Appointed Hunter Biden to its Board in 2014, and has since been Central to Two Presidential Impeachment dramas.
The Law Firm, Cravath, Swain & Moore, said in an emailed Statement, that Thursday’s Retroactive Filing came after Discussions with the Justice Department (DOJ), regarding the Scope of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
It's unusual for Foreign Agents to Register years after their Work has Concluded. But several have done so in recent years, as Foreign Lobbying efforts figured into a series of High-Profile Political Controversies and prompted Renewed Enforcement Interest from the DOJ.
A Partner at Cravath, John Buretta, met with Three Obama Administration Officials, and sent a Letter to a Fourth in 2016, as part of His Wwork on behalf of Burisma and its Owner Mykola Zlochevsky, related to potential U.S. and Ukrainian Investigations, according to the Filing. At the time, the Company and its Owner faced Scrutiny from Officials in the U.S., U.K., and Ukraine. over possible Corruption. Hunter Biden is Not named in that FARA Filing.
Investigations opened in the U.K. and Ukraine, did not result in Charges, but the Episode has had far-reaching Consequences for U.S. Politics.
At the time of Hunter Biden’s Board Service, then-Vice President Joe Biden, Oversaw U.S. Policy in Ukraine. As the U.S. Government pushed Reform efforts in Ukraine, Joe Biden compelled the Country’s Government to Oust its Top Prosecutor in 2016 by Threatening to Withhold U.S. Aid.
In the Run-Up to the 2020 Election, Allies of Trump claimed that Joe Biden forced the Firing in Order to help Burisma escape Corruption Charges. But U.S. Officials involved with Ukraine matters at the time, said the Firing of Prosecutor Viktor Shokin was consistent with U.S. Policy Goals, and stemmed from Shokin’s Reluctance to pursue Corruption Allegations such as those facing Burisma.
In December, 2023, Special Counsel David Weiss indicted Hunter Biden in Federal Court in California, on Charges that included alleged Failure to Pay Taxes on His Income from Burisma. Hunter Biden has pleaded Not Guilty to the Charges.
Cravath is Not the only Firm to belatedly File as a Foreign Agent of Burisma. In 2022, Democratic Llobbying Firm Blue Star Strategies, also Registered as a Foreign Aagent of Burisma’s and Zlochevsky’s for its Efforts to Head-Off Corruption Investigations. Blue Star reportedly faced a DOJ Investigation of its Burisma work. A Lawyer for the firm said in 2022, that the Probe had been Closed with No finding of Malfeasance. The work registered by Cravath comprises Four Contacts with U.S. officials.
In March 2016, Buretta, a former top Justice Department official, met separately with under secretary of state Catherine Novelli, assistant secretary of state Amos Hochstein, and Justice Department official Bruce Swartz, according to an exhibit to the filing.
In September of 2016, Buretta also sent a Letter to Marie Yovanovitch, who had recently been Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. A Representative for Novelli said She does Not Recall the Meeting and Declined an Interview Request.
A 2020 Report on Hunter Biden, produced by House Republicans References Buretta’s Meeting with Hochstein, in which the Attorney reportedly briefed Hochstein on Zlochevsky’s Legal Troubles in the U.K.
Cravath reported receiving about $350,000 from Burisma from March to August of 2016, and Spending about $60,000 in Connection with its Burisma Work, between mid-January and mid-September of that year.
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