WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden attended meetings with President Joe Biden and top aides Monday evening after his father returned to the White House from Camp David, Maryland, according to four people familiar with the matter.
According to these people, the president’s son also spoke with senior staff of the White House.
While he is a regular at the White House residence and events, it is unusual for Hunter Biden to be in and around meetings with his father’s team, these people said. They said that the president’s aides were surprised that he was there during the discussions.
A federal jury in Delaware last month found Hunter Biden guilty of gun charges. He remains indicted on tax-related felony charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Shortly after the jury found him guilty, he returned to his home in California.
One of the people familiar with the matter said Hunter Biden has been closely advising his father since the family gathered at Camp David over the weekend after Thursday’s debate. The person said that Hunter Biden “intruded” on several meetings and phone calls he had with some of the president’s advisers.
Another person familiar with the matter said the reaction of some senior White House staff was, “What’s going on?”
Asked for comment, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, referring to Biden’s preparations for Supreme Court remarks with aides, “Hunter returned from a family weekend at Camp David with the president and went straight to preparing a speech with the president.” Court ruling on presidential immunity.
Hunter Biden’s presence in and around his father’s meetings comes amid questions about whether Joe Biden will continue his re-election campaign.
NBC News reports that Hunter Biden is among close family members urging the president to stay in the race. He was at the White House this week to celebrate the Fourth of July with the Biden family, two people familiar with his plans said.