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California Representative Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign has received a substantial donation from Kevin Morris, the wealthy Hollywood attorney known for financially supporting Hunter Biden through his legal troubles, according to campaign finance documents released Tuesday.
Morris, who has been dubbed Hunter Biden’s “sugar brother” for his extensive financial assistance, contributed $29,900 to Swalwell’s campaign on February 2. The donation comes as Swalwell seeks to transition from his congressional role to become California’s next governor.
The relationship between Swalwell and Hunter Biden has drawn attention in recent months. In December 2023, Swalwell reportedly helped orchestrate Hunter Biden’s controversial press conference outside the Capitol, where the president’s son defied a House Oversight Committee subpoena to testify behind closed doors about his business dealings. During this period, Swalwell emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of Hunter Biden against Republican investigations.
“There is absolutely zero evidence Hunter or his father acted corruptly,” Swalwell stated at the time. “So I’m not going to sit quietly and let MAGA Republicans do Trump’s bidding in Congress.”
Morris and Hunter Biden first connected at a 2019 campaign event for Joe Biden when he was vice president. Their relationship deepened during what Morris described as “the lowest point” in Hunter’s life. The attorney’s financial support for Hunter has been substantial, reportedly exceeding $6.5 million. According to Politico, there were concerns that Morris might not be able to continue covering Hunter’s legal expenses if his federal firearms and tax cases had proceeded to trial.
Beyond legal fees, Morris has provided Hunter with luxury housing, purchased more than a dozen of his amateur paintings, and helped him settle his overdue tax bills. A source close to Morris told Politico that the attorney stepped in because he felt no one else was willing to support Hunter during his difficulties.
Morris’s support for Hunter Biden has not been without controversy. The Trump-aligned America First Legal filed complaints with the California Bar Association, accusing Morris of violating professional conduct rules after being photographed smoking marijuana in Hunter’s presence, given Hunter’s history of addiction. Morris was also accused of attempting to gain unauthorized access to the set of a film about Hunter Biden, though he was ultimately cleared by the state bar association.
The connection between Morris and Swalwell extends beyond their shared support for Hunter Biden. Morris previously made maximum donations totaling over $6,000 to Swalwell’s House campaign in early 2023. Both men were present at Hunter Biden’s December press conference, where Swalwell had reserved the “Senate Swamp” area near the Capitol for the event.
Critics have raised questions about Morris and Swalwell’s ties to China. Morris confirmed to lawmakers that he still holds a stake in a Chinese private equity firm that he acquired from Hunter Biden. In 2021, Morris purchased Skaneateles LLC, a company previously owned by Hunter, as pressure mounted for the president’s son to divest from the China-based company.
Swalwell himself has faced scrutiny over his alleged connections to China after reports emerged that he had been targeted by a Chinese spy influence operation early in his political career. The controversy led to his removal from the House Intelligence Committee when the allegations became public. Last month, Fox News reported that Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign had accepted multiple donations from a Chinese-based law firm and its U.S.-based attorney.
Swalwell’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the donation from Morris or their relationship.
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6 Comments
The relationship between Swalwell and Hunter Biden’s legal team raises questions about the objectivity and motivations behind the congressman’s vocal defense of the president’s son. Voters will likely be closely scrutinizing this connection.
While the donation may be legal, it’s concerning to see such a close financial tie between a politician and an individual involved in a high-profile political controversy. Transparency and impartiality are crucial in these situations.
Interesting to see the financial connections between Hunter Biden’s legal team and Eric Swalwell’s campaign. It raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of wealthy donors in politics.
This donation highlights the complex web of relationships and interests involved in the ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden’s business dealings. It will be important to closely monitor any potential ethical concerns that arise.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious political dynamics surrounding Hunter Biden and the investigations into his business activities. It will be important to closely follow any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Given the high-profile nature of the Hunter Biden case, this donation to Swalwell’s campaign seems rather curious. I wonder how it might impact the congressman’s stance and actions regarding the investigations.