Former Biden Adviser Supports Hunter Biden at Trial Amidst CCP Ties

Francis "Fran" Person, a former adviser to Vice President Biden, was present at Hunter Biden's trial for gun charges. Person, who had close ties with Hunter and his Chinese business partner Bo Zhang, has been involved in business dealings with Harves Global Entertainment, a China-based firm with alleged CCP connections. The trial shed light on the extent of their association and the possibility of undisclosed financial interests.

Former top adviser to President Biden, Francis "Fran" Person, made a notable appearance at the Delaware courthouse on Monday, supporting Hunter Biden during the jury selection process for his gun trial. Person, who served as an adviser to the elder Biden and a special assistant to President Obama from 2009 to 2014, has been a close friend of Hunter's for over a decade.

Person's attendance at the trial raises questions about the extent of his involvement in Hunter's business dealings. In 2014, less than six months after leaving the White House, Person helped launch Harves Global Entertainment, a Washington, D.C.-based affiliate of the China-based Harves Century Group, a multi-billion-dollar real estate development firm.

Records show that Person frequently emailed with Hunter and his business partner, Eric Schwerin, about business dealings associated with Harves Entertainment and other D.C.-based Harves affiliates in 2015 and 2016. During that time, he also made multiple visits to the White House, including attending a holiday reception in December 2015 with Bo Zhang, his Chinese business partner.

In a July 2015 email, Person introduced Hunter to the Harves brand and invited him to China to meet Zhang and his family, describing them as "a great family with great respect and relationships in China." Zhang, the son of "Chinese billionaires," is also linked to Liu Cigui, a decades-long member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who holds a leadership position within the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a central part of the China's United Front system.

Another one of Zhang's CCP ties was revealed in a 2013 Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing with the Justice Department, which listed Zhang as the "foreign principal" and noted his relationship with Chinese government official Liu Guoqiang, the vice chairman of the Liaoning Committee of the CPPCC.

Despite these apparent connections, Person has repeatedly claimed that neither Hunter nor any of his associates ever owned equity in any Harves entity or affiliate. However, emails from Schwerin to Hunter contradict this claim, confirming the financial interests of Rosemont Seneca Advisors, Hunter's LLC Owasco, and multiple Harves affiliates, including a 5% stake in Harves Amusement Parks and ownership in Harves Sports and Entertainment.

In 2017, amidst Hunter's divorce proceedings, Person and Zhang reportedly offered financial assistance to Hunter. WhatsApp messages released by the House Ways and Means Committee show that Person asked Zhang for a wire transfer of at least $100,000 to help cover Hunter's expenses. Person also mentioned that Zhang offered his multimillion-dollar McLean, Virginia, mansion for Hunter to stay in.