バイデン氏息子の絵画販売、米下院調査へ　政府への影響焦点に

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】ジョー・バイデン米大統領の息子で、画家に転身したハンター氏が制作した絵画をめぐり、下院で過半数を握る共和党が販売先について調査に乗り出すことになった。（写真は米民主党党大会で放送された動画に登場したハンター・バイデン氏）
　ハンター氏は、ニューヨークのギャラリーを通じて自身の作品を販売している。下院監視・改革委員会のジェームズ・コーマー委員長（共和）は２５日、ギャラリーのオーナー、ジョルジュ・ベルジェ氏に書簡を送り、購入者リストを提出するとともに、同委員会で来月証言するよう要請した。
　コーマー氏は書簡で「ハンター・バイデン氏との取引については重大な倫理上の懸念が生じている」と問題提起。共和党としては、政策に影響を与えたいと考える資産家が、ハンター氏の作品購入の見返りに政府の歓心を買おうとする可能性があるとみている。
　コーマー氏は、ハンター氏の作品には最高２２万５０００ドル（約２９００万円）の値が付けられていると指摘。「パブロ・ピカソでもないハンター・バイデン氏の無価値に等しい作品にこんな大金を払う者がいるだろうか」と、疑問を投げ掛けている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/01/26-13:26）

The matter of who buys artwork produced by Joe Biden's son, a former lawyer with a troubled past, is taking center stage on Capitol Hill -- where Republicans have vowed to use their new House majority to aggressively investigate the president's family.
The chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee on Wednesday demanded a New York art gallery produce a list of who has bought artwork made by Hunter Biden.
Your arrangement with Hunter Biden raises serious ethics concerns and calls into question whether the Biden family is again selling access and influence, Republican James Comer of Kentucky said in his letter.
Comer requested the gallery's owner, Georges Berges, testify before his committee next month.
Hunter Biden is a favorite target of Republicans, particularly over his prior work with foreign firms.
He is the president's second of four children, though his older brother died of cancer in 2015, and he has publicly discussed struggles with addiction.
The Republicans suggest that wealthy influence seekers may buy Hunter Biden's artwork with the aim of winning favor at the White House.
According to Comer, some of the paintings exhibited by the New York gallery have price tags up to $225,000.
Why would anyone pay Hunter Biden top dollar for artwork that is arguably worthless? He?s no Pablo Picasso, Comer tweeted Wednesday.
The gallery, which recently promoted Hunter Biden's paintings on social media, did not provide a comment immediately to an AFP request.
The Biden administration, which presents itself as an ethical antithesis to predecessor Donald Trump, has faced questions about Hunter Biden's business dealings, especially during his father's tenure as vice president (2009-2017).