The California real estate investor and Biden administration commission member who purchased Hunter Biden's art has contributed more than $4.5 million to liberal politicians and causes, according to federal campaign finance disclosures reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon.
Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali has funneled roughly $4.53 million to Democratic candidates since 2004, the disclosures show. President Joe Biden is a major recipient of that money—his campaign and victory fund has received more than $220,000 from Naftali, nearly $7,000 of which came in April. Naftali has also sent the Democratic National Committee more than $200,000 since Biden became president, and she contributed nearly $75,000 to former president Barack Obama's campaign and victory fund from 2008 to 2012. In addition to the campaign contributions, Naftali sent $250,000 to the Biden Inaugural Committee, disclosures show.
Naftali's status as a Hunter Biden art buyer, which Business Insider revealed Monday, contradicts the White House's promise to install "reasonable safeguards" around the scandal-plagued first son's art shows. The president appointed Naftali to his Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad in July 2022, nine months after Hunter Biden's first show.
In addition to the appointment, Naftali has visited the White House at least 13 times since December 2021, the Free Beacon reported Tuesday. One of those visits saw Naftali meet one-on-one with White House senior adviser Neera Tanden.
The White House claimed all Hunter Biden art buyers would remain anonymous. But the first son, according to Insider, knew of at least one buyer—wealthy Los Angeles attorney Kevin Morris, who loaned Hunter Biden millions of dollars to pay off back taxes. While someone close to Morris told the New York Times that the attorney may have received the art as a gift, Insider found that Morris purchased the art.
In addition to her contributions to the Biden campaign, Naftali—who did not return a request for comment—last year hosted a fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris. Naftali has also contributed to a who's who of congressional Democrats, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).
The Biden administration told Insider that Pelosi recommended Naftali to serve on the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. But Hunter Biden has indicated that he holds sway when it comes to the commission's members. Hunter Biden's cousin, Missy Owens, in March 2015 asked if he could secure her mother a spot on the commission. In response, Hunter Biden noted that "Eric," an apparent reference to business partner Eric Schwerin, asked to serve on the commission in 2008. Schwerin landed on the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad in 2015.
Hunter Biden's lack of art experience has not stopped the recovering drug addict from selling paintings for big money. The first son sold at least $875,000 worth of art to a single patron, money that comes as he navigates a litany of legal and financial problems over his failure to pay federal income taxes and his ownership of a firearm while addicted to drugs. Hunter Biden is also on the hook for $5,000 in monthly payments to support a child that the Biden family does not acknowledge.
Meghan Blonder contributed to this report.