Sunday, January 31, 2021

Biden brother's law firm touts his connection to the president, creating an early headache for administration

The Florida law firm that employs President Joe Biden's brother Frank ran a newspaper ad on Inauguration Day touting the brothers' relationship and shared values, a move that is causing an ethics headache for the administration less than two weeks after Biden took office.

The ad is fashioned to resemble a news story about the firm's involvement in the sugar cane case, though it is clearly labeled "Advertorial Section." It cites Frank Biden's connection with the president multiple times, linking the law firm's work with the values laid out in President Biden's agenda.

In the second paragraph of a roughly 1,000-word advertisement, for example, the text says the Berman Law Group sued sugar cane growers "Against the backdrop of incoming President Joseph Biden Jr.'s commitment to environmental and social justice, a value shared by his brother and Berman Law Group senior adviser, Frank Biden."

Next, the ad notes that the Biden brothers are simpatico in issue areas where the firm is doing work, even suggesting that President Biden would be broadly supportive of the firm's sugar cane litigation.

"The two Biden brothers have long held a commitment to pushing environmental issues to the forefront," it says, noting that President Biden had vowed to rejoin the Paris climate accords and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Francis Biden - Frank's formal name - was hired by the Berman Law Group in July 2018, according to a news release from the firm at the time.

"The brother can make an ad. Joe Biden can't stop his brother from making an ad.".

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Biden-brother-s-law-firm-touts-his-connection-to-15911010.php 

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