The White House has defended its role in helping to broker a deal which will shroud art deals by President Joe Biden’s son in secrecy.
Paintings by Hunter Biden are expected to finish up to $500,000 (£360,000) apiece at auction this autumn.
The president’s spokeswoman said “reasonable safeguards” had been applied to the upcoming sale.
But a former White House ethics chief said the arrangement was “very disappointing”.
The younger Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine, China et al. have often been delayed by Republican critics as a conflict of interest for his father, which both Bidens deny.
Hunter is currently facing a federal tax investigation, though he has said he’s “100% certain” he is going to be cleared.
When asked on Friday about the White House’s reported role within the art sale, press secretary Jen Psaki said: “After careful consideration, a system has been established that permits for Hunter Biden to figure in his profession within reasonable safeguards.
“Of course, he has the proper to pursue an inventive career a bit like any child of a president has the proper to pursue a career.”
As a part of the arrangement, the buyers are alleged to remain anonymous to Hunter Biden – who may be a self-taught artist – so as to stop influence-peddlers seeking to curry favor with the US president.
“I think it might be challenging for an anonymous one that we do not know and Hunter Biden doesn’t know to possess influence,” Ms Psaki said.
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But Walter Shaub, who served as ethics chief under President Barack Obama, rejected the White House’s claim that the arrangement would ensure transparency.
Mr Shaub, who was an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter: “So rather than disclosing who is paying outrageous sums for Hunter Biden’s artwork in order that we could monitor whether the purchasers are gaining access to government, the [White House] tried to form sure we’ll never know who they’re .
“That’s very disappointing.”
Hunter’s first solo exhibition and auction is about for October at the George Bergès Gallery in ny .
The gallery describes the oil, acrylic and ink paintings as “a distinctively unique experience that became signature Biden”.
According to the dealer, smaller pieces are set to sell for $75,000, with the larger ones expected to succeed in half 1,000,000 dollars.
The younger Biden, 51, published a memoir in April detailing his struggles as a crack drug addict .