'There's always a smartass in the bunch': Hunter snaps at reporter over laptop question as he arrives with his wife and son Beau at SoHo gallery for exhibit of his $500,000 paintings
Things got testy for controversial First Son Hunter Biden when he was questioned about his notorious laptop Wednesday night outside a Manhattan art gallery displaying his paintings.
When asked by reporters if he'd gotten the laptop back from the FBI after it had been left at a Delaware repair shop in 2019, he grinned and said 'there's always a smartass in the bunch.'
Biden's wife, Melissa Cohen, joked that the laptop 'doesn't exist.'
Hunter himself told CBS Sunday Morning back in April that he 'wasn't keeping tabs on possessions' in that period of his life but did not deny that it could be his laptop.
A new book on Hunter's father, President Joe Biden, is verifying that at least some of the information found on a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden is real - months after incriminating emails regarding Hunter's dealings with Ukraine were examined in a DailyMail.com investigation.
Hunter Biden, seen outside the George Berges Gallery in Manhattan Wednesday night after attending his own art exhibition, with wife Melissa Cohen staring downward
Biden became testy when asked about the infamous laptop that the FBI seized
People were lined up out the door to see the First Son's artwork
Hunter's aunt and President Biden's sister Valerie Biden Owens also attended the art show Wednesday
Materials that were confirmed as real include an infamous 2015 email from Ukrainian businessman Vadym Pozharskyi thanking Hunter for the chance to meet his father, then only Vice President Biden.
Someone with independent access to Hunter's emails confirmed he received the message.
Earlier Wednesday, Hunter, wife Melissa Cohen and son Beau were spotted in Manhattan Wednesday heading to an art gallery for an exhibition of the controversial First Son's paintings.
Hunter, 51, hoisted Beau - named for his late brother - on his shoulders as the couple headed from the Greenwich Hotel to the George Berges gallery in SoHo to see Hunter's art on display.
Cohen wore a black turtleneck with a black leather jacket and jeans, while Hunter wore a snug overcoat and jeans.
The president's sister and Hunter's aunt, Valerie Biden Owens, was also in attendance at the gallery Wednesday evening.
The highly-anticipated art show opened last month with industry observers and ethics experts eagerly watching to see who purchases the $500,000 canvasses.
Hunter Biden takes a stroll with his wife, Melissa, and their son while staying at the Greenwich Hotel, in Manhattan, New York.
Biden and Melissa arriving at the George Berges Gallery in Manhattan for Hunter's painting exhibition
Hunter strolls with Melissa and their son, Beau
Beau, named for Hunter's late brother, looks both ways before crossing the Manhattan streets
Hunter and Melissa were in Manhattan for his art exhibition
Beau sits atop Hunter's shoulders as they head to the gallery
Hunter stops to give the cameras a smile with Melissa beaming at him
Hunter leaving the Greenwich Hotel in Manhattan
Yesterday, Hunter's daughter from his first marriage Maisy was snapped yawning while strolling through New York City with her father.
Maisy, 20, was snapped looking visibly tired after what appeared to be a long daddy-daughter day before entering the trendy Greenwich Hotel.
The two were seen entering the hotel through a side door, while flanked by Secret Service agents.
Maisy's mom is Kathleen Buhle, Hunter's first wife. The couple were married between 1993 and 2017, and had two other daughters, Naomi and Finnegan.
Hunter's new wife was spotted out and about by herself on Tuesday window shopping in Tribeca - home to stars including Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep.
Hunter leads a tired Maisy and a woman through a side door of the Greenwich Hotel on Tuesday night after exploring Manhattan
Hunter Biden was spotted with his youngest daughter Maisy as they made their way back to their hotel in Tribeca on Tuesday
Hunter and Maisy looked like any well-dressed father and daughter as they strolled through downtown Manhattan on Tuesday night
Cohen was seen sporting her blonde hair in a low messy bun, gold-rimmed glasses, and a bright purple mask.
She pushed the loose strands of her hair back at one point as she hurriedly crossed the street in lower Manhattan.
The South African documentary maker wore a loose light blue sweater under her baggy beige coat paired with boot cut blue jeans.
Cohen was seen carrying a stylish orange duffle bag as she walked down the street.
Melissa Cohen, Biden's wife of two and a half years, was seen in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood on Wednesday
Cohen was seen wearing a bright purple mask and a messy low bun as carried her orange duffle through lower Manhattan
She wore a loose light blue sweater under her baggy beige coat paired with boot cut blue jeans and comfy black sneakers
Later in the day, Biden's wife of about two-and-a-half-years swapped her casual look for a more put together stylish look.
Cohen was snapped with a heavy security detail as she made her way to have breakfast in Tribeca.
Cohen wore, a gray stripped power suit with a classic black turtleneck. Finishing off the look, she donned dark sunglasses and sleek low ponytail.
Biden and Cohen were married in May 2019 after reportedly only knowing each other for a short period time, with some reports claiming they'd spent just weeks together before getting hitched.
In March 2020, she welcomed her first child with Biden who they named after Biden's late brother, Beau Biden. Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 aged just 46.
The Biden family has been visiting New York City frequently as they prepared and opened Biden's solo controversial art exhibit at the Georges Berges Gallery.
When asked if there would be a formal opening of the show, Berges, who currently represents 16 artists, told The New York Post: 'I don't know.'
Hunter Biden's art dealer Georges Berges was seen walking down West Broadway in New York City on Wednesday
Berges is the sole person responsible with managing the sales of Biden's 25 art pieces prices in the ten thousands
Workers were seen loading supplies into the SoHo art gallery on Wednesday three weeks into Biden's art exhibit
But on Wednesday photographers captured workmen loading supplies into the gallery hinting at a possible soiree.
Biden is described on Berges' website as 'a lawyer by profession' who 'now devotes his energies to the creative arts, bringing innumerable experiences to bear.'
The gallery states: 'The results are powerful and impactful paintings ranging from photogenic to mixed media to the abstract.
'His chosen substrates are canvas, yup paper, wood, and metal on which he affixes oil, acrylic, ink along with the written word; all of which creates a unique experience that has become his signature.'
Biden began painting as part of his recovery from addictions, and is said to have turned to his canvasses to deal with the stress of being central to attempts to impeach Donald Trump in 2019.
Joe Biden has been unwavering in his support for his son's endeavor.
The Georges Berges Gallery in SoHo has opened its exhibition of paintings by Hunter Biden, the son of the president
Biden took up art as a way to help him in his recovery from addition to alcohol and drugs. This is his first solo art exhibit
The show in Manhattan has caused significant controversy and fears about ethics as critics worry anyone wanting to endear themselves to the first family could purchase Biden's paintings
Biden, a Yale-educated lawyer, has had several different careers. He famously served on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, despite lacking any relevant experience, sparking criticism of using his father's position to boost his own wealth and influence
But ethics experts have expressed alarm, warning that anyone wanting to curry favor with the president could buy a painting in an effort to gain access.
The White House has said that the buyers will be anonymous, to allay fears. Yet few believe that the identity of the purchasers will remain a secret for long.
Sources say lawyers are vetting individuals who want to view Biden's paintings at Berges' Manhattan gallery.
'It is a whole process to get in to see the Biden show. You have to call the gallery in SoHo, and they are vetting people carefully,' the source told the Post.
'They laid down rules that thorough vetting of any collector has to be done by a team of lawyers.'
Officials have not revealed who hired the lawyers or the purpose behind the legal vetting.
The gallerist is under intense scrutiny amid fears that Hunter's art sales could be a conduit for corrupt attempts to financially influence the Biden family.
In an interview with the New York Times, Berges insisted he does not discuss the art sales with the White House and manages the process alone.
'It's all on me,' he said. 'Who is buying and who is not, it's solely on my shoulders.'
He claimed he alone sets the prices, which in the tens of thousands, and vets the buyers, in a process he did not share, and will be the only one to know who purchases the pieces.
Anyone wanting to see the 25 works of art must make an appointment, and be vetted in advance. It was unclear how long the exhibition would last, but the gallery website said that another artist was launching their own show on the site on November 18.
The New York City exhibition launched with little fanfare despite drawing in a crowd of celebrity guests at Hollywood's famous Milk studios on October 2.
Hunter himself also attended the event, where he and gallery manager Bergès entertained around 200 people including his wife Melissa and two of his daughters, 27-year-old Naomi Biden and Maisy Biden, 20, world champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, musician Moby, and other fellow artists.
The day after the opening, the gallery reportedly only had three visitors.
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