Andrew Bates on Hunter Biden Laptop, White House Interactions, and Press Statements

Interactions with the Biden Family

• 🤝 Andrew Bates first met President Biden briefly in 2007 at a DNC winter conference.
• 🗣️ His interactions with First Lady Jill Biden were occasional and always positive, though he did not work closely with the East Wing.
• 🗓️ Bates spoke with Hunter Biden infrequently, primarily concerning coverage of the President that pertained to Hunter, and they would greet each other at the White House.
• ❓ When asked about the frequency of these interactions, Bates estimated speaking with Hunter Biden about 10 times ever.
• 👨‍💼 He also stated he has spoken with James Biden approximately five to 10 times, with the last memory being during the 2020 campaign.

Role in Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy

• 📰 Bates confirmed he dealt with news regarding the discovery of Hunter Biden's laptop during the 2020 campaign.
• 📝 He provided statements on the topic and recalls that many national security and intelligence experts believed the situation bore the hallmarks of a Russian attempt at manipulation.
• ⚠️ Bates was not aware of specific information regarding the FBI's verification of the laptop's authenticity or the chain of custody at the time.
• ❓ He stated he was unaware of the Hunter Biden prosecution until shortly after the campaign.

Job Performance and Press Communication

• ✅ Bates affirmed that he has never been asked to lie in his job and has never felt he was lying to the press.
• 🗣️ When asked if he communicated to the media whether allegations regarding Hunter Biden's business dealings were true, he stated he did not recall but remembered the former Vice President handling himself honorably.
• ❓ He also stated he did not communicate with Hunter Biden regarding the veracity of the information on the Hunter Biden laptop.