Melanie Sloan, the founder and former Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), has been prominent in both defending Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities and facilitating former President Donald Trump’s removal from the Colorado Republican primary ballot.
As a well-known left-wing activist, Sloan’s contributions have been significant on both fronts. Her defense of Hunter Biden centered around his involvement with the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma Holdings. Notably, during spring 2014 when Biden joined Burisma’s board, Sloan was featured in a Reuters story, where she commented on the ethical implications of Biden’s position given his father’s role as the Vice President. Her remarks were also included in a subsequent Washington Post story.
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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington was behind Trump's removal from the Colorado Ballot.
Their founder was also the mainstream media's go-to source for defending Hunter Biden from corruption allegations.
Even more evidence this is election interference! pic.twitter.com/PbGXIW67Mx
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) December 27, 2023
Sloan’s stance caught the attention of Hunter Biden’s business associate, Eric Schwerin. Upon seeing the New York Daily News republication of the Reuters article, Schwerin forwarded it to Biden, highlighting Sloan’s support as a positive sign. This interaction was later revealed through emails from Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop, as shown on the Biden Laptop Emails website.
In June 2014, Sloan further communicated her views to The Associated Press (AP), stating, “Unless there’s solid evidence that Hunter Biden got his job to influence American foreign policy, there’s no clear line that’s been crossed.” This statement was later highlighted by Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast.
In addition to her defense of Hunter Biden, Sloan was instrumental in the legal efforts that led to Donald Trump’s removal from the Colorado Republican primary ballot. CREW, under her leadership, was a key player in building the legal case against Trump, which culminated in a 4-3 Supreme Court ruling in Colorado. This decision, based on allegations of Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, was a significant blow to his political aspirations.
The scrutiny surrounding Hunter Biden extends to his lucrative position with Burisma, where he was paid over $80,000 per month, as evidenced by bank records. This period coincided with Joe Biden’s vice-presidency and oversight of the Obama administration’s Ukraine policy. Post-vice presidency, Burisma substantially reduced Hunter Biden’s salary, a change reflected in a federal indictment against him.
Devon Archer, another key figure and former Burisma board member, testified before the House Oversight Committee, shedding light on the “Biden family brand” and its influence in shielding Burisma from legal troubles. Archer’s testimony revealed instances of Joe Biden’s interactions with his son’s business associates, including a 2015 dinner attended by a Burisma executive.
The Biden family’s business dealings, totaling over $24 million from countries like Ukraine and China, are under investigation in a House-led impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
Sloan, now a senior advisor for American Oversight, left CREW in January 2015 following the takeover by David Brock, a longtime Clinton operative. Her career also includes time as a staffer for then-Senator Joe Biden and a communications officer at Sidwell Friends School, where Hunter Biden’s daughters were enrolled.
As Trump appeals the Colorado decision to the Supreme Court, his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, backed by RealClearPolitics polling averages, remains a focal point. Meanwhile, CREW’s current president, Noah Bookbinder, serves in an advisory role within the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security, and has expressed opinions about conservative Supreme Court justices, including Clarence Thomas.
Trump’s legal battles and his continued presence on Colorado’s 2024 Republican primary ballot highlight the ongoing political and legal drama surrounding these key figures.