Skip to main content
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Stories

Hunter Biden art Auction Presents White House With new Ethics Headache

John Pelissero, senior scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University and professor emeritus of political science at Loyola University Chicago quoted in Newsweek.

"Hunter Biden certainly has the right to earn a living through artistic work," Pelissero said. "But as the son of the President of the United States, he should make every effort to avoid engaging in business activities, including the sale of his art, that may present the appearance of a conflict of interest."

"Whereas the planned art sale may be entirely proper, it is often the mere appearance of something being improper, such as an attempt to benefit from being the son of the sitting President, that can create an ethical issue," Pelissero continued. "Joe Biden promised the highest ethical standards for his administration and it would be unfortunate if this matter related to Hunter's art sales becomes a major ethical controversy for his presidency."

John Pelissero, senior scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University and professor emeritus of political science at Loyola University Chicago quoted in Newsweek.

Ethics
media,government

Alex Brandon/AP Photo