Hunter Biden convinced his father in 2017 to give public approval to his relationship with his brother Beau’s widow, saying it would be better for the grandchildren.
“Dad,” I told him, “if people find out, but think they don’t approve, it makes them look wrong,” Hunter Biden wrote in his book “Beautiful Things” about his relationship with Hallie Biden, according to Fox News.
At the time, Joe Biden had recently left the White House after serving two terms as Barack Obama’s vice president.
Hunter, who was still married to his then-wife, Kathleen, said he and Hallie were “incredibly lucky” that his family supported the unusual bond after Beau died of cancer in May 2015.
Hunter told his father that his grandchildren would suffer if the former vice president did not make a positive statement on the matter.
“Kids need to know there’s nothing wrong with that, and the only person who can tell them it’s you,” Hunter asked.
That’s when Biden agreed to make a statement: “We are all lucky that Hunter and Hallie were together as they put life back together after so much sadness. They have the full and complete support of me and Jill and we are happy for them.
Hunter and Hallie later separated, and Hunter wrote, “I was madly trying to hold on to a portion of my brother, and I think Hallie was doing the same.”