US President Joe Biden has publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time, while insisting it is “not a political issue”.
Key points:
- Joe Biden’s son Hunter fathered a girl called Navy from a one-night stand in 2018
- Addicted to crack cocaine, Hunter Biden said he had no recollection of the encounter with Arkansas woman Lunden Roberts
- His paternity was established by DNA testing after Ms Roberts sued for child support
A four-year-old girl called Navy was fathered by his son Hunter with an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, in 2018.
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” Mr Biden said in a statement.
“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter,” he said.
“Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
Hunter Biden’s paternity was established by DNA testing after Ms Roberts sued for child support, and the two parties recently resolved outstanding child support issues.
The president’s son wrote about his encounter with Ms Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying it came while he was deep in addiction to alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine.
“I had no recollection of our encounter,” he wrote.
“That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for.”
After it was first reported by celebrity and entertainment magazine People, conservative websites were quick to use the news for political advantage against Mr Biden, who is seeking re-election next year.
Hunter Biden continues to face legal problems, with a plea deal over tax evasion and gun licence charges collapsing in a federal court in Delaware on Wednesday.
Republican politicians are keen to maximise the impact of any controversy associated with the Biden family to shift attention away from the mounting legal peril of former president Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
A lawyer for Ms Roberts did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Mr Biden acknowledged that Navy was his granddaughter.
The president, who has made a commitment to family central to his public persona, had faced increasing criticism from political rivals and pundits for failing to acknowledge his youngest relative.
According to a person familiar with the matter, he was taking the cue from his son while the legal proceedings played out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.
Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son, Beau, born to his wife Melissa Cohen in 2020.
He was named after the president’s late son who died of cancer in 2015, leaving behind two children.
Mr Biden’s grandchildren have played a distinctive role in his presidency, often accompanying the president or first lady on trips and making regular visits to the White House.
The president has also credited his grandchildren with persuading him to challenge then-president Donald Trump for the White House in 2020.
AP/ABC