Prosecutors did not request testimony from Tony Bobulinski, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, before the federal grand jury in Delaware. Bobulinski, who previously claimed that the “big guy” email referred to President Joe Biden, had expressed his willingness to speak to the grand jury through his lawyer, but U.S. Attorney David Weiss did not respond to their attempts to contact him.
This recent development, initially reported by CBS News, follows IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley’s statement that federal prosecutors hindered investigations into potential links between Joe Biden and his son’s Chinese business endeavors. Shapley’s interview transcript also included a portion of a recorded conversation between an FBI agent and Hunter Biden’s business associate, Rob Walker, where Walker mentioned Joe Biden’s presence at a meeting related to their efforts to secure a lucrative deal with the now-defunct Chinese company CEFC.
Walker told the FBI that Joe Biden made a brief appearance at the meeting held at the Four Seasons, where Hunter Biden mentioned his plans and asked for his father’s support. Walker confirmed that it seemed orchestrated to improve their chances of success.
Shapley further revealed that Delaware Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf prevented questions about the “big guy” and discouraged inquiries about Joe Biden during the interview.
Bobulinski collaborated with Hunter Biden in 2017 to establish a business venture called SinoHawk, aiming to form a joint venture with CEFC. However, instead of fulfilling their plans, CEFC directed millions of dollars to accounts associated with Hunter Biden.
The “big guy” email, which surfaced publicly in October 2020, outlined a potential business deal between Hunter Biden and the Chinese company. The email mentioned “10 held by [Hunter Biden] for the big guy.”
The email, sent by businessman James Gilliar to Hunter Biden and others on May 13, 2017, discussed expectations and remuneration packages for the deal. It indicated that Hunter would receive $850,000 and be listed as “Chair/Vice Chair depending on agreement with CEFC.” The email also mentioned a distribution of equity, with 20% allocated to “H” (Hunter Biden) and 10% to “Jim” (James Biden).
Bobulinski was among the recipients of this email and asserted in October 2020 that the “big guy” referred to Joe Biden. He claimed that Hunter Biden referred to his father as “the Big Guy” or “my chairman” and frequently sought his approval or advice regarding potential deals.
Joe Biden’s spokesman, Andrew Bates, denied the allegations, stating that the President has never held stock in such business arrangements, nor has any family member or individual held stock on his behalf.
CEFC was a Chinese conglomerate founded by Ye Jianming, with whom Hunter and James Biden pursued various deals and from whom they eventually received millions of dollars.
Text messages provided by Bobulinski indicated that Joe Biden had met with him, Hunter, and James Biden while they pursued the CEFC deal. The meeting reportedly took place on the night of May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles.
Former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office, Timothy Thibault, allegedly ordered the closure of certain derogatory Hunter Biden reports in October 2020, despite their verifiability through criminal search warrants.
Bobulinski is reportedly concerned that Thibault worked to suppress the information he provided to the FBI.
In October 2020, Senator Chuck Grassley notified U.S. Attorney David Weiss, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Christopher Wray about the substantial evidence related to potential criminal conduct by Hunter Biden and James Biden. Grassley referred to a summary of Bobulinski’s interview with FBI agents, where he alleged that Hunter and James Biden engaged in unremunerated work with foreign nationals linked to the Chinese government while Joe Biden was Vice President. However, after Joe Biden left office, they sought compensation for their past work.
Grassley highlighted the creation of a joint venture between Hunter Biden, James Biden, and CEFC to facilitate financial compensation. He noted that the joint venture was established sometime after a meeting in Miami between Hunter Biden and CEFC officials in February 2017.
Grassley also mentioned that CEFC Infrastructure Investment wired $5 million to bank accounts associated with Hudson West III in August 2017, with subsequent transfers to Hunter Biden’s firm, Owasco, and James Biden’s firm, Lion Hall Group, in 2017 and 2018.
Hunter Biden’s messages in July 2017, where he invoked his father’s name and made threats, led to a swift agreement with a Chinese Communist Party-linked company and resulted in millions of dollars flowing into Biden family accounts.
Recently released WhatsApp messages between Hunter Biden and intermediaries with CEFC further support previous findings of foreign bank transactions involving Hunter Biden. Shortly after the text threat involving his father, Hunter Biden and his associated businesses received an estimated $5 million in payments from CEFC in 2017 and 2018, with Chinese payments quickly following, according to a 2020 Senate report.
During a denial on Wednesday, Joe Biden stated that he was not present in the room when the threatening message was sent.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.