A warm embrace between Devon Archer and Tony Bobulinski, former business partners of Hunter Biden, stole the spotlight at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
The New York Post reported that their public reunion, just feet from former first lady Jill Biden, underscored their roles as key figures in exposing alleged Biden family influence-peddling. The encounter reignited scrutiny of the Bidens’ foreign business dealings.
On Monday, May 5, 2025, Archer and Bobulinski met outside the Bel Air Hotel during the prestigious conference, known as the “Davos of the West.” They shook hands, hugged, and posed for a photo, a display of camaraderie rooted in their shared history. Jill Biden, seated nearby, was a silent witness to the moment.
Their connection traces back to their business ventures with Hunter Biden, including a 2017 energy deal with CEFC China Energy, a Chinese state-linked firm.
Bobulinski met Joe Biden at the Milken Institute that year to discuss a $7 million venture, later scrutinized by House Republicans. A 2017 email suggested a 10% stake for “the big guy,” which Hunter Biden testified referred to Joe Biden, though he denied his father’s involvement.
Hunter Biden claimed he was unaware of the 2017 email and called it a “pie in the sky idea” by his associate James Gilliar.
He testified in February 2024 that he, James Biden, and Bobulinski had coffee at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2017, where Joe Biden briefly shook hands with Bobulinski. James Biden, however, denied that any business discussions occurred, stating that Joe may have only said hello.
Bobulinski has been vocal about the Bidens’ dealings, releasing 2020 text messages and emails alleging an influence-peddling scheme tied to CEFC’s investments. He accused James Biden of lying to Congress in 2024 about Joe Biden’s involvement in the CEFC deal.
“I have firsthand knowledge,” Bobulinski declared at a 2020 press conference, challenging Joe Biden’s claim of never discussing Hunter’s business.
Archer and Bobulinski’s roles as informants for the 2024 House Republican impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden’s foreign business ties cemented their alliance.
Their friendship grew, evident when they posed with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Bobulinski even lobbied for Archer’s pardon, granted by President Trump in March 2025.
Trump pardoned Archer for defrauding an American Indian tribe through $60 million in bogus bond sales at Burnham Financial Group, where Hunter Biden served as vice chairman. “I think he was treated very unfairly,” Trump said while signing the clemency. Hunter Biden, earning up to $200,000 at Burnham, was not charged in the 2016 case.
Trump also commuted the sentence of Jason Galanis, another Hunter Biden associate, for defrauding the Oglala Sioux entity in South Dakota.
These pardons, issued in March 2025, fueled debate over justice and political favoritism. Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter for federal gun charges and $1.4 million in tax evasion further intensified scrutiny.
The Milken Conference, a gathering of global elites, provided a fitting backdrop for this reunion. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed the event, outlining the Trump administration’s trade agenda. Yet, the Archer-Bobulinski embrace overshadowed policy discussions, drawing attention to their anti-Biden narrative.
Bobulinski’s ties to Trump run deep; he accompanied the former president to a 2020 debate and campaigned for him in Pennsylvania in 2024. His accusations against the Bidens, particularly Joe’s alleged role in CEFC, have been central to Republican probes. The 2017 email’s reference to “the big guy” remains a focal point of controversy.
Hunter Biden’s 2024 testimony aimed to downplay his father’s involvement, describing a brief, casual encounter with Bobulinski.
“My dad went and shook hands with Tony,” Hunter said, noting Bobulinski discussed family health issues, not business. He insisted that no substantive discussions occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
James Biden’s testimony echoed Hunter’s, minimizing Joe’s interaction with Bobulinski. “My brother never came out and had any discussions,” James told investigators, denying any business meeting. These conflicting accounts have fueled Republican claims of a cover-up.
The Milken encounter wasn’t Archer and Bobulinski’s first public moment; their 2024 RNC photo with Greene signaled their alignment with Trump’s base. Their embrace in Los Angeles, however, carried added weight due to Jill Biden’s proximity. It served as a visual reminder of their accusations against the Biden family.