December 12, 2023

Via Email: [email protected]

Tina Vanichchagorn
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Public Records Act Request: Biden and China’s Monkey Island LNG Deal
Dear Ms. Vanichchagorn,
America First Legal Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization working to
promote the rule of law in the United States, prevent executive overreach, and ensure
due process and equal protection for all Americans, all to promote public knowledge
and understanding of the law and individual rights guaranteed under the
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over 550,000 followers on X.

I. Background

On September 27, 2023, the U.S. House Committees on Oversight and Accountability,
the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, announced that their impeachment inquiry is
investigating foreign money received by the Biden family and President Joe Biden’s
involvement in his family’s foreign business entanglements. 1 The evidence shows
that, even after Joe Biden left the White House in 2017, members of the Biden family
contacted individuals in the Louisiana Governor’s Office in furtherance of the Monkey
Island LNG deal on behalf of Chinese nationals backed by the Chinese Communist
Party.

1MEMORANDUM FROM CHAIRMEN JIM JORDAN, JAMES COMER, AND JASON SMITH, TO MEMBERS OF THE
H. COMM. ON THE JUDICIARY, H. COMM. ON OVERSIGHT & ACCOUNTABILITY, AND H. COMM. ON WAYS &
MEANS (Sept. 27, 2023) (available at https://bit.ly/3PZ66Q5).

611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #231 320 South Madison Avenue

Washington, DC 20003 Monroe, Georgia 30655
www.aflegal.org
Ye Jianming was the former deputy secretary-general of an international outreach
arm for the People Liberation Army and a “front organization” that “performs dual
roles of intelligence collection conducting propaganda and perception management
campaigns.” 2 Through his company, CEFC, Ye Jianming ran a business empire worth
an estimated $44 billion to implement China’s Belt and Road Initiative and “obtain
overseas resources and serve the national strategy.” 3 Ye Jianming used CEFC to
bribe and corruptly influence foreign officials. 4 Gongwen “Kevin” Dong was Ye
Jianming’s “CEFC emissary” in the United States. 5

In March 2017—soon after Joe Biden left the White House—Ye Jianming’s shell
company made a $3 million payment to Hunter Biden’s associate, and over $ 1 million
of that amount went to members of the Biden family in smaller increments over
sixteen separate payments to at least five different bank accounts. 6 When Ye
Jianming met with Hunter Biden in Miami later that year to discuss their future
business partnership, he allegedly gifted Hunter Biden a 2.8-carat diamond worth an
estimated $80,000. 7

On July 30, 2021, Hunter Biden sent CEFC associate Raymond Zhao a WhatsApp
message:

I am sitting here with my father [Joe Biden] and we would

like to understand why the commitment made has not been
fulfilled. I am very concerned that the Chairman [Ye
Jianming] has either changed his mind or broken our deal
without telling me or that he is unaware of the promises
and assurances that have been made have not been kept …
I will make certain that between the man sitting next to
me and every person he knows and my ability to forever
hold a grudge that you will regret not following my
direction. 8

On August 2, 2017, Hunter Biden sent an e-mail to Gongwen Dong stating:

2 MAJORITY STAFF OF H. COMM. ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, 118TH CONG.,

SECOND BANK RECORDS MEMORANDUM FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE’S
INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIDEN FAMILY’S INFLUENCE PEDDLING AND BUSINESS
SCHEMES at 19–20 (May 10, 2023) (available at https://bit.ly/3LpgL5l)
3 Id. at 20.
4 Id. at 21.
5 Id. at 22.
6 Id. at 30–31.
7 Id. at 28.
8 Joseph Ziegler, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Serv., Exhibit 300: Relevant Backup Messages at 4

(Sep. 8, 2023) (available at https://bit.ly/3Q0O00j).

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 My Understanding is that the original agreement with the
Director was for consulting fees based on introductions
alone a[t] rate a $10M per year for a three year guarantee
total of $30M. The Chairman changed the deal after we
me[t] in MIAMI TO A MUCH MORE LASTING AND
LUCRATIVE ARRANGEMENT to create a holding
company 50% percent [sic] owned by ME and 50% owned
by him. 9

Later that day, Raymond Zhao followed up with a WhatsApp message to Hunter
Biden: “Hi Hunter, director asked me to extend to you that Kevin [Gongwen Dong]
has reported to him about your discussion. He supports your proposition and will act
correspondingly.” 10

Hunter Biden (through Owasco PC) and Gongwen Dong (through Hudson West V
LLC) formed Hudson West III LLC together with each as 50 percent owners. 11
Gongwen Dong registered many corporate entities in the United States, including
variations of the name “Hudson West,” and effected transactions to the benefit of Ye
Jianming. 12 Between August 2017 and October 2018, Hudson West III LLC sent over
$4 million to companies related to Hunter Biden and his uncle, James Biden. 13
Subpoenaed bank records recently released by the House Committee on Oversight
and Accountability revealed that Owasco PC made direct monthly payments to Joe
Biden. 14

The stated purpose of Hudson West III LLC was to “source and secure mutually
agreed investment and acquisition opportunities for Hudson and/or its Affiliates …
with respect to Projects … in global and/or domestic infrastructure, energy, financial
services, high-tech and other strategic sectors.” 15 Under the terms of the agreement,
Owasco was bound by an exclusivity clause that prohibited them from pitching
“strategic sector” deals or providing services to anyone else, subject to their Chinese
business partner’s right of first refusal. 16

9 Email from Hunter Biden to Gongwen Dong (Aug. 2, 20217) (available at https://bit.ly/3rKmCvy).
10 Joseph Ziegler, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Serv., Exhibit 300: Relevant Backup Messages at 5
(Sep. 8, 2023) (available at https://bit.ly/3Q0O00j).
11 MAJORITY STAFF OF H. COMM. ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, 118TH CONG.,

SECOND BANK RECORDS MEMORANDUM FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE’S

INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIDEN FAMILY’S INFLUENCE PEDDLING AND BUSINESS
SCHEMES at 23 (May 10, 2023) (available at https://bit.ly/3LpgL5l).
12 Id. at 22.
13 Id. at 24.
14 Press Release: Comer Releases Direct Monthly Payments to Joe Biden from Hunter Biden’s Business

Entity, H. COMM. ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (Dec. 4, 2023), https://bit.ly/3RAxXbo.

15 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Hudson West III LLC § 1.2 (Aug.

2, 2017) (available at https://bit.ly/3TjSmCO).

16 Id. § 12.11.

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In James Biden’s interview with federal investigators, he recalled that their Chinese
business partners were looking for Liquified Natural Gas (“LNG”) deals at the time. 17
On October 29, 2017, Gongwen Dong’s employee, JiaQi Bao, emailed Hunter Biden,
emphasizing the significance need to invest in a Louisiana LNG deal, “[t]hrough you
[Hunter] and Uncle Jim’s connection, with Monkey Island … as a starting point.” 18
Mr. Bao explained that the deal would open the door to other projects in the region,
since “you [Hunter] are the best person to help your friend Ye [Jianming] … because
you know a lot of folks in the area and you have the access to decision-makers.” 19
James Biden recalled to federal investigators that the Monkey Island deal involved
an island about fifty to one hundred miles off the coast of Louisiana with a clear
passage for loading and offloading LNG. 20 James Biden also recalled talking with
people in the Louisiana Governor’s Office regarding the permits and recalled that it
was supposed to be on a fast track. 21

While the Monkey Island LNG deal ultimately fell through, the evidence shows that
members of the Biden family communicated with your office on behalf of foreign
business interests, even after Joe Biden left the White House in 2017. Accordingly,
disclosure about the Biden family, their associates, and their Chinese business
partners’ contacts with your office is needed to inform the public about this most
pressing issue. We look forward to your prompt and forthright assistance with this
matter.

II. Requested Records

Pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Act, LA. STAT. ANN. § 44:1 et seq., AFL
requests copies of the following records:

1. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the

Governor with Joe Biden, including but not limited to the following email
addresses: “[email protected],” “[email protected],” and
“[email protected]”
2. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with Hunter Biden, including but not limited to the following email
addresses: “[email protected],” “[email protected],” “[email protected],” and
“[email protected]”

17 Joseph Ziegler, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Serv., Exhibit 401: IRS CI Memorandum of
Interview with James Biden on September 29, 2022, at 8 (available at https://bit.ly/46pgRSV).
18 Email from JiaQi Bao to Hunter Biden (Oct. 29, 2017) (available at https://bit.ly/4ajKWWg).
19 Id.
20 Joseph Ziegler, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Serv., Exhibit 401: IRS CI Memorandum of

Interview with James Biden on September 29, 2022, at 7 (available at available at

https://bit.ly/46pgRSV).
21 Id.

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 3. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with James Biden, including but not limited to the email address
“[email protected]”
4. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with the email address “[email protected]”
5. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with the email address “[email protected]”
6. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with the email address “[email protected]”
7. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with an email address with the domain name “@lionhallgp.com”
8. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with an email address with the domain name
“@rosemontseneca.com”
9. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with an email address with the domain name “@senecaga.com”
10. All records of communications to or from any employee of the Office of the
Governor with an email address with the domain name “@mkyisland.com”
11. All other records containing the words: “Monkey Island LNG,” “MILNG” or
“Magnolia LNG”
12. All records relating to the processing of this request

For purposes of this request, the term “communications” includes, and is not limited
to, emails, phone calls, and text messages. The relevant time period for requests 1–
11 is August 1, 2017–March 31, 2018.

III. Fee Waiver

Pursuant to LA. STAT. ANN. § 44:32(C)(2), AFL requests a waiver of all search and
copying fees associated with this request, as use of the copies “will be limited to a
public purpose.” AFL will make your records and your responses publicly available,
and the public’s understanding of your activities will be enhanced through AFL’s
analysis and publication of the requested records. As a nonprofit organization, AFL
does not have a commercial purpose and the release of the information requested is
not in AFL’s financial interest. If AFL’s request for a fee waiver is not granted in full,
please contact us immediately upon making that determination.

IV. Processing and Production

Louisiana’s Public Records Act requires a response within five business days. LA.
STAT. ANN. § 44:32(D). The Governor and his internal staff must “preserve all records”
under LA. STAT. ANN. § 44:5. If access to the records requested takes longer than

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expected, please provide information about the extenuating circumstances delaying
the response. If any or all parts of this request are denied, please cite each specific
exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the records and provide notification
of the appeal procedures available under the law.

To accelerate the release of responsive records, AFL welcomes production on an

agreed rolling basis. If possible, please provide responsive records in an electronic
format by email. Alternatively, please provide responsive records in native format or
in PDF format on a USB drive.

If you have any questions about our request or believe further discussions regarding
search and processing would facilitate more efficient production of records of interest
to AFL, then please contact me at [email protected].

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

/s/ Michael Ding

Michael Ding
America First Legal Foundation