This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
It seems like the cash flow the Biden family members enjoyed during his years in power in Washington now is only a trickle.
WND reported some weeks ago that former First Son Hunter Biden, documented by congressional investigators to be among the Biden family recipients of tens of millions of dollars in a years-long influence peddling operation while Joe Biden was vice president, then president, was claiming of a lack of money.
A report in the New York Post at the time explained the 55-year-old was pleading with a judge to dismiss one of his lawsuits because he was too broke to continue it.
Hunter Biden cited plunging sales of his artwork, a lack of interest in his book, and "significant" debt.
He said in a court filing, "[Hunter] has suffered a significant downturn in his income and has significant debt in the millions of dollars range."
He said he knew his "financial position" was deteriorating, then suddenly realized action had to be taken.
"In the 2 to 3 years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces for art at an average price of $54,481.48, but since then I have only sold 1 piece of art for $36,000. Similarly, for my book sales, in the six month period before the statements (April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023), based on the September 30, 2023 statement, 3,161 copies of my book were sold, but in the six months after the statements, only approximately 1,100 books were sold."
And he's not getting any invitations for those speeches, which often bring big paychecks.
Now a new report from the Wall Street Journal points out that Hunter Biden isn't alone: Joe Biden isn't having a great time financially either.
In fact, that publication said Joe Biden's "post-presidency" is "less lucrative than what he had expected."
After two terms as vice president, and one as president, his current reality is "a leaner next chapter that lacks the well-funded foundations, plans for exquisite libraries and full calendar of paid speeches."
All of those perks have been delivered for other former presidents.
He's taking American Airlines flights instead of private jets, and while paid speaking engagements can generate $300,000 or more, they are "limited, and at least one organization tried to negotiate below that range."
He has said he intends to pay off some $800,000 in personal debt, including loans on one of his homes, the Rehoboth Beach house.
"On top of bills for his son Hunter Biden's legal woes, Biden also wanted to help his daughter Ashley, who filed for divorce last month, and ensure money is left for his grandchildren, people close to the Bidens said," according to the report.
There is a $10 million book deal that will provide some financial boost, and he gets pensions from taxpayers of more than $400,000 a year.
One publication source said if the family keeps a "modest-for-the-powerful" lifestyle, things will work out.
But Hunter Biden recently delivered a round of harsh statements on podcasts, "including one that triggered a lawsuit threat from First Lady Melania Trump."
One recent appearance for Joe Biden was to SHRM, a lobbying organization, which reportedly had offered $275,000 for his appearance, eventually agreeing to the $300,000 that was at the low end of the requested range.
And Joe Biden's "memoir" was sold to the Hachette Book Group for a payment in the range of $10 million, only a fraction of what the Obamas secured when they left the White House.
Even social media has noticed:
One big change is what investigators have bluntly called a pay-for-play scheme run by family members for years but no longer generates any revenue, as Joe Biden is out of power in the U.S.
Even his fundraising for a presidential library isn't going well.
"I want an $800,000 refund," demanded John Morgan, a lawyer. He was referring to the nearly $1 million he said he raised for Biden that went to then-Vice President Kamala Harris last year, after she assumed Biden's role as the Democratic presidential nominee, one report explained.
"I don't believe a library will ever be built unless it's a bookmobile from the old days," he said.
