Hunter Biden acknowledged in a recent interview that his board positions, including a role with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, helped finance his crack cocaine addiction. Speaking on the "Dopey" podcast, Biden described a period marked by heavy drug use, including a two-month stay at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood, California, where he said he attempted to "go out with a bang."

When asked how he managed to fund his drug use, as well as other expenses such as hiring prostitutes and securing private bungalows, Biden attributed his ability to pay for these to ongoing income from board appointments. He specifically mentioned his position with Burisma, where he earned up to $1 million a year from 2014 through 2019, despite lacking experience in the energy sector.

Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma has been a subject of political scrutiny, particularly during the presidency of his father, Joe Biden. Republican lawmakers have investigated whether his role and compensation on the Burisma board posed conflicts of interest.

In the interview, Hunter Biden also revealed personal details about his struggles with addiction, including living with a crack dealer known as “Bicycles,” who became his roommate. He recounted that during this period, his father visited him at his Washington, D.C. residence on multiple occasions, arriving via official motorcade with Secret Service agents. Biden described his father knocking on his door amidst evident distress over his condition.

Despite battling addiction, Biden said he managed to fulfill the minimal requirements of his Burisma board membership, attending four meetings per year. He pointed to this as evidence of the tension between his public responsibilities and private challenges during those years.