Hunter Biden was seen navigating the streets of Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday, but without the taxpayer-funded Secret Service protection he once enjoyed.
It comes as congressional Republicans intensify their investigation into what they say is a growing scandal surrounding his father’s mental fitness for office.
Once shielded by a full Secret Service detail under his father’s administration, former President Joe Biden’s son is now left to drive a budget rental Toyota sedan through Cape Town alongside his wife, Melissa Cohen, and their young son, Beau Jr.
The outing included paying for street parking and visiting a local butcher.
The public sighting of Hunter Biden is a sign of just how far removed he now is from presidential privilege.
During his father’s presidency, Hunter Biden was living rent-free in luxury mansions in Los Angeles that would have cost tens of thousands of dollars per month in rent.
He also never went anywhere without an entourage.
The downgrade in protection follows President Donald Trump’s decision in March to revoke Hunter’s taxpayer-funded Secret Service coverage.
Trump reversed the extension granted by then-President Biden.
Under standard rules, only children under 16 of former presidents qualify for continued protection.
Hunter’s trip comes amid Republican efforts to investigate what they allege is a media and political cover-up surrounding the mental decline of the 82-year-old former president.
Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are spearheading a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing set for June 18.
The first of its kind hearing is set to examine whether Biden’s inner circle and the media misled the public about his cognitive state while in office.
As Slay News reported, the White House is calling for former First Lady Jill Biden to testify about her role in the cover-up.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said:
“Frankly, the former first lady should certainly speak up about what she saw in regards to her husband and when she saw it, and what she knew.
Leavitt pointed out that the former first lady is on video “shielding” her husband from view.
“Jill Biden was certainly complicit in that cover-up.
“There are documentation, video evidence of her clearly shielding her husband away from the camera,” Leavitt said.
“They were just on ‘The View’ [May 8],” the press secretary added.
“She was saying everything is fine.
“She’s still lying to the American people.”
WATCH:
Hunter Biden had also been vacationing in South Africa earlier this year when Trump pulled his protection detail.
His return this week comes just after Joe Biden’s public cancer announcement.
However, the announcement has only heightened scrutiny, especially as Republicans seek witnesses for their looming probe.
Photos from Cape Town make one thing clear: Hunter Biden is no longer living under the shield of special treatment.
And with a Republican-led investigation ramping up, both Hunter and the Biden family are likely to face even more questions in the weeks ahead.
READ MORE – Watchdog Report: ‘No Evidence’ Biden Was Aware of at Least 8 Documents Signed by Autopen
