Hunter Biden sought assistance from the U.S. government in 2016 for a geothermal project in Tuscany linked to Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Newly released emails reveal that Hunter reached out to U.S. Ambassador to Italy John Phillips, asking for help in securing meetings with Italian officials. Although no meetings were arranged and Hunter's lawyer insists the request was merely for an introduction, the disclosure is likely to intensify scrutiny from Republicans over potential conflicts of interest and allegations of corruption involving the Biden family. Embassy officials expressed caution in their responses, stressing the need for proper procedures given Burisma's status as a Ukrainian company. This revelation coincides with Hunter Biden's upcoming trial related to federal tax evasion charges, where evidence of his business dealings is expected to be presented. A White House spokesperson stated that President Biden was unaware of his son's outreach during his vice presidency.