The warning from the White House was part of its "Strategy on Countering Corruption," which the administration called "a comprehensive roadmap for how the United States will amplify its efforts domestically and internationally, with governmental and non-governmental partners, to prevent, limit, and respond to corruption and related crimes."
"When government officials abuse public power for private gain, they do more than simply appropriate illicit wealth," the introduction to the 38-page report states, later continuing: "As a fundamental threat to the rule of law, corruption hollows out institutions, corrodes public trust, and fuels popular cynicism toward effective, accountable governance."
WATCH: JOHN LEGEND CALLS TRUMP A RACIST
On page 24 of the report, the White House calls the art market "especially vulnerable to a range of financial crimes."
WATCH FETTERMAN REACTING TO PROTESTS WAVES
"Built-in opacity, lack of stable and predictable pricing, and inherent cross-border transportability of goods sold, make the market optimal for illicit value transfer, sanctions evasion, and corruption," the report continues.
That section of the report was noted on Twitter by Walter Shaub, the former head of the US Office of Government Ethics and a persistent doubter of the Biden administration from the left.
HRMMM...RUSSIAN PRIEST THAT LEAD NAVALNY'S MEMORIAL SERVICE SUDDENLY 'DISMISSED' BY MOSCOW CHURCH
"The White House just issued a report flagging that money laundering is a problem in the… wait for it… art sale industry," Shaub tweeted sarcastically.
SQUATTERS BEWARE AS GEORGIA GOVERNOR SIGNS TOUGH NEW LAW
In October, Shaub denounced White House press secretary Jen Psaki after she deflected The Post's questions regarding whether the identity of buyers for Hunter Biden's art would stay anonymous.
EXECUTION-STYLE AMBUSH: LOS ANGELES DEPUTY ATTACKED BY NOTORIOUS GANG MEMBER
"These are legitimate questions," Shaub tweeted back then. "It's disappointing to hear [Psaki] send a message that the WH thinks the public has no right to ask about ethics. After the last 4 years, these questions have never been more important. I know this isn't a popular opinion, but this stuff matters."
PLOT TWIST ALERT: GEORGE SANTOS' EPIC EXIT THROWS CAMPAIGN CIRCUS INTO HILARIOUS CHAOS
Shaub and other ethics specialists have repeatedly said that the sale of Hunter Biden's art is expected to draw the interest of prospective buyers trying to curry favor with his father's administration.
GENDER WAR ESCALATES AFTER FEDS ANNOUNCE THIS WILL NOW BE A CRIME...
"There is no ethics program in the world that can be built around the head of state's staff working with a dealer to keep the public in the dark about the identities of individuals who pay vast sums to the leader's family member for subjectively priced items of no intrinsic value," Shaub tweeted in October. "If this were Trump, Xi [Jinping] or [Vladimir] Putin, you'd have no doubt whatsoever that this creates a vehicle for funneling cash to the first family in exchange for access or favors. Nor would you doubt that the appearance of monetizing the presidency was outrageous."
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
