By MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Author
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and his household got tens of hundreds of {dollars} in items from overseas leaders in 2023, in accordance with an annual accounting revealed by the State Division on Thursday, with first girl Jill Biden receiving the one most costly current: a $20,000 diamond from India’s chief.
The 7.5-carat diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was simply the most expensive reward offered to any member of the primary household in 2023, though she additionally acquired a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the USA and a bracelet, brooch and {photograph} album price $4,510 from the president and first girl of Egypt.
The U.S. president himself acquired plenty of costly presents, together with a commemorative photograph album valued at $7,100 from South Korea’s just lately impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon, a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian prime minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the sultan of Brunei, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from the president of Israel, and a collage price $2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Federal legislation requires govt department officers to declare items they obtain from overseas leaders and counterparts which have an estimated worth of greater than $480. Lots of the items that meet that threshold are comparatively modest, and the costlier ones are sometimes — however not all the time — transferred to the Nationwide Archives or placed on official shows.
The $20,000 diamond was retained for official use within the White Home East Wing, in accordance with a State Division doc, whereas the opposite items to the president and first girl have been despatched to the archives. The primary girl’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the diamond’s use.
Recipients even have the choice to buy the reward from the U.S. authorities at its market worth, though that’s uncommon, notably with high-end objects.
In line with the State Division’s Workplace of Protocol, which compiles the record that can be revealed in Friday’s version of the Federal Register, a number of workers of the CIA reported receiving lavish items of watches, fragrance and jewellery, almost all of which have been destroyed. Of the items destroyed, they have been price greater than $132,000 mixed.
CIA Director William Burns acquired a $18,000 astrograph, which is a telescope and astrological digital camera, from an overseas supply whose identification is assessed. That’s being transferred to the Basic Providers Administration. However Burns reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, whereas quite a few others did the identical with luxurious timepieces.
Beneath the rank of director, the CIA workers who reported items usually are not recognized, however certainly one of them logged an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, a women Omega Constellation watch, a diamond necklace, earring bracelet, and a hoop that have been valued collectively at $65,100.
All of these have been destroyed, in accordance with the report, as was a $30,000 ladies’s jewellery set from the Libyan jeweler Al Grew consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings acquired by one other CIA worker.
One other CIA worker reported receiving a males’s Yacht Grasp II Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch price $18,700, one other reported getting a girl’s Rolex Oyster Datejust watch valued at $12,500, and one different obtained a $7,450 Rolex Air King watch. All three of the watches have been destroyed, in accordance with the record.
One other worker reported receiving a set of dear Amouage Fragrance price $10,670, the destruction of which is pending, the report says.
Initially Printed: January 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM PST
