EXCLUSIVE - Filmmaker arrested for vandalizing art gallery where Hunter Biden's $500K paintings will be displayed: Suspect spray-paints 'daddy' and says president's son is 'helping launder money'
A man claiming to be an artist vandalized the Soho gallery on Friday where Hunter Biden is having an art show, with paintings being sold for as much as $500,000.
The man, who identified himself as Rod Webber, was removed from the upscale gallery by NYPD officers after spray painting 'Daddy' on the wall.
Webber, who has a long history of provocative stunts, had previewed his latest act on Facebook, writing earlier on Friday: 'Art gallery promotes crime family.
'What will happen today is no worse than Ellis Gallagher scribbling with chalk that washes off in the rain.'
Gallagher is a chalk artist who in 2010 sued the city for removing his chalk art.
Webber later added: 'Who's ready for a weird live stream?'
It came on a day when the White House at the daily press briefing publicly defended Hunter Biden's right to produce his art and sell it on the open market.
Filmmaker Rod Webber is seen in restraints after he spray-painted 'daddy' inside the New York art gallery where Hunter Biden's paintings will be displayed
Webber was taken down at the Georges Berges Gallery in Soho on Friday afternoon
The cash Webber threw in the air remained on the floor until police removed him.
One witness said Webber had intended to write 'Daddy War Crimes,' before he was stopped – a claim Webber would later repeat.
Webber documented his act of vandalism in a Facebook Live, telling viewers: 'I'm at Georges Berges gallery here, otherwise known as the Hunter Biden gallery.
'As we all know, going back for many, many years - roughly 40 years - Joe Biden has involved himself in all kinds of shenanigans.
'Ask any politician - you can't avoid being corrupted by the office. Maybe he went in with good intentions, but he's been corrupted over the years. He's worked with segregationists, Klansmen. And now, I don't even know what's going on with this gallery situation but he can't stop bombing Syria or Iraq and someone should say something about it, so let's go see Hunter Biden's gallery.'
Webber filmed himself on a Facebook Live spray painting the walls of the Georges Berges gallery
Webber's stunt had been planned, and he promoted it in advance on Facebook
He walks into the art gallery, and for several minutes wanders around the room, before bringing out a can of what appeared to be spray paint - but what he said was hair spray.
He begins spraying the walls, only for a gallery staff member to wrap his arms around Webber.
'You are assaulting me,' Webber says.
The man replies: 'This is a citizen's arrest.'
Webber responds: 'Oh, because you're down with Joe Biden's war crimes?'
Webber had also previewed his attack on his blog, writing: 'New Daddy is same as the old Daddy. Bombings in Syria and Iraq. Endless wars. Weapons of Mass Destruction was a lie.
'Art Gallery promotes crime family.'
The witness said a gallery staff member slammed Webber to the floor before he could complete his protest, and that it was not police who did the take-down.
Webber was wearing paint-splattered pants, and was seated on the gallery floor in the company of several NYPD officers after the incident. He was also briefly looked at by EMTs.
As police officers removed him from the scene, Webber said he wrote 'Daddy war crimes with hair spray – which washes off like any sidewalk art' – although the word 'Daddy' was all that could be seen on the wall in pink lettering.
A staff member could be seen painting over the graffiti shortly after the incident ended.
Hunter Biden's artworks could sell for as much as $500,000 raising questions about whether buyers will think their money is buying access or favors. The White House says it was involved in making arrangements to keep their identities hidden from officials and to ensure the gallerist would not accept inflated bids
This Biden art work is titled 'Self portrait' and is a mix media work on paper that measures 48in x 32in
Asked by DailyMail.com why he vandalized the gallery as he was being led to a squad car, Webber yelled out: 'Because Hunter Biden is helping to launder money for his godfather. That's why Daddy War Crimes were the words on the wall.'
Asked by DailyMail.com why he vandalized the gallery as he was being led to a squad car, Webber yelled out: 'Because Hunter Biden is helping to launder money for his godfather. That's why Daddy War Crimes were the words on the wall.'
'Biden is here to launder money for the oligarchs and to do business for his masters to hurt brown people across the other side of the globe,' he continued.
He yelled: 'Download that s***.'
An NYPD officer, asked about the pile of bills on the gallery floor, said: 'We don't know whose money that is yet.'
Nadja Rosemaddder, who described himself as a renaissance artist who intends to be one of the first artists to go to the moon, saw the attack.
'I saw him - he was hitting the floor right in the doorway, by the man inside,' he said.
'While he was writing on the wall, the gallery employee kind of body-slammed him to the ground. The money was already scattered out on the floor.'
Rosemaddder said he intervened to get the gallery to release Webber so he wasn't harmed.
'And then I grabbed some dollar bills,' he said.
The gallery has not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment. NYPD said they had not yet processed him.
White House Press Secretary earlier on Friday Jen Psaki said Hunter Biden had a 'right to pursue an artistic career,' as she tried to justify the administration's role in brokering arrangements for the sale of his paintings.
It followed revelations that the White House helped set up a deal for buyers' identities to remain hidden to ensure they did not win presidential favors.
This White House has frequently promised full transparency in pursuit of the highest ethical standards. Now that means secrecy.
'I think it would be challenging for an anonymous person, who we don't know and Hunter Biden doesn't know, to have influence,' said Psaki during her daily briefing.
The plan will allow Hunter Biden to forge ahead with his new life as an artist after a career change from high-paid consultant on international deals.
He also threw money on the floor when he walked in, and was then arrested
As police officers removed him from the scene, Webber said he wrote 'Daddy War crimes with hair spray – which washes off like any sidewalk art' – although 'Daddy' was all that could be seen on the wall
The deal came about after Biden administration staffers reached out to Hunter's lawyers to forge a plan intended to 'avoid' ethics concerns and let the president's son pursue his new career.
Psaki confirmed that the White House had been involved.
'Of course he has the right to pursue an artistic career just like any child of a president has the right to pursue a career, but all interactions regarding the selling of art and the setting of prices will be handled by a professional gallerist, adhering to the highest industry standards, and any offer out of the normal course would be rejected out of hand,' she said.
'And the gallerist will not share information about buyers or prospective buyers, including their identities with Hunter Biden or the administration, which provides quite a level of protection and transparency.'
Webber said he used hair spray and planned to write 'daddy war crimes'
This artwork by Biden is untitled but measures 24in x 48in and was created on sheet metal. His art dealer has priced Biden's artworks between $75,000 and $500,000
A crowd gathered on the street on Friday as Webber was led into the back of a patrol car
A gallery staff member painted over the the area where Webber spray painted 'Daddy'
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