In the span of a few weeks, an energy firm little-known inside the United States added two members to its board of directors — scoring connections to Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden in the bargain.

On April 22, Cyprus-based Burisma announced that financier Devon Archer had joined its board. Archer, who shared a room in college with Kerrys stepson, Christopher Heinz, served as national finance co-chair for the former senators 2004 presidential campaign.

Then, on Monday, the firm announced that Bidens younger son, R. Hunter Biden, would join the board of directors.

Why would the company, which bills itself as Ukraines largest private gas producer, need such powerful friends in Washington?....