Jill Biden wanted to keep diamond gifted by PM Modi, returned it over high valuation

Former US First Lady Dr Jill Biden says she was interested in keeping a diamond gifted to her by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but ultimately returned it to the federal government after learning that US officials valued it far above its stated priceIn her memoir View from the East Wing A Memoir Biden offers a behindthescenes account of life at the White House and the strict rules governing gifts received by Americas First FamilyAmong the gifts she recalls most vividly was a 75carat synthetic diamond presented by PM Modi during his state visit to Washington The book hit the stores this weekldquoSometimes little thingsmdashflowers winemdashbut sometimes big ones like the 75carat synthetic diamond Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed me at his state visitmdasha symbol of his countryrsquos bid to become a leader in labgrown gemsrdquo Biden writesShe says the diamond immediately caught her attentionldquoThe diamond was gorgeousrdquo Biden writesUnder US ethics rules however the gift did not belong to her personallyldquoBut it wasnrsquot given to me technically It was given to the First Lady which meant it belonged to the federal governmentrdquo she writesBiden explains that gifts above a certain value are reviewed and catalogued by government officials Recipients are allowed to purchase such gifts if they pay the assessed fair market valueIn PM Modis case she initially thought that might be possibleldquoThe prime minister said that it had been handmade in his hometown for 2500 He even had the bill of salerdquo Biden writes ldquoI thought Maybe Irsquoll buy itrdquoThat plan changed after the gift was formally assessedldquoThen the State Department appraised it at 20000 so I did notrdquo she writesInstead Biden was permitted to borrow the diamond and wear it for official eventsldquoI was told I could display it in my office or borrow it to wear So I had it put in a ring setting and wore it to official functionsrdquo she writesThe arrangement lasted only as long as her tenure in the White HouseldquoWhen we left office I gave it backrdquo Biden writes She says the ring was eventually returned to government storageldquoThe ring went into a warehouse along with an infinitude of other presidential gifts many of which are simply destroyedrdquoThe memoir uses the episode to illustrate the often misunderstood financial and ethical rules surrounding White House life Biden writes that official residences events and gifts are subject to extensive regulations designed to ensure that public office holders do not personally benefit from government resources or foreign giftsShe contrasts the PM Modi diamond with a bracelet given to her by French First Lady Brigitte Macron Because of its sentimental value Biden chose to buy that gift from the government so she could keep it after leaving officeldquoI paid the State Department so I could take it with me when we left officerdquo she writes ldquoI still wear it every dayrdquoBiden also cited other gifts received during her tenure including ldquoa brooch by Ukraine made out of bomb shrapnelrdquo which she said officials valued at 14063PM Modis state visit to the United States in June 2023 was one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between New Delhi and Washington during the Biden administration More than 10000 Indian Americans attended the event at the White House The visit featured a state dinner at the White House and highlighted growing cooperation between the two countries in defence technology semiconductors and strategic affairsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever