House Republicans are warning Hunter Biden that they will move to hold him in contempt of Congress if he doesn’t appear this month for a closed-door deposition, raising the stakes in the growing standoff over testimony from President Joe Biden’s son. Hunter Biden has insisted that he will only testify to the House if it’s in public. But in a letter sent to his attorney Wednesday, top Republicans told him that their subpoena for a closed-door deposition on Dec. 13 is non-negotiable.
Quick Read
- House GOP’s Ultimatum to Hunter Biden: House Republicans are increasing pressure on Hunter Biden to testify in a closed-door deposition, threatening contempt of Congress if he doesn’t comply by December 13.
- Hunter Biden’s Preference for Public Testimony: Hunter Biden insists on testifying publicly, citing concerns about selective leaks from private sessions that could distort facts.
- GOP’s Subpoena and Rationale: Republicans, led by Reps. James Comer and Jim Jordan, assert that a private session is a standard initial step and have issued a subpoena for Hunter Biden’s closed-door deposition.
- Legal Team’s Aggressive Stance: Hunter Biden’s legal team has adopted a more forceful approach in response to the Republican-led impeachment inquiry tying President Biden to his son’s business dealings.
- President Biden Dismisses Allegations: President Biden labeled the GOP allegations as lies, denying any illegal or unethical involvement in his son’s business activities.
- Lack of Direct Evidence Against President: Despite investigations, Republicans have not found direct evidence implicating President Biden, but they raise concerns about the ethics of the Biden family’s international business dealings.
- Subpoenas as Part of Impeachment Inquiry: Republicans issued subpoenas to Hunter Biden and others in early November, marking a significant step in their impeachment inquiry.
- White House Questions Subpoena Legitimacy: The White House has expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the subpoenas, prompting Republicans to consider a formal impeachment inquiry vote.
- Potential Court Battle: The GOP plans to vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry, aiming to strengthen their legal position in case of a court challenge regarding the subpoenas.
- House Speaker’s Constitutional Responsibility Statement: House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the need for a formal adoption of the impeachment inquiry on the House floor to uphold constitutional responsibilities.
The Associated Press has the story:
House Republicans threaten Hunter Biden with contempt of Congress
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
House Republicans are warning Hunter Biden that they will move to hold him in contempt of Congress if he doesn’t appear this month for a closed-door deposition, raising the stakes in the growing standoff over testimony from President Joe Biden’s son.
Hunter Biden has insisted that he will only testify to the House if it’s in public. But in a letter sent to his attorney Wednesday, top Republicans told him that their subpoena for a closed-door deposition on Dec. 13 is non-negotiable.
“Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no ‘choice’ for Mr. Biden to make,” wrote Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Comer and Jordan added that seeking a private session before a public hearing is an approach both parties have historically taken when deposing witnesses.
Hunter Biden has told Republicans he will not testify behind closed doors because information from those interviews can be selectively leaked and used to “manipulate, even distort, the facts and misinform the American public.”
The response to the committee was in line with the more forceful approach Hunter Biden’s legal team has taken in recent months as congressional Republicans pursue an impeachment inquiry seeking to tie his father to his business dealings.
President Biden on Wednesday dismissed as “lies” claims that he behaved illegally or unethically regarding the business dealings of his son. The question was asked after the president gave remarks about funding the war effort in Ukraine and comes after polling by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs that found most U.S. adults believe the president acted illegally or unethically regarding his son.
“I’m not going to comment on it,” Biden said of the GOP allegations. “I did not. It’s just a bunch of lies. They’re lies.”
Republicans have so far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in any wrongdoing. But questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden family’s international business, and lawmakers insist their evidence paints a troubling picture of “influence peddling” in the family’s business dealings, particularly with clients overseas.
The early-November subpoenas to Hunter Biden and others were the inquiry’s most aggressive steps yet, testing the reach of congressional oversight powers, and White House has questioned their legitimacy.
The criticism has prompted Republicans to plan a vote next week to formally authorize their impeachment inquiry in an effort to strengthen their legal standing if the subpoena battle drags into court.
“The House has no choice if it’s going to follow its constitutional responsibility to formally adopt an impeachment inquiry on the floor so that when the subpoenas are challenged in court, we will be at the apex of our constitutional authority,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters.
