In a high-stakes clash between the House Oversight Committee and Hunter Biden, the battle lines have been drawn, with the threat of contempt proceedings hanging over the president’s son. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan have vowed to hold Biden in contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with a subpoena for a closed-door deposition.
According to reports from Fox News, the drama unfolded when Comer, a Republican hailing from Kentucky, issued the subpoena, demanding Hunter Biden’s appearance for a closed-door deposition scheduled for December 13.
However, Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, fired back, notifying the committee that his client would only testify in a public setting, citing concerns about closed-door sessions being a breeding ground for manipulation and misinformation.
Lowell’s letter, dated last week, stated, “He is making this choice because the Committee has demonstrated time and time again it uses closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort, the facts and misinform the American public—a hearing would ensure transparency and truth in these proceedings.”
In response, Comer and Jordan, stalwarts of the Republican party, rejected Biden’s plea for a public hearing, emphasizing that he would not receive any special treatment. They pledged to release the transcript of the closed-door deposition shortly after its occurrence and promised to schedule a public hearing at a later date.
The stakes were raised when Comer and Jordan fired off a letter to Lowell, rejecting the notion of a “choice” for Hunter Biden. “Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no ‘choice’ for Mr. Biden to make; the subpoenas compel him to appear for a deposition on December 13,” they wrote.
The letter continued, “If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.”
As the standoff intensifies, questions abound regarding the transparency of the proceedings and the potential legal ramifications for Hunter Biden. With the December 13 deadline looming, the confrontation between the House committees and the president’s son has all the makings of a political and legal spectacle. The nation awaits to see whether Hunter Biden will face the music behind closed doors or risk the fallout of contempt proceedings.
