The House Oversight Committee previously issued a subpoena for Hunter Biden to appear at a closed-door testimony which was scheduled for Wednesday. After refusing to participate, the president’s son instead opted to make defensive statements to reporters on Capitol Hill. As a result, House Republicans say they will initiate “contempt of Congress” against Hunter.
“Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,” said House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan. “We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden.”
“As our committees were today prepared to depose Hunter Biden, he chose to make a public statement on Capitol Hill instead where he said his father, Joe Biden was not financially involved in his family’s business dealings. Exactly how was Joe Biden involved? Evidence shows Joe Biden met with Hunter’s business associates and his name was at the center of the family business strategy,” the two Republican representatives added.
Hunter stated that he will only testify before the House Oversight Committee if he can do so in a public hearing. “What are they afraid of? I’m here, I’m ready,” Hunter Biden said outside the Capitol on Wednesday to reporters. He claimed he was given the option to participate in depositions or committee hearings. “Well, I’ve chosen. I’m here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions,” he said. “There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen,” he continued.
Due to the occurrences on Wednesday, Comer and Jordan said a scheduled House vote on a resolution to formally open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is made all the more important by Hunter Biden’s defiance. “Today’s obstruction by Hunter Biden reinforces the need for a formal vote. President Biden and his family must be held accountable for their corruption and obstruction. And we will provide that to the American people.”