By Republicans on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees of the House Republicans have finally responded to Hunter Biden’s stunt from December when he held a press conference instead of complying with a subpoena.
The two committees believe he committed a federal crime and should be held in contempt of Congress.
The two committees also released resolutions that will be marked up in committee hearings Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. If the resolutions pass the committees, they will then be allowed to be voted on by the full House. The House can then refer the recommendation to the Justice Department, which would ultimately decide whether the president’s son should be criminally charged, writes NBC News.
In their reports, the committee’s chairmen, Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, outline their case for holding Hunter Biden in contempt. They said he was presented with a subpoena requiring him to appear for a closed-door deposition and was provided an opportunity to work with them to find a time that would work best with his schedule. But instead, he made no effort to comply with their request. On the day of the deposition, Hunter Biden held a press event in front of the Capitol but took no questions.
Comer and Jordan argue that his actions were unlawful and that he should be held accountable.
“Mr. Biden’s flagrant defiance of the Committees’ deposition subpoenas — while choosing to appear nearby on the Capitol grounds to read a prepared statement on the same matters — is contemptuous, and he must be held accountable for his unlawful actions,” the reports read.
In the middle of December, the son of the president held a press conference on Capitol grounds and appeared to accidentally reveal that Joe Biden participated in his corrupt business schemes. He was just helping his son and family make millions of dollars peddling influence, just not himself.
This is so bad. @nytimes doctored what Hunter said today, leaving out the key word. Wow.
NYT: “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not involved in my business.”
Hunter: “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not *financially* involved in my business.” pic.twitter.com/cDQEnShr6n
— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) December 13, 2023
CNN reported following the press conference that “the Republican chairman behind the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden said Wednesday they will start contempt of Congress proceedings against Hunter Biden for not participating in his closed-door deposition on Wednesday, after he demanded to testify publicly.
‘Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,’ said House Oversight Chair James Comer and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan in a joint statement. ‘We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden.’”
When the shoe was on the other foot, and Democrats were the ones sending out subpoenas, President Biden said that those who refuse to testify before Congress should be prosecuted.
Aiming at Donald Trump’s chief advisor, Steve Bannon who refused to go before the January 6 Committee, Biden said, “I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable.”
Asked whether he believed the Justice Department should prosecute, Biden told reporters, “I do, yes.”
Last month, Chairmen Comer and Jordan announced they’d be expanding their investigation to examine whether President Biden was involved in his son’s “scheme” to defy his subpoena, which they “could constitute an impeachable offense.”
On the day of the stunt, the White House press secretary claimed that Joe Biden knew what Hunter planned to do.
KJP to Doocy on whether President Biden knew his son would defy a congresional subpoena: "I don't have anything else to add. The President was familiar with what Hunter was going to say today &, you know, look, he's proud of his son…how he's rebuilding his life back. He's going… pic.twitter.com/envjQGxsEl
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 13, 2023
The president has insisted that he will not pardon his son. A contempt of Congress charge would be sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland for prosecution.
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