Hunter Biden held a short press conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to announce that he will not comply with the House Oversight Committee’s lawful subpoena.
Biden was scheduled to appear for the closed-door deposition at 9:30 a.m. The House Oversight Republicans said they are now moving to hold him in Contempt of Congress.
With Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Ca.) and his lawyer Abbe Lowell standing nearby, Biden once again offered to testify publicly, rather than first appear for a closed-door deposition, as it is normally done.
He then proceeded to deliver a public statement lambasting the “MAGA” Republicans who “impugned his character, “invaded” his privacy, “attacked” his family, “ridiculed” his “struggle with addiction,” “belittled” his “recovery,” and tried to “dehumanize” him “all to damage my father.”
“They belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me all to embarrass my father who has devoted his entire life to public service,” Hunter said. “For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here.”
He then insisted that “my father was not financially involved in my business,” including his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his business schemes with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) linked energy company CEFC.
“No evidence to support that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen,” Hunter Biden said, parroting the White House’s talking points on the matter.
Joe Biden has long maintained that he was not involved in his son’s business dealings and never even spoke with him about the family’s influence-peddling operations, but House Republicans have presented what Comer calls “a mountain of evidence” in the form of banks records, email records, text messages, photos, and testimony from Hunter Biden’s former business partners that show otherwise.
Last month, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) released bank records revealing how Joe Biden received $40,000 in laundered China money from the account of his brother, James Biden, and his sister-in-law, Sara Biden, in the form of a personal check.
And in October, the Oversight Committee released bank records showing that on March 1, 2018, James Biden received a $200,000 loan from the now bankrupt healthcare company and wrote a $200,000 check from this personal bank account to his brother Joe Biden that very same day.
Hunter also blasted Chairman Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and House Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who are co-leading the House impeachment inquiry against his father.
Hunter accused the chairmen of manipulating evidence and misstating personal information.
“Republicans have lied over and over about every aspect about my personal and professional life,” Hunter complained. “So much so, that the false facts are believed by too many people.”
“They have taken the light of my dad’s love for and presented it as darkness,” he added. “They have no shame.”
The truth about Hunter’s personal and professional life is available at Marco Polo’s Biden Laptop Report.
Hunter Biden went on to claim that House Republicans have “engaged in unprecedented political interference.”
“Yet here I am, Mr. Chairmen—taking up your offer … I’ve chosen,” he said. “I am here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions.”
Republicans have made clear that how he testified was not up to him. Chairmen James Comer and Jim Jordan last week threatened to initiate CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS proceedings if Hunter Biden did not appear.
Repeating Democrat talking points, Hunter said: “Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say.”
“What are they afraid of? I’m here. I’m ready,” he declared.
The younger Biden then left Capitol Hill.
Last week, Hunter was charged in federal court with nine federal tax crimes, including three felony offenses, with a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison.
He was indicted in September on three felony counts related to lying about his drug use while purchasing a firearm. Those charges, also brought by Weiss, reportedly carry up to 25 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges thus far leveled against him.
In a press conference following Hunter Biden’s remarks, Chairman Comer said Hunter will be be able to have a public hearing after he is deposed in private.
“We have accumulated mountains of evidence that’s concerning to an overwhelming majority of Americans,” Comer said.
"This is an investigation about public corruption at the highest levels… We expect to depose the President's son and then we'll be more than happy to have a public hearing with him." – @GOPoversight Chair @RepJamesComer pic.twitter.com/KbAr0HVxkU
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) December 13, 2023
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan explained why a private deposition needs to come before a public testimony.
Jordan explained that to question Hunter in an open format now would result in Democrat “filibusters” and “speeches” and “what we want are the facts.”
WATCH @JudiciaryGOP Chair @Jim_Jordan highlight the need for a closed door deposition. pic.twitter.com/3RZ7kz8b0S
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) December 13, 2023
Rep. Marjorie-Taylor Greene pointed out that former President Trump’s children were forced to sit for hours of depositions after being subpoenaed countless times by the Democrats.
“We must immediately move forward to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress,” she said.
Rather than follow the lawful subpoena for a deposition issued by Chairman @RepJamesComer, Hunter Biden decided to play circus outside the Capitol this morning.
President Trump’s own children sat for hours of depositions after being subpoenaed countless times by the Democrats.… pic.twitter.com/tXNgX5miSO
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 13, 2023
Joe Biden is on record recommending the prosecution of Trump family members and associates who did not comply with Congressional subpoenas.
Will @POTUS instruct the DOJ to prosecute Hunter if he defies a Congressional subpoena?
QUESTION: "Mr. President, what’s your message to people who defy Congressional subpoenas…Should they be prosecuted by the Justice Department?"
BIDEN: "Yes" https://t.co/zTdA6UPq8d pic.twitter.com/hVQnsRqpo5
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) December 6, 2023
The Oversight Committee announced later Wednesday morning that they will “now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.”
“There will be no special treatment because his last name is Biden,” GOP Oversight wrote on X. “Joe Biden & his family must be held accountable for their corruption.”
🚨HOLDING HUNTER BIDEN IN CONTEMPT🚨
Hunter Biden defied a lawful subpoena today, and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. There will be no special treatment because his last name is Biden.
Joe Biden & his family must be held accountable for their corruption. pic.twitter.com/TFcWpVl4PK
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) December 13, 2023
Later today, The House is expected vote on whether to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden.
Update:
House Republicans are questioning Rep. Swalwell’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s press conference this morning.
Why did Hunter Biden bring disgraced Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (left) with him to his press conference? pic.twitter.com/GadEXY54Cs
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 13, 2023
Some are accusing Rep. Swalwell of aiding and abetting a crime by helping Hunter “flout the subpoena in contempt of Congress,” according to RealClearInvestigations reporter Paul Sperry.
“House sources say that Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell—as a member of the Judiciary Committee which subpoenaed Hunter Biden—”aided and abetted” a crime this morning when he worked with Hunter’s lawyer Abbe Lowell to help Hunter flout the subpoena in contempt of Congress,” Sperry reported on X.
And nothing happens in 3…2…1.