Hunter Biden consents to testify in a panel hearing but declines to give a deposition in private
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Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe David Lowell, informed a House panel on Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s son is prepared to testify at a public hearing. This announcement challenges House Republicans who have demanded a private deposition. Earlier in the month, Republicans subpoenaed Hunter Biden for a deposition scheduled for December 13, probing allegations of his involvement in activities that link the Biden family to foreign finances.
In a letter to House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James R. Comer (R-Ky.), Lowell criticized the use of closed-door sessions for potentially distorting facts and misleading the public. He stated that Hunter Biden is willing to respond to relevant questions at a public Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, to avoid manipulated information and ensure transparency.
Lowell condemned the investigation as a wasteful endeavor and called for its conclusion. In response, Comer insisted that Hunter Biden must comply with the subpoena for the deposition while also acknowledging his right to a public testimony later, The Post and first reported by NBC News.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), leading the investigation alongside Comer and Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), also emphasized the necessity of the deposition. Jordan’s compliance is noteworthy, considering his previous refusal to respond to a subpoena from the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The dispute over Hunter Biden’s cooperation underlines the partisan divide surrounding the House Republicans’ investigation into him and their pursuit of an impeachment inquiry. Democrats, including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Oversight Committee’s ranking member, have dismissed these efforts, citing a lack of evidence. Raskin criticized Republicans for rejecting Hunter’s offer to testify publicly, suggesting they lack confidence in their case.
A public testimony by Hunter Biden promises a contentious confrontation with Republican lawmakers. It could impact the political landscape, especially given the sensitive legal issues he faces, including federal firearm charges and a Justice Department special counsel investigation. His public performance could also influence President Biden’s reelection campaign.
The Republican-led impeachment probe partly accuses Hunter Biden of exploiting the illusion of access to his father and leveraging the Biden family’s influence. It also scrutinizes the Justice Department’s handling of the younger Biden’s criminal investigation. Some Republican claims in the inquiry, including unproven allegations against President Biden, have been criticized for being misleading.
For example, a Republican memo alleged President Biden’s family was a conduit for bribery, but no conclusive evidence has been publicly presented to support this claim. Legal experts have testified in a September hearing that there’s insufficient evidence to justify President Biden’s impeachment.
Lowell has also criticized Comer’s oversight investigations, accusing them of politicizing Hunter Biden’s business activities and struggles with addiction to allege misconduct by his father.
