House Republicans on the Oversight and Judiciary Committees released resolutions Monday recommending Hunter Biden be held in contempt of Congress.
House Oversight and Judiciary are advising the House to hold Hunter Biden in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas by failing to show up to a closed-door deposition Dec. 13, according to their resolutions and accompanying reports. (RELATED: Former Burisma Lawyer John Buretta Files Retroactive FARA Disclosure As Biden Impeachment Inquiry Progresses)
OVERSIGHT REPORT:
“Mr. Biden’s testimony is a critical component of the impeachment inquiry into, among other things, whether Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as Vice President and/or President: (1) took any official action or effected any change in government policy because of money or other things of value provided to himself or his family; (2) abused his office of public trust by providing foreign interests with access to him and his office in exchange for payments to his family or him; or (3) abused his office of public trust by knowingly participating in a scheme to enrich himself or his family by giving foreign interests the impression that they would receive access to him and his office in exchange for payments to his family or him,” the Oversight Committee report reads. House Judiciary’s report contains similar remarks.
“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 Oversight report adds. “Accordingly, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability recommends that Congress find Robert Hunter Biden in contempt for his failure to comply with the Committee subpoena issued to him.”
Hunter Biden chose to hold a press conference Dec. 13 outside of Capitol Hill and read prepared remarks instead of appearing for the deposition. (RELATED: Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin Releases Trump Corruption Report — With One Big Problem)
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said shortly after his press conference that they would initiate contempt of congress proceedings against Hunter Biden.
Hunter: “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma. Not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman. Not my investments at home nor abroad and certainly not as an… pic.twitter.com/NWgBrfm7ux
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 13, 2023
“Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma. Not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman. Not my investments at home nor abroad and certainly not as an artist,” Hunter Biden said at the press conference. He also repeated his offer to testify publicly instead of attending the closed-door session.
Comer and Jordan are leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden along with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith. House Republicans voted Dec. 13 to formalize the impeachment inquiry.
Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees announced Friday they will be holding markups Jan. 10 to consider the committees’ respective resolutions and reports.
Henry Rodgers contributed to this report