House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) have issued a stern warning to Hunter Biden, threatening to hold him in contempt of Congress.
This comes after Hunter Biden’s legal team refused to comply with a subpoena for a closed-door deposition, opting instead for a public hearing.
The subpoena, issued by Comer, requested Hunter Biden’s presence for a closed-door private deposition on December 13. However, Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, asserted that Hunter would only testify in a public setting. Lowell cited the importance of transparency and prevention of potential manipulation or distortion of facts as the reason for favoring a public hearing over a closed-door deposition.
“Mr. Biden has offered to appear at a hearing on the December 13, 2023, date you have reserved, or another date this month, to answer any question pertinent and relevant to the subject matter,” Lowell wrote in a letter to Comer on Wednesday.
“He [Hunter] is making this choice because the Committee has demonstrated time and time again it uses closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort, the facts and misinform the American public—a hearing would ensure transparency and truth in these proceedings,” he stated.
Lowell concluded with an openness to coordinate the specifics, saying, “We look forward to working out the schedule.”
Lowell concluded with an openness to coordinate on the details, saying, “We look forward to working out the schedule.”
Comer and Jordan have remained steadfast, stating that Hunter Biden should adhere to the issued subpoena without receiving any preferential treatment. They’ve committed to releasing the testimony transcript soon after and arranging a public hearing for a future time. Despite this, Lowell’s recent letter reaffirms Biden’s willingness only to testify in a public hearing, either on the initially set date or another in December.
This situation has intensified the rift between House Republicans and the Biden family, as Republican representatives are quickly advancing the final stages of a comprehensive impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden.
