On Friday, Hunter Biden and his attorney wrote a letter to the House Oversight and House Judiciary Committees, stating that if they issued a new “proper” subpoena for a deposition, Hunter Biden would comply.
They argued that the prior subpoena was “legally invalid” as it was issued before an official vote on an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden.
A potential vote might determine whether Hunter Biden will be held in contempt of Congress for his earlier refusal to comply with a subpoena.
BREAKING – YOUR REACTION: Hunter Biden has just agreed to participate in a deposition for the House impeachment inquiry into his father, avoiding a potential contempt of Congress vote.
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) January 12, 2024
NOTE: Hunter Biden signaled his willingness in a letter from his attorney, Abbe Lowell, who… pic.twitter.com/NBNxISv3Rj
On Wednesday, Hunter made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill as lawmakers held a hearing ahead of the vote to hold him in contempt of Congress. Later on the same day, Republicans voted in favor of approving the contempt resolution.
The Committee approved the resolution with a 23-14 vote over Hunter’s refusal to comply with a subpoena and refused to testify in a closed-door deposition.
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the resolution early next week.
On Friday, in a letter to James Comer and Jim Jordan, Hunter’s lawyer stated, “If you issue a new proper subpoena, now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition.”
The letter continued, “We will accept such a subpoena on Mr. Biden’s behalf.”
Hunter Biden seeks to avoid contempt vote: lawyers say they will 'comply for a hearing or deposition' if House panels issue new subpoena https://t.co/4fEocTTUrG #FoxNews
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 12, 2024
Fox News reported:
The House Oversight and Judiciary Committees this week formally recommended to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress, after he defied congressional subpoenas for a closed-door deposition as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
But Lowell penned a letter to the committees on Friday, saying the initial subpoenas were “legally invalid” as they were issued before the full House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry against the president.
“If you issue a new proper subpoena, now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition,” Lowell wrote. “We will accept such a subpoena on Mr. Biden’s behalf.”
Lowell’s offer comes ahead of a House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, where lawmakers will prepare a contempt of Congress resolution. Once prepared, it will set up a full floor vote on whether to recommend the first son for prosecution on the matter.
Sources told Fox News Digital a full House vote on the matter could come as early as Wednesday.
Congress has been focusing on scrutinizing the Biden family for potential corruption in their business dealings. The primary point of interest is Joe Biden’s connection to Hunter Biden’s shady dealings with foreign countries.
Republicans have also highlighted Hunter Biden’s well-documented drug addiction.
Jill Biden recently said that what Republicans are doing to Hunter is “cruel”.
Watch:
JILL BIDEN: “I think what they are doing to Hunter is cruel.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/xQCIB4yI8B
More from CBS News:
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise announced the decision to move forward with the contempt vote on Friday, two days after Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at a meeting of the House Oversight Committee, one of two panels that voted to recommend holding him in contempt of Congress.
“Floor Vote Announcement: Next week the House will vote to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for repeatedly defying subpoenas,” Scalise posted on X. “Enough of his stunts. He doesn’t get to play by a different set of rules. He’s not above the law.”
House Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden’s business dealings and have claimed, without providing direct evidence, that the president benefited financially from his ventures, allegations the White House has denied. The House Oversight and Judiciary Committees both subpoenaed Hunter Biden to sit for depositions, but did so before the full House voted to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden last month.
Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, argued those subpoenas were invalid since they came before the House voted to approve the inquiry. In a letter on Friday, he told Reps. James Comer and Jim Jordan, the respective committee chairs, that his client would now comply with a new subpoena for testimony.
