Hunter Biden arrived in Washington DC, not to appear in a deposition before Congress, but instead to give a statement on the Capitol lawn where he called the committee’s investigation into his family’s shady business dealing as “illegitimate” while accusing “MAGA” of wrongly portraying for political purposes.
Hunter Biden said outside the Capitol:
“Here I am Mr. Chairman, taking up your offer when you said we can bring these people for depositions or committee hearings, whichever they choose.”
“Well, I’ve chosen, I’m here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions.”
“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.”
Watch
Hunter Biden speaks on Capitol Hill: “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business” pic.twitter.com/JFi3i1y0o8
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 13, 2023
But Biden did not submit to the closed-door meeting that the House Oversight demanded he attend
The Post Millennial noted that Committee on House Administration rules say depositions of a witness are to take place only in the presence of the “Committee, Committee staff designed by the Chairman or the ranking minority member, an official reporter, the witness, and the witness’ two designated attorneys.”
But Hunter Biden thinks this rule should apply to him.
“I’m also here today to correct how the MAGA right has portrayed me for their political purposes.”
Hunter said he has “made mistakes in my life and wasted opportunities and privileges I was afforded. I’m responsible for that. I’m accountable for that.”
“Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business,” Hunter Biden added.
“Not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist.”
He later added:
“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen.”
“James Comer, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, and their colleagues have distorted the facts.”
GOP lawmakers threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he did not show up to the deposition
The letter from House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan to Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell read.:
“We received your letters dated November 28, 2023, and December 6, 2023, concerning the deposition subpoenas.”
“Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no ‘choice’ for Mr. Biden to make; the subpoenas compel him to appear for a deposition on December 13.”
“If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,” the letter concluded.
Last month, Lowell said Hunter Biden wanted to testify publicly.
However, the GOP chairmen said that Hunter Biden must appear for the deposition first.
“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 earlier in December.
🚨STATEMENT ON ABBE LOWELL LETTER🚨
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) November 28, 2023
“Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That won’t stand with House Republicans.
“Our lawfully issued subpoena to Hunter Biden requires him to appear for a deposition on…
“He 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,” Lowell said.
“We look forward to working out the schedule.”
