Defying Evidence, Hunter Blasts GOP, Insists Dad Not Involved in Business
Hunter Biden, in a deposition held behind closed doors on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, blasted a Republican investigation into his father’s and the family business affairs as “a house of cards” based on “lies”, as he answered a series of probing questions by lawmakers.
Hunter Biden stated in an opening statement, obtained by The Associated Press: “For over a year your Committees have been hunting me in their partisan political pursuit for my father.” He accused Republicans for using “innuendos, distortions, and sensationalism”, and said, “I didn’t involve my dad in my business.”
An attorney for the son of the president told reporters after the seven-hour long deposition concluded that Republicans “produced nothing that would support the notion that Hunter and his father had any financial transactions.” Period.”
He said, “It appears to me that Republican members spent more time talking about the addiction of my client than they were able to ask any questions that had anything to with their so-called impeachment investigation.” Karine Jean Pierre, the White House press secretary, echoed this sentiment, saying that the probe was a “stunt,” which “has dragged on for many months.”
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Hunter Biden’s counsel and GOP lawmakers did not back down from their investigation despite Hunter Biden’s denial. Rep. James Comer (one of the GOP chairs leading the investigation) came out late on Wednesday and declared that the deposition was “great” and helped to back up several pieces of evidence that they have gathered so far.
The Kentucky Republican added that “there are some contradictory remarks that I believe need further review”, adding that the next public forum will be an upcoming hearing with Hunter Biden.
Deposition of Joe Biden’s Son marked a turning point in the Republican 14-month investigation into the Biden Family. Hunter Biden’s overseas work in Ukraine, China and Romania for clients was the focus of the investigation. Republicans have questioned for years whether President Biden’s business dealings were corrupt and involved influence peddling, especially when he served as vice president.
Republicans still haven’t produced direct evidence that the president has committed misconduct despite conducting dozens interviews and collecting more than 100,000 documents. Federal prosecutors accuse an FBI informant of fabricating a story about a bribery plot involving the Bidens, a claim Republicans have repeatedly used to justify their investigation.
Hunter Biden is under federal investigation and many expected him to use the entire deposition to assert his Fifth Amendment rights. The 54-year old man facing indictment in Delaware on nine federal charges of tax evasion and a gun charge did not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights once during the long, arduous session.
The few Republicans who spoke with reporters on Wednesday described Hunter Biden’s testimony as “defiant” and “dishonest.”
As the deposition continued into the afternoon, most GOP members remained silent. Rep. Jim Jordan and the other Republican chairs leading the investigation declined to answer questions from reporters in the hallways. He said that a private deposition was sensitive and the public release of transcripts would speak for themselves.
Democrats in the Oversight and Judiciary Committees denounced the deposition several times, calling it “an embarrassing spectacle where Republicans continue to belabor trivial points.”
This is it. If this were a boxing bout, a referee would end the fight. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said that a coroner could pronounce the impeachment investigation dead.
He said that Hunter Biden “leaned in” to the discussion and did not hesitate to answer questions. Swalwell stated that Hunter Biden had challenged Republicans on their baseless theories.
Comer and Jordan were primarily responsible for interviewing Hunter. In November, they first summoned Hunter Biden to appear in private before legislators. Biden and attorneys refused to appear, stating that their testimony could be selectively leaked or manipulated. They insisted he only testify publicly.
Hunter Biden, on the day of his subpoena not only ignored the lawmakers who were waiting for him inside the hearing room, but he also did it while holding a presser outside the Capitol where he denounced an investigation into his family.
In January, both sides agreed to a deposition in private with certain conditions. Hunter Biden’s interview was not recorded and Republicans agreed to release the transcript quickly.
Hunter is the second Biden relative to be questioned in the last few days by Republicans. Last week, they conducted an eight-hour interview with James Biden. He is the brother of President Biden. He told lawmakers that Joe Biden “never” had any financial or other involvement in his business endeavors.
The interview is dominated by the recent developments in Nevada. Federal prosecutors indicted Alexander Smirnov this month, an FBI informant who claimed that there was a multimillion dollar bribery plot involving the President, his son Hunter, and a Ukrainian oil company. In court documents, prosecutors claim that Smirnov had “extensive” and “extremely recent” contacts with people aligned with Russian Intelligence.
Attorneys for Smirnov have stated that he should be presumed innocent.
Last summer, Republicans demanded that the FBI provide the documents supporting the informant’s claims. They also released the unverified information. In letters sent by House Republicans to impeachment witness, the claim was repeatedly cited.
Many GOP legislators say they still haven’t seen evidence of “high crimes and felony misdemeanors,” which are required for impeachment. This is despite the alleged attempts by the Biden family members to use the surname to make money domestically and internationally.
Comer and Jordan are unmoved by their investigation’s setbacks. Jordan, the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee said last week that “the informant’s conviction does not change the fundamental fact” that the Bidens tried to profit from the family name by establishing overseas businesses. Comer said to Fox News Tuesday that Smirnov never played a “key role” in the investigation.
Hunter Biden is facing criminal charges in Delaware and Pennsylvania as part of a special council investigation. He is charged with gun counts in Delaware.
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