Committees Warn of Consequences
Last week, House Oversight and Judiciary Committees chairmen James Comer, R-Ky., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued a stern warning to Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, regarding his upcoming deposition. The committees threatened to hold him in contempt if he failed to appear.
Push for Public Hearing
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, and the committee leaders engaged in a heated exchange of letters, with Hunter’s legal defense team advocating for a public hearing. Lowell stated that Hunter preferred to testify publicly, rather than in a closed-door session.
“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. “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 argued.
Committee Response
In response, Comer and Jordan emphasized the subpoenas issued to Hunter Biden and dismissed Lowell’s argument. They made it clear that appearing for the deposition was not a matter of choice, but a legal obligation.
“On November 8, 2023, we issued subpoenas to your client, Robert Hunter Biden, for a deposition on December 13, 2023,” they wrote. “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,” Comer and Jordan stated.
Consequences of Noncompliance
The committees concluded their letter by warning Hunter Biden of the potential consequences of failing to comply with the subpoenas. They stated that if he did not appear for the deposition as scheduled, they would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against him.
Transparency Pledge
Comer and Jordan assured the public that if Hunter Biden did participate in the closed-door deposition, they would release the full transcript following the session.
This news article contains contributions from Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman.
