Hunter Biden's statement is what Republicans didn't want to happen: David Spunt
FOX News' David Spunt breaks down the possible next steps in the Hunter Biden investigation after the president's son delivered remarks before his planned closed-door deposition.
Hunter Biden arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday, not to comply with his subpoena and be deposed at the House Oversight Committee, but to hold a press conference and again offer to testify publicly. He maintained that his father, President Biden "was not financially involved" in his business, and saying there is "no evidence because it did not happen."
Hunter Biden's offer to testify publicly is a de facto rejection of the GOP demand that he appear Wednesday for the closed-door deposition he was subpoenaed for. That deposition was scheduled to take place Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
HUNTER BIDEN MAY BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS IF HE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR INTERVIEW
Instead, he delivered a public statement on Capitol Hill Wednesday, blasting "MAGA" Republicans who have "invaded" his privacy, "attacked" his family, and "ridiculed my struggle with addiction."
Joe and son Hunter Biden. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
"They belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass my father, who has devoted his entire life to public service," the president's son said. "For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here."
Hunter Biden added that "my father was not financially involved in my business," saying he was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the U.S.
"No evidence to support that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen," Hunter Biden said.
The White House and President Biden have maintained that the president was "never in business" with his son. Biden has also said he never spoke to his son about his business dealings, but evidence--like email records and testimony from Hunter Biden's former business partners--presented by House Republicans in their investigations seem to contradict those statements.
Hunter Biden departs federal court in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The president's son plead not guilty to federal gun charges after his original plea deal fell through in July. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
The president's son went on to blast House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., who are co-leading the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
Hunter Biden said the chairmen had manipulated evidence and misstated personal information.
"Republicans have lied over and over about every aspect about my personal and professional life," Hunter Biden said. "So much so, that the false facts are believed by too many people."
He added: "They have taken the light of my dad’s love for and presented it as darkness. They have no shame."
Hunter Biden said House Republicans have "engaged in unprecedented political interference."
House Oversight chair James Comer, R-Ky., is leading a probe into the business dealings of Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post, Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images for World Food Program USA)
"Yet here I am, Mr. Chairmen—taking up your offer…I’ve chosen," he said. "I am here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions."
He added: "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," Hunter Biden said.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The president's son then left Capitol Hill.
Comer and Jordan last week threatened to hold Biden in contempt of Congress if he defied the subpoena and failed to appear for his deposition.
Comer and Jordan had vowed to release the full transcript of Hunter's deposition if he did participate. They also vowed to then schedule a public hearing for the president's son to testify in a setting for the American people to hear from him directly.
On the House side of the Capitol, Comer and Jordan spoke to reporters, defending their "lawful subpoena of the president's son."
"This is a normal process in an investigation," Comer said. "This has been a serious investigation since day one— an investigation about public corruption at the highest level."
Comer said he still expects to depose the president's son.
"And then we will be more than happy to have a public hearing," Comer said.
Jordan, weighing in, said if a public hearing took place first, as suggested by the first son, members would filibuster and delay lines of questioning.
"The way you get the facts is you bring people in for an interview behind closed doors," Jordan said.
Hunter Biden's lawyer Abbe Lowell and the White House have argued that the subpoena was not valid because the House impeachment inquiry was never formalized by the full House of Representatives.
But a vote to do so is expected later Wednesday.
"We think it is going to pass," Jordan said. "We'll see what their excuse is then."
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But Jordan did say that once that vote takes place, he and Comer will, as promised, "move forward with contempt proceedings" against the first son.
Comer said that the committee has tens of thousands of documents prepared in the room where Hunter Biden was expected to testify.
Comer said the committee has "specific questions for the president's son," and said the American people want this investigation.
Meanwhile, Jordan, reflecting on Biden's public statement, said that his comment that his father was never involved "financially" in his business dealings, said that was an important distinction.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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