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Hunter Biden has agreed to testify publicly before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which is investigating his business dealings as part of an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, sent a letter to Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), proposing a public hearing in response to a subpoena issued by the committee. Lowell expressed distrust in a closed-door session, stating, “We have seen you use closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public. We therefore propose opening the door.” Lowell emphasized that Hunter Biden is prepared to answer any pertinent questions but rejects the committee’s “cloaked, one-sided process.”
The committee, however, expects Hunter Biden to attend a closed-door deposition on December 13, in addition to any public hearing. Comer responded, saying, “Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else.” He added that while the committee expects full cooperation with the subpoena for a private deposition, it agrees that Hunter Biden should also have the opportunity to testify publicly at a later date.
The investigation encompasses the foreign business activities of Hunter Biden, President Biden’s brother James Biden, and other family associates. The multi-faceted inquiry includes:
- Allegations of influence peddling during Biden’s vice presidency.
- Potential financial benefits to President Biden from his family’s foreign dealings.
- Questions regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden.
The White House has consistently denied any wrongdoing by the president, labeling the impeachment inquiry as “congressional harassment” for political ends.
In his letter, Lowell criticized the committee’s investigation, arguing that a public hearing would prevent manipulations and demonstrate the baselessness of the accusations. He concluded, “Your empty investigation has gone on too long wasting too many better-used resources. It should come to an end. Consequently, Mr. Biden will appear at such a public hearing on the date you noticed, December 13, or any date in December that we can arrange.”
