WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden on Wednesday defied a congressional subpoena to look privately for a deposition earlier than Republican investigators who’ve been digging into his enterprise dealings, insisting outdoors the U.S. Capitol that he’ll solely testify in public.
In a uncommon public assertion, the Democratic president’s son slammed a GOP subpoena requesting closed-door testimony, saying it might be manipulated.
“Republicans don’t want an open course of the place Individuals can see their techniques, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I’ve to say,” Biden mentioned outdoors the Capitol. “What are they afraid of? I’m right here.”
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the chairman of the Home Oversight Committee, has mentioned Republicans anticipate “full cooperation” with the non-public deposition. He has indicated that the Home would swiftly cost Biden with a contempt of Congress cost if he didn’t cooperate.
For months, Republicans have been pursuing an impeachment inquiry in search of to tie President Joe Biden to his son Hunter’s enterprise dealings. Thus far, they’ve didn’t uncover proof instantly implicating President Biden in any wrongdoing.
However questions have arisen concerning the ethics surrounding the Biden household’s worldwide enterprise, and lawmakers insist their proof paints a troubling image of “influence peddling” in their business dealings, significantly with purchasers abroad.
“There isn’t a proof to assist the allegations that my father was financially concerned in my enterprise as a result of it didn’t occur,” Hunter Biden mentioned.
Individually, Hunter Biden is dealing with prison fees in two states from a particular counsel overseeing a long-running investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke legal guidelines towards drug customers having weapons in 2018, a interval when he has acknowledged combating habit. Particular Counsel David Weiss additionally filed new fees and 9 new tax counts final week, alleging he schemed to keep away from paying about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year interval.
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Related Press author Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.
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