If Hunter does not present for Wednesday’s closed-door deposition, President Biden’s son might be charged in contempt of Congress.
Hunter Biden is in Washington, but it is uncertain whether he will appear for the closed-door deposition requested by Republican committee leaders.
James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, and Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, the chairs of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees, threatened to hold the younger Biden in contempt last week if he failed to appear for the deposition.
Abbe Lowell, the lawyer representing Hunter Biden, and the leaders of the committee exchanged verbal sparring while Hunter’s legal team pressed for a public hearing.
Lowell stated last month that Hunter preferred to testify in public rather than during the private interview; however, the GOP chairman ordered Hunter Biden to appear for a deposition the following week.
In a letter to Comer a week later, Lowell stated that the president’s son would testify in public before the committee only.
“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 stated.
“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,” added Lowell. “We look forward to working out the schedule.”
Comer and Jordan further promised to make the complete transcript available following the, if any, closed-door deposition.
Comer and Jordan both promised to make the whole transcript available following the closed-door deposition.
“On November 8, 2023, we issued subpoenas to your client, Robert Hunter Biden, for a deposition on December 13, 2023,” they said in the letter.
“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,” the authors of the letter said.
“If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,” they warned in their letter.
