House Republicans announced on Friday that they will move to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress next week after he refused to show up for a closed-door interview with Republicans as part of their investigation into the Biden family.
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said that his committee and the House Judiciary Committee led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) would hold markup meetings to consider a resolution to hold Hunter in contempt. Last month, Hunter skipped a deposition with congressional investigators, saying he would only answer questions publicly.
“Our investigation has produced significant evidence suggesting President Biden knew of, participated in, and benefitted from his family cashing in on the Biden name. We planned to question Hunter Biden about this record of evidence, but he blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas, choosing to read a prepared statement outside of the Capitol instead of appearing for testimony as required,” Comer and Jordan said.
The meeting will happen on January 10 at 10:00 a.m. EST at the Rayburn House Office Building.
“Hunter Biden’s willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name,” Comer and Jordan added.
On the day Republican lawmakers told Hunter to appear for an interview, he showed up at the U.S. Capitol Building and challenged Comer to allow him to appear for a public hearing instead to answer “legitimate” questions.
“What are they afraid of? I’m here. I’m ready,” he told reporters.
Since Biden’s lawyer had already made this offer multiple times, Comer has previously stated that he would only be satisfied with Biden appearing for a deposition. But the chairman has indicated that he would be open to having Biden appear for a public hearing — after the closed-door interview.
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The ranking member on the Oversight Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) criticized the announcement from Comer.
“There is no precedent for the U.S. House of Representatives holding a private citizen in contempt of Congress who has offered to testify in public, under oath, and on a day of the Committee’s choosing,” he said.
Comer and Jordan are also investigating whether President Joe Biden obstructed their investigation by encouraging Hunter not to comply with their requests for a deposition.