WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden defied an order by Home Republicans to testify behind closed doorways about his enterprise dealings on Wednesday (Dec 13), ratcheting up tensions with lawmakers who plan to vote to formalize their impeachment probe of his father.
At a information convention outdoors the Capitol, Biden blasted the probe as baseless and indicated he wouldn’t cooperate with a subpoena by the Home Oversight Committee to testify in non-public.
Republicans stated they might take steps to carry him in contempt of Congress, which might probably end in jail time. “The president’s son doesn’t get to set the foundations,” stated Consultant James Comer, the Oversight Committee’s chair.
The Home of Representatives is because of vote in a while Wednesday to authorize the probe earlier than leaving for a three-week vacation break on Thursday. Home Speaker Mike Johnson stated he was assured it will go the chamber, which Republicans management by a slender 221-213 margin.
Home Republicans allege that Biden and his household improperly profited from selections the elder Biden participated in whereas serving as vp from 2009-2017. Their investigation focuses intently on the enterprise dealings of the youthful Biden.
They’ve up to now did not uncover proof of wrongdoing by the president.
“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 stated.
The White Home has denied wrongdoing and dismissed the probe as politically motivated forward of the 2024 presidential election. Republican Donald Trump, the one US president to be impeached twice, is the main contender to tackle Biden. Trump was acquitted by the Senate each occasions.
Republican Consultant Jim Jordan stated Hunter Biden’s phrases that his father had not been “financially” concerned recommended the president might need been concerned in his son’s enterprise even when he didn’t revenue from it.
“He is been concerned, simply not financially. That may be a large departure from every part they’ve stated,” Jordan stated. White Home legal professionals rejected that declare, saying on the X social media platform, “Jim Jordan continues to lie and make utterly false statements concerning the contents of their so-called ‘investigation'”.
