Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, sits together with his lawyer Abbe Lowell as he makes a shock look at a Home Oversight Committee markup and assembly to vote on whether or not to carry Biden in contempt of Congress for failing to reply to a request to testify to the Home final month, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 10, 2024.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Hunter Biden confirmed up in individual, unannounced, at a Home committee listening to Wednesday to contemplate a decision to carry him in contempt of Congress for allegedly defying a subpoena demanding his closed-door testimony.
Biden, accompanied by two of his attorneys, appeared within the listening to room in Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing shortly after the Home Oversight Committee convened at 10 a.m. ET for a so-called markup on the decision.
His shock look — and equally sudden departure a couple of minutes later — instantly stoked anger from members of the committee’s Republican majority.
“Sure, I’m you, Hunter Biden, as I’m talking to you,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., stated shortly after the president’s son sat down. “You aren’t above the regulation.”
As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., started to talk, Biden abruptly bought up and left, prompting scoffs and cries of “the place’s he going?” from the panel.
“What a coward,” Greene stated.
When an NBC Information reporter requested afterward if he would testify right this moment if known as to take action by the committee, Hunter Biden replied, “Sure.”
Biden had refused to seem for a personal deposition on Dec. 13 on Capitol Hill as a part of Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, which facilities on allegations of corruption by the president and his household.
Hunter Biden provided as an alternative to testify in a public listening to, however Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., rejected that proposal.
On the day his deposition was set to happen, Biden appeared exterior the U.S. Capitol and defended his enterprise document whereas denying accusations of any wrongful monetary hyperlink to his father.
“There’s no proof to assist the allegations that my father was financially concerned in my enterprise, as a result of it didn’t occur,” he stated in a ready assertion earlier than departing.
Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, which was holding a simultaneous listening to Wednesday by itself contempt decision in opposition to Hunter Biden, have slammed the contempt effort as a distracting sideshow.
“With a shutdown imminent, it could make sense that Home Republicans would wish to begin legislating,” learn a submit on X from the minority’s account Wednesday morning. “As a substitute, the best precedence for MAGA Republicans is marking up a contempt decision for somebody who provided to testify.”
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