According to Mediaite, Hunter Biden, the eldest son of President Joe Biden, has extended an offer to testify before a congressional probe controlled by the GOP, with a significant condition attached. In a letter sent by Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, to the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), it was conveyed that Hunter is willing to answer any pertinent questions posed by the committee but insists on testifying in a public Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing.
Lowell’s letter argued that a public proceeding would mitigate the risks of selective leaks, manipulated transcripts, doctored exhibits, or biased press statements. The move appears to signal a more assertive stance from Hunter Biden amid the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his business transactions and foreign connections.
CNN’s Katelyn Polantz reported on the development during a segment of CNN News Central, highlighting the significance of Hunter’s willingness to testify in a public setting. Polantz noted that earlier in the month, the House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, issued a subpoena to Hunter Biden and others as part of an inquiry into the business transactions of the Biden family, particularly focusing on Hunter’s activities.
The House Republicans aim to gather information that could contribute to an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. However, Polantz pointed out that the efforts to substantiate such an inquiry have faced challenges in terms of evidence and support, even within the Republican caucus.
The subpoena for Hunter Biden’s testimony remains on the table, and Congress holds the authority to compel individuals to testify during inquiries. Hunter’s legal team’s response, indicating a willingness to testify publicly on December 13th, the date specified in the subpoena, sets the stage for negotiations between Hunter Biden’s representatives and the GOP-controlled committee on the terms and conditions of his testimony.
KATE BOLDUAN: And this just in to CNN. Hunter Biden is willing to testify before lawmakers with something of a catch only if he can testify in public. Let’s go to CNN’s Katelyn Polantz. She has this new reporting for us just in. Katelyn, this is coming from Hunter Biden’s legal team. What does this mean then?
KATELYN POLANTZ: Well, Kate, let the negotiations begin. There was a subpoena earlier this month from the House Oversight Committee led by Republican James Comer to Hunter Biden, as well as to many other people, where the House Republicans are wanting to pry into the business transactions around the Biden family, specifically the president’s son, Hunter Biden, who has many business transactions and also foreign business connections.
They’ve wanted to build steam in an impeachment inquiry of the sitting president, Joe Biden, and they haven’t gotten very much off the ground with that as far as facts and evidence goes. And there’s even Republicans in the caucus that are doubting it.
But that subpoena for Hunter Biden is on the table and Congress has a lot of authority to call Hunter Biden in to testify before them whenever they have an inquiry like this. So Hunter Biden’s lawyers are responding now and saying, yes, he is willing to come and testify before your committee, but he’s not going to do it behind closed doors. He will do it publicly if you want.
We’re willing to do it on December 15th or I’m sorry, December 13th, the date that was on that subpoena. But we’re going to have to see if that’s exactly what happens here, if there’s additional negotiations about when this testimony would take place, if it would be in a different plan than publicly, as Hunter Biden’s team wants it to be done. Kate.
The development underscores the ongoing political and legal complexities surrounding the Biden family, with the potential for a public hearing adding a layer of transparency to the proceedings. The outcome of these negotiations will likely shape the trajectory of the inquiry and its implications for the Biden administration.
