After months of negotiations and threats of contempt, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, testified before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees on February 28. The deposition is part of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry to determine if President Biden and his family sold access to his office and political influence while he was vice president.
In an opening statement obtained by The Associated Press, Hunter Biden asserted, “I am here today to provide the committees with the one uncontestable fact that should end the false premise of this inquiry: I did not involve my father in my business.” He accused the committees of pursuing him in a “partisan political pursuit” and dismissed allegations as “baseless and MAGA-motivated conspiracies.”
The deposition, held behind closed doors despite Hunter Biden’s previous insistence on a public hearing, was part of negotiations over the past month. House Republicans had initially pursued contempt of Congress charges against Hunter Biden but halted these efforts during negotiations.
“This absurd impeachment investigation is just a continuation of Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election and I think everybody can understand that for what it is.”
“The Republicans continue to belabor completely trivial points,” Mr. Raskin said. “They seem to be obsessively focused on speakerphones and use of speakerphone. I did not know that that was the devil’s technology, but apparently it is. And I believe, based on this first hour, that this whole thing really has been a tremendous waste of our legislative time and the people’s resources.”
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) intends to release Hunter Biden’s testimony “as expeditiously as possible” in line with a commitment to transparency. However, the transcript first requires review by Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, and approval from the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
The impeachment inquiry focuses on allegations that President Biden and his family engaged in corrupt practices, selling access to his office. Hunter Biden’s testimony is seen as a crucial development in the investigation.
Republicans, including Comer, claim to have unearthed substantial evidence of corruption involving President Biden and his family. They cite Hunter Biden’s former business associates’ testimony, alleging that Joe Biden was actively involved and spoke with them over 20 times via speakerphone.
Democrats, particularly Raskin, view the impeachment inquiry as a continuation of former President Donald Trump’s “election denialism.” Raskin described it as a “shameful spectacle” and questioned its legitimacy.
The deposition occurred amid controversies surrounding a key witness, Alexander Smirnov, who claimed President Biden and Hunter each received $5 million in bribes from Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings. Smirnov was later indicted on charges of fabricating these allegations.
While Democrats argue that the impeachment probe is based on lies, Republicans claim to have compelling evidence of corruption involving the Biden family. The investigation is ongoing, with more subpoenas and witness interviews expected. Hunter Biden is simultaneously facing federal indictments on alleged tax offenses and firearms offenses, pleading not guilty to all charges.
