WASHINGTON – House Republicans initiated the process of holding Hunter Biden in criminal contempt of Congress on Wednesday, as he failed to comply with a congressional subpoena for a closed-door deposition. The son of President Joe Biden unexpectedly appeared on Capitol Hill as the House Oversight and House Judiciary committees held separate markups of the contempt resolution. This comes as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
The investigation, led by Republicans, centers on unproven allegations that the president was involved in or financially benefited from his son’s foreign business dealings. Hunter Biden’s testimony is considered crucial to their probe. However, instead of appearing for his deposition, he held a news conference outside the Capitol, stating that he would only testify in a public setting. House Republicans had offered to hold a public hearing after a private interview. After Hunter Biden did not appear for his deposition, the chairs of the House Oversight and House Judiciary committees announced that they would commence contempt proceedings.
The markups held on Wednesday marked the beginning of a lengthy process, highlighting the challenges Republicans face in obtaining testimony from the president’s son. If the contempt resolution passes the committee, it will proceed to a full House vote on contempt. Should the House vote in favor, the Department of Justice, which is already pursuing two criminal cases against Hunter Biden, will decide whether to prosecute him for evading a congressional subpoena.
White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, Ian Sams, dismissed the “baseless attacks” on the president’s family and urged Republican lawmakers to focus on their other responsibilities. Sams emphasized the imminent government funding deadline and criticized House Republicans for prioritizing investigations at a time when they should be addressing pressing issues such as border security and the economy.
The House Republicans’ pursuit of impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is also gaining momentum, with the House Homeland Security Committee conducting its own investigation. This move comes as the border crisis becomes a defining campaign issue for Republicans. Mayorkas could face impeachment if the Republican effort succeeds, which would be a rare event as only one Cabinet official in American history has been impeached.
As House Republicans ramp up their investigations, senior Republicans believe targeting Mayorkas will be easier than impeaching the president himself, as there is growing skepticism among Republicans regarding impeachment. Representative Tony Gonzales expressed doubts about the Department of Homeland Security’s performance and suggested that many members no longer have confidence in Mayorkas.
In conclusion, House Republicans have initiated criminal contempt proceedings against Hunter Biden for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena. The investigation into the president’s son is part of the broader impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Republicans face challenges in obtaining Hunter Biden’s testimony, and if the contempt resolution passes, the Department of Justice will determine whether to prosecute him. Furthermore, House Republicans are simultaneously pursuing impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with a perceived belief that it will be more feasible than impeaching the president.