WASHINGTON (AP) — The son of the president, Hunter Biden, appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday for congressional committee meetings. House Republicans are holding separate committee votes recommending that Hunter Biden be charged with contempt of Congress. This has set up an unprecedented standoff between him and House Republicans who have long sought his testimony as part of their impeachment inquiry into his father.
Hunter Biden, who is facing two separate criminal indictments, has agreed to testify publicly, but Republicans have refused this offer. They continue to insist that the testimony be given behind closed doors. During the Oversight Committee’s meeting, Rep. Nancy Mace called for Hunter Biden’s arrest for defying the congressional subpoena.
The back and forth between Hunter Biden and House Republicans has been escalating. Hunter Biden maintains that House Republicans’ claims of illegal conduct are baseless and argues that they will selectively leak or mischaracterize his comments for partisan purposes if the testimony takes place during a closed-door deposition. The top House Democrat on the committee, Jamie Raskin, has stated that there is no precedent for holding a private citizen in contempt of Congress who has offered to testify publicly and on a day chosen by the committee.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has criticized House Republicans, stating that they are not interested in getting the facts and are instead playing politics. He questions why they are pursuing an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has offered to answer all their questions.
As part of the impeachment effort, House Republicans have asked the White House to provide any communications it has had with Hunter Biden’s legal team. They seek to determine whether the president had a role in his son’s decision to defy their subpoena.
In summary, Hunter Biden appeared on Capitol Hill for congressional committee meetings related to his testimony in the impeachment inquiry of his father. House Republicans are recommending charging him with contempt of Congress, as he refuses to testify behind closed doors. This has created an unprecedented standoff between Hunter Biden and House Republicans. The back and forth between them continues to escalate, with Hunter Biden’s attorney criticizing the Republicans’ motivations. The White House has also been asked to provide any relevant communications. Hunter Biden’s court appearance in Los Angeles on separate tax charges is scheduled for tomorrow.