WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden extended an offer on Tuesday to testify publicly before Congress in response to a subpoena from Republicans delving into various aspects of his business dealings amid their pursuit of an impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden.
Characterizing the investigation as a “fishing expedition,” the son of the Democratic president declined closed-door testimony but expressed willingness to answer “any pertinent and relevant question” when facing the House Oversight Committee next month, setting the stage for a potentially significant confrontation.
Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued the subpoena to Hunter Biden in early November, marking the inquiry’s most assertive move and testing the boundaries of congressional oversight powers. As of Tuesday, there was no immediate response from Comer’s office regarding the matter.
While Republicans have yet to uncover evidence directly linking President Biden to any wrongdoing, they maintain that their findings depict a troubling scenario of “influence peddling” within the Biden family’s business dealings, particularly on the international stage.
The subpoena mandated Hunter Biden’s appearance before the Oversight Committee for a deposition by mid-December. On the same day, his uncle James Biden and former business associate Rob Walker were also subpoenaed.
In a letter on Tuesday, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, conveyed his client’s “misgivings about your motives and purpose” but highlighted previous attempts to engage with the committee that had gone unanswered. Lowell asserted that the investigation had become protracted and resource-intensive, urging its conclusion. He proposed Hunter Biden’s appearance on the specified date of December 13 or an alternative day in the following month.
The House Oversight Committee responded to Lowell’s letter on an undisclosed date, accusing Hunter Biden of attempting to set his own rules.
The subpoenas faced strong opposition from Democrats, and the White House called for their withdrawal. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, characterized the subpoenas as “irresponsible” and the result of an overzealous House GOP majority that had “weaponized the oversight powers of Congress.”
In addition to the business dealings inquiry, congressional Republicans are scrutinizing the Justice Department’s handling of a criminal investigation into Hunter Biden. Initially anticipated to conclude with a plea deal, the case collapsed during a July plea hearing.
Hunter Biden currently faces three firearms felonies related to the 2018 purchase of a gun during a period when he acknowledged being addicted to drugs. While no new tax charges have been filed, prosecutors have hinted at their potential in Washington or California, where he resides.