House Republicans said over the weekend that they will subpoena Hunter Biden again after the president’s son dropped his opposition to meeting in private with members of the judiciary and oversight committees.
In a letter issued to Biden’s lawyer on Sunday, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, indicated they will issue more subpoenas in the coming weeks.
Hunter Biden has refused earlier subpoenas for him to appear in private during the Republican majority’s ongoing impeachment investigation into President Biden, causing GOP legislators to draft a resolution holding him in contempt of Congress.
Demands for a deposition were deemed “invalid” by his attorney, Abbe Lowell because the House did not formally vote to authorize an impeachment probe until December. Hunter Biden, on the other hand, altered course on Friday.
“Now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition,” Lowell wrote to the committees. We will accept such a subpoena on behalf of Mr. Biden.”
“The Committees welcome Mr. Biden’s newfound willingness to testify in a deposition setting under subpoena,” Comer and Jordan said in a joint statement on Sunday. “Although the Committee’s subpoenas are lawful and remain legally enforceable, as an accommodation to Mr. Biden and at your request, we are prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden’s appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks.”
House Republicans believe Biden’s testimony is critical to their impeachment inquiry against his father for allegedly profiting himself as vice president through his son’s alleged overseas influence peddling.
Last Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre labeled the impeachment process “political games” and urged House Republicans to focus instead on passing a budget to keep the government open.
“They’re engaging in political stunts.” “There are unfounded allegations here,” she remarked. “We’ve been clear about that.”