Resolutions to be Considered by House Rules Committee
The vote by the House Oversight Committee on whether to hold Hunter Biden in contempt ended in a 25-21 result. This was followed by a 23-14 vote by the House Judiciary Committee. The resolutions will now move on to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
Uncertainty Surrounds Floor Vote
It remains uncertain whether each committee’s resolution will be presented for a full vote on the House floor, or if the House Rules Committee will combine them into one resolution. A source familiar with the matter suggests that a full House floor vote on whether to hold Hunter Biden in contempt could take place as early as Wednesday.
Strong Opposition from House Oversight Committee Ranking Member
Jaime Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, criticized the decision to hold Hunter Biden in contempt. He stated that the committee had taken “unprecedented action to hold in contempt a private citizen who stands ready to provide the Committee with all the information it seeks.”
Hunter Biden’s Appearance and Subpoena Defiance
Hunter Biden, accompanied by his attorneys Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris, made a surprise appearance at the House Oversight Committee. However, he and his attorneys left before the vote on the resolution. Prior to this, Hunter Biden had offered to testify publicly, but his request was rejected by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan.
Committee Chairs Vow to Release Deposition Transcript
Comer and Jordan have emphasized that Hunter Biden will not receive special treatment. They cited the compliance of other witnesses and vowed to release the transcript of Hunter Biden’s deposition.
Allegations of Contempt of Congress
Comer accused Hunter Biden of “blatantly defying two lawful subpoenas.” He argued that his refusal to comply constitutes contempt of Congress and called for referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
White House’s Response
The White House declined to answer questions about whether they were informed in advance of Hunter Biden’s attendance at the House Oversight’s markup session. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that Hunter Biden is a private citizen and makes his own decisions. Further inquiries were redirected to Hunter Biden’s attorneys.
Expanded Investigation and Impeachable Offense
Last month, Comer and Jordan expanded their investigation to explore whether Joe Biden was involved in his son’s actions, which they claim could potentially constitute an impeachable offense.