House Republicans respond to Hunter Biden's lawyer request for a public hearing: “He will not receive special treatment”
Representatives Comer and Jordan signed a public letter announcing that the president's son's first statement will be private.
The chairmen of the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, Republicans James Comer and Jim Jordan signed a public letter in response to Hunter Biden's lawyer where they made it clear that the president's son will not receive "Special Treatment" in investigations into their businesses abroad.
Abbe Lowell, Hunter's lawyer, asked Republicans that his client's hearing be made public, after he questioned how the investigations against Joe Biden's son are being carried out.
However, Comer and Jordan announced that, in line with how the investigations are being carried out, Hunter Biden's first statement would be made privately on December 13, the date requested by the representatives.
The Republicans clarified that this decision is based on the fact that the rest of the witnesses and subjects of interest related to the investigations made their respective statements behind closed doors.
However, both Comer and Jordan explained to Lowell that the deposition transcript will be made public after the talks are completed.
"[It] will occur initially in a deposition setting, as has been the consistent practice of Committees (...) of the majorities—as well as these Committees during this inquiry," the letter reads.
They also clarified that, in due course, a public hearing will be held for the president's son and explained that the private statement is absolutely essential to determine whether or not articles of impeachment are presented against President Biden for his alleged involvement in Hunter's businesses.
"We also appreciate your confirmation that Mr. Biden is willing to testify at a public hearing," the Republicans wrote. "We look forward to his testimony in a hearing at the appropriate time."
"In addition, the Committees are investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden based on evidence received to date showing that President Biden was aware of at least some of his family's business ventures and sought to influence potential business deals that financially benefited his family," the representatives stated.