Republican representatives from the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees called on Monday for Hunter Biden to be found in contempt of Congress. Both committees submitted a report after President Biden's son refused to comply with subpoenas that were previously issued.
The resolution from both committees is a request in the form of a recommendation for the House, which may vote whether to accept it or not. Hunter Biden was summoned to appear before the committees behind closed doors, something he refused to do, claiming he wanted to do so with the public present.
🚨BREAKING: Chairman Comer Releases Hunter Biden Contempt of Congress Resolution pic.twitter.com/RxXxJaT841
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 8, 2024
"Mr. Biden’s flagrant defiance of the Committees’ deposition subpoenas — while choosing to appear nearby on the Capitol grounds to read a prepared statement on the same matters — is contemptuous, and he must be held accountable for his unlawful actions," states the report from the Oversight Committee.
In that appearance before the press in front of the steps of the Capitol, Hunter Biden assured the media that his father was not linked to his businesses abroad in China. At the same time, he once again reiterated his willingness to testify publicly in Congress instead of doing so behind closed doors.
What does a contempt ruling mean?
The contempt resolution that the committees recommended to the House is a public and official rebuke from Congress against Hunter Biden. In itself, it has no direct consequences. Despite this, if it is approved, it would be the first time the son of a president in office has received a reprimand of this nature.
Traditionally, contempt rulings have served as a kind of recommendation to the Department of Justice to focus on or investigate a specific individual. In the case of Hunter Biden, he is already facing federal charges in several states for economic crimes and illegal possession of weapons.
