House Republicans, amid their impeachment inquiry, are seeking key documentation to determine President Joe Biden’s level of involvement in his son’s plan to defy congressional subpoenas into the investigation of his foreign business dealings.
Hunter, who was scheduled to testify on December 13 before the Republican-controlled committees, decided to skip the scheduled interview and hold an improvised press conference outside Congress that could have had the support of his father.
🚨BREAKING🚨⁰@RepJamesComer & @Jim_Jordan are investigating whether President Biden sought to influence or obstruct his son's cooperation with the House’s impeachment inquiry.
Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense.⁰
Letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel… pic.twitter.com/dND1WkusFU— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) December 27, 2023
Republicans argue that President Biden’s alleged assistance to his son in defying Congress “could constitute an impeachable offense.”
In a letter signed by Representatives James Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairs of the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee, respectively, White House Counsel Edward Siskel was notified of the new investigations into the Republicans.
“In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,” Comer and Jordan wrote to Siskel.
The lawmakers referred to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who stated that President Biden was “certainly familiar with what his son was going to say.”
Following these statements, Republicans referred to the Penal Code, citing the section that states that it is illegal to “corruptly…endeavor to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any investigation or inquiry is being had by…any committee of either House or any joint committee of Congress.”
“Likewise, any person who ‘aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures’ the commission of a crime is punishable as a principal of the crime,” the letter reads.
In that regard, Chairs Comer and Jordan demanded that all documentation and communications sent or received by the White House in connection with Hunter Biden’s statement be made available, including communications with Hunter Biden, law firm Winston & Strawn LLP and Kevin Morris.
They also demanded access to all documents and communications sent or received by White House Executive Office employees concerning the president’s December 6 statement about his family’s business partners.
Comer and Jordan gave Siskel until January 10 to present the information.
This petition comes as the House Oversight Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee investigate “whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House.”
The impeachment investigation itself was formalized earlier this month.
