House Republicans and some senior legal experts are accusing Hunter Biden of committing "contempt" of Congress after failing to attend the subpoena issued by the Oversight Committee.
In a joint statement, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, stated that they will begin a contempt process against the president's son after what happened outside the Capitol.
"Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings," the high-profile congressmen wrote. "We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden. As our committees were today prepared to depose Hunter Biden, he chose to make a public statement on Capitol Hill instead where he said his father, Joe Biden was not financially involved in his family's business dealings."
"Exactly how was Joe Biden involved?" Comer and Jordan continued. "Evidence shows Joe Biden met with Hunter's business associates and his name was at the center of the family business strategy."
🚨🚨🚨
Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.
We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden.
Read my full statement with @Jim_Jordan below.👇 pic.twitter.com/0m5zc4k4a6
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) December 13, 2023
The leaders of the Oversight and Judiciary committees also mentioned in the statement that Republicans were ready to vote for a resolution that would formalize an impeachment investigation against Joe Biden, a measure that, finally, was approved Wednesday afternoon and will serve to increase the legal authority of House committees before the minimal collaboration from the White House and witnesses close to the Democratic president.
"Today, the House will vote on an impeachment inquiry resolution to strengthen our legal case in the courts as we face obstruction from the White House and witnesses. Today's obstruction by Hunter Biden reinforces the need for a formal vote. President Biden and his family must be held accountable for their corruption and obstruction," Comer and Jordan wrote.
What is contempt of Congress?
This process begins when a person evades a subpoena or request from Congress, but it is not that simple, as it has a specific process.
First, the Oversight and Judiciary panels, interested in interviewing Hunter Biden, will have to hold another meeting for committee members to vote on the contempt resolution. Then, there will be a debate about Hunter's intentions to testify publicly, something that Republicans want to carry out, but not before holding a first private hearing.
Next, if a contempt report is approved, it will be put to a vote in the full House.
If the House approves holding the president's son in contempt, then the Justice Department will have to decide whether to file charges against Hunter Biden.
Legal experts say Hunter Biden did commit contempt
Jonathan Turley, a renowned legal expert and professor who participated in the impeachment proceedings against Presidents Trump and Clinton, said that the president's son made a legal error by not attending the meeting with the House committees.
"Reports indicate that Hunter went to Capitol Hill but refused to sit for the deposition. Instead he held a presser. If true, it is a remarkably bad decision and virtually begs for a contempt sanction," wrote Turley, who also noted that Republicans are taking the necessary steps in formalizing the impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden.
Reports indicate that Hunter went to Capitol Hill but refused to sit for the deposition. Instead he held a presser. If true, it is a remarkably bad decision and virtually begs for a contempt sanction...
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) December 13, 2023
"Hunter could have appeared and invoked his right to remain silent. Instead, he just pulled a Steve Bannon and it will now pressure AG Merrick Garland to show the same speed in pursuing a prosecution," Turley added.
Several conservative analysts recalled that commentator Steve Bannon and Trump adviser Peter Navarro were quickly charged with contempt by the DOJ for failing to comply with the January 6 Committee's orders.
Some conservative representatives, such as Matt Gaetz (R-FL), said they do not believe the Merrick Garland-controlled DOJ will file contempt charges against Hunter Biden if the House approves the report from the committees.
"I believe Hunter Biden should be held in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee, but it's clear the corrupt White House and corrupt DOJ will protect their own from prosecution while shamelessly targeting their political enemies," Gaetz wrote.
"Matthew Graves, the DC Attorney who prosecuted Navarro and Bannon, worked on the presidential campaigns for Joe Biden and other Democrats. I doubt we'll be seeing the same indictments against Hunter," said the Republican.
Hunter Biden had help from Democrats to avoid subpoena
Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner and Politico magazines revealed that Hunter Biden obtained help from within Congress to stage an impromptu press conference and evade Republican-controlled committees.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California and a member of the Judiciary Committee, was the legislator who helped Hunter Biden reserve the place where he addressed the press and attacked Republican representatives for allegedly using him as a scapegoat to push for an impeachment against his father.
Update: Disgraced Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell — who was removed from the House Intelligence Committee over his relationship with a Chinese spy — organized the press conference https://t.co/vTeZUusCK9
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 13, 2023
