House Republicans have offered to accommodate Hunter Biden by issuing another subpoena after he refused to comply with the previous subpoena.
Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) wrote to Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, saying that they are “prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden’s appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks.”
Describing Biden’s failure to appear for his initial deposition, the Republicans wrote, “Then, on the day that the Committees met to consider the contempt resolutions, Mr. Biden chose to flaunt his defiance of the subpoenas in a choreographed stunt reportedly filmed for an upcoming documentary. At no time in either setting did you or Mr. Biden indicate that the Committees’ subpoenas were invalid; rather, you argued that Mr. Biden had ‘chosen’ to testify only in public hearing—a ‘choice’ the subpoena did not provide.”
“[T]here is no legal basis on which Mr. Biden could lawfully disregard the Committees’ deposition subpoenas,” they added.
“His defiance of the subpoenas has been willful and flagrant. His demands to testify only in a public setting are, as we have explained, inconsistent with the practice of these Committees in this matter as well as the practice of congressional Committees in recent Congresses.”
The Republicans welcomed Biden’s “newfound willingness” to testify in a deposition under another subpoena.
“Although the Committee’s subpoenas are lawful and remain legally enforceable, as an accommodation to Mr. Biden and at your request, we are prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden’s appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks,” they wrote.
After Lowell stated that Biden would appear for a deposition if he were issued a new subpoena, Jordan and Comer said in a joint statement, “House Republicans have been resolute in demanding Hunter Biden sit for a deposition in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. While we are heartened that Hunter Biden now says he will comply with a subpoena, make no mistake: Hunter Biden has already defied two valid, lawful subpoenas. Instead of appearing for his deposition on December 13, 2023, Hunter Biden appeared on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol where he made a public statement without taking any questions. Then this week at the Oversight Committee’s markup of his contempt resolution, Hunter Biden pulled another stunt as he continued to defy duly issued subpoenas.”
“For now, the House of Representatives will move forward with holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress until such time that Hunter Biden confirms a date to appear for a private deposition in accordance with his legal obligation,” the lawmakers continued. “While we will work to schedule a deposition date, we will not tolerate any additional stunts or delay from Hunter Biden. The American people will not tolerate, and the House will not provide, special treatment for the Biden family.”
