Hunter Biden arrived in Washington, D.C., but did not appear for his deposition.
Instead, he spoke from the Capitol lawn, saying the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into his business dealings is “illegitimate.”
“I’m here today to make sure the House committee’s illegitimate investigations of my family do not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence, & lies. I’m here today to acknowledge I have made mistakes in my life & wasted opportunities and privileges I was afforded. For that I am responsible.”
“I’m also here today to correct how the MAGA right has portrayed me for their political purposes,” he continued, adding, “I am first and foremost a son, a father, a brother, and a husband from a loving and supportive family.”
“Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist,” he added.
“James Comer, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, and their colleagues have distorted the facts by cherry-picking lines from a bank statement, manipulating texts I sent, editing the testimony of my friends and former business partners, and misstating personal information that was stolen from me. There is no fairness or decency in what these Republicans are doing. They have lied over and over about every aspect of my personal and professional life.”
“They have no shame,” he said of the members of the House Oversight Committee.
“Here I am Mr. Chairman, taking up your offer when you said we can bring these people for depositions or committee hearings, whichever they choose. Well, I’ve chosen, I’m here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions.”
“Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say. What are they afraid of? I’m here, I’m ready.”
Despite saying he is “here” and “ready,” Hunter Biden has not submitted to the closed-door deposition.
The House Oversight Committee threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he did not appear for his December 13 deposition.
“On November 8, 2023, we issued subpoenas to your client, Robert Hunter Biden, for a deposition on December 13, 2023. We received your letters dated November 28, 2023, and December 6, 2023, concerning the deposition subpoenas,” House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) wrote in a letter to Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell. “Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no ‘choice’ for Mr. Biden to make; the subpoenas compel him to appear for a deposition on December 13. If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.”
