Hunter Biden has declined an invitation from House Republicans to testify at a public hearing next week alongside former business associates, dismissing the inquiry as a “carnival sideshow,” according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
In the letter, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized Republicans’ efforts to convene a public hearing after Biden had already undergone a nearly seven-hour deposition last month.
“Your latest step—this March 6 invitation—is not a serious oversight proceeding,” Lowell wrote. “It is your attempt to resuscitate your Conference’s moribund inquiry with a made-for-right-wing-media, circus act.”
The invitation, sent by Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, included three of Biden’s former business associates, all of whom are facing legal challenges of their own.
“Your idea of congressional ‘fact-finding’ is, amazingly, to have Mr. Biden appear with the discredited ‘witnesses’ you continue to promote,” Lowell added.
The committee’s 14-month investigation into the Biden family has primarily focused on Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings in countries like Ukraine and China. While lawmakers have uncovered ethically questionable behavior by the president’s son and other family members, Republicans have yet to produce evidence of misconduct by Joe Biden during his time in public office.
Biden’s refusal to accept the invitation comes after he and his lawyer had insisted late last year that he testify at a public hearing rather than a private deposition, citing concerns that GOP lawmakers would distort his testimony. Eventually, both sides agreed to the deposition followed by a public hearing.
In response, Comer accused Biden of backtracking.
“Hunter Biden for months stated he wanted a public hearing, but now that one has been offered alongside his business associates that he worked with for years, he is refusing to come,” Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said.
However, Lowell stated that Biden would only participate in a hearing if it were a “legitimate exercise of congressional authority” that also investigated the actions of family members of former President Donald Trump who sought to benefit from their father’s name while he was in office.
Comer affirmed that the hearing scheduled for March 20 would proceed as planned, asserting that Republicans “fully expect Hunter Biden to participate.”
“The American people demand the truth and accountability for the Bidens’ corruption,” Comer added.
