Hunter Biden, the president’s son currently under investigation by House Republicans regarding his family, expressed his willingness to testify before Congress on Tuesday, the NY Times reported. However, he specified his preference for public testimony, aiming to prevent potential distortions or selective leaks by Republicans.
House Republicans issued a subpoena to Hunter Biden in early November, calling him to participate in a private transcribed interview. This move is part of an intensification of Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into the president, NBC News reported.
In a letter addressed to Congress, Abbe D. Lowell, Mr. Biden’s lawyer, criticized the Republican inquiry, labeling it a “partisan crusade.” Lowell expressed concerns about Representative James R. Comer, a Republican from Kentucky and the House Oversight Committee chairman, accusing him of using closed-door sessions to ” manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public.”
Comer responded to Lowell’s letter with a statement posted on X on Tuesday morning.: “Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That won’t stand with House Republicans.”
“Our lawfully issued subpoena to Hunter Biden requires him to appear for a deposition on December 13,” he said. “We expect full cooperation with our subpoena for a deposition but also agree that Hunter Biden should have [an] opportunity to testify in a public setting at a future date.”
If Biden chooses to testify publicly in the House under oath, he would be exposing himself to both criminal and political risks, according to the NY Times. He is currently the subject of a federal criminal investigation overseen by a special counsel, and he faces charges of providing false information about his drug use on a federal form used to purchase a handgun in 2018. Any statements he makes during his testimony could potentially be used against him.
Insiders familiar with Hunter Biden’s approach suggest that his proposal was made to minimize both criminal and political risks. Additionally, by extending the offer for public testimony, Hunter’s team aims to signal that he is transparent and believes he has nothing to hide, putting Representative Comer in a position where rejecting the offer could be interpreted as obstructive.
