(DCWatchdog.com) – Infamous First Son Hunter Biden’s attempt to play tricks on US Congress members probing his family’s finances has backfired as House Republicans have now explicitly ordered him to appear for a private deposition first – after his lawyer proposed going directly to a public hearing.
On Wednesday, House Republican lawmakers who are managing the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden informed his son, Hunter Biden, that he must answer questions in a private setting as well as testify publicly.
Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) of the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman James Comer (R-KY) of the Oversight Committee, and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), the leaders of the impeachment inquiry, have all demanded that Hunter Biden comply with the Oversight Committee’s subpoena to appear for a deposition on December 13.
“Our committees will first interview and depose witnesses. We then, of course, would welcome Hunter Biden to testify at a public hearing at a future date,” Comer stated at a press conference held by Republican leadership, as cited by The Daily Caller.
This statement from Comer reflects his earlier remarks made on Tuesday, following a letter from Hunter Biden’s defense attorney suggesting that Biden could testify publicly next month. Jordan expressed a similar view on Tuesday and repeated his comments at the press conference.
“We will have Hunter Biden in a deposition and frankly I think in an open hearing. I think that would be great,” Jordan said.
Similarly, Smith issued a statement Tuesday instructing Hunter Biden to obey the subpoena and testify publicly at a later date.
“The congressional subpoena he received was not a suggestion, and he is required to sit for a deposition on December 13. I expect he will have the opportunity to testify in a public setting in the future,” Smith declared.
Comer, Jordan, and Smith presented the evidence for the impeachment inquiry related to Joe Biden’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s foreign business ventures and IRS whistleblower allegations that the Justice Department shielded Hunter Biden from prosecution.
IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler testified privately to the Ways and Means Committee in May and June and then publicly in July, alleging favoritism.
The Ways and Means Committee disclosed documents in September corroborating the IRS whistleblower testimony.
Officials from the DOJ and IRS involved in the Hunter Biden case have given private testimony to the Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees in recent months.
