Leaders of the House impeachment investigation, who are requesting testimony from Hunter Biden, attempted to reshape his Friday offer of public testimony by stating that he had confirmed his availability for the deposition they had previously requested in response to a subpoena.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote a letter to Biden’s attorneys earlier this week stating that the senator was only willing to testify in public and not behind closed doors. The GOP was visibly shaken by this, with some Republicans endorsing the notion of a public hearing.
The two chairs responded to Abbe Lowell, Biden’s attorney, “We appreciate your confirmation that Mr. Biden is available and willing to testify on December 13.”
“As has been the regular practise of House Committees in previous Congresses—under both Republican and Democrat majorities—as well as these Committees during this inquiry, this testimony will first take place in a deposition setting. Thank you for confirming to us that Mr. Biden is willing to testify in public. We anticipate hearing from him at the right time in a hearing,” they continued.
similar this week, Lowell wrote that he did not believe Republicans and Comer would give an accurate account of any private testimony from Biden, citing similar depositions they claim were not accurately portrayed by the committee.
“We have seen you use closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public. We therefore propose opening the door,” Lowell wrote in a letter to Comer on Tuesday. “If, as you claim, your efforts are important and involve issues that Americans should know about, then let the light shine on these proceedings.”
The letter doesn’t directly address allegations from Lowell that the committees have been mischaracterizing the testimony of witnesses, instead dedicating more space to arguing its inquiry is part of a valid legislative purpose.
Biden’s offer “amounts to a demand that he receive special treatment from the Committees,” according to a number of witnesses who have complied with subpoenas.
The chairs wrote, “Yet, in accordance with House and Committee rules and practise, we intend to videotape the deposition and release the deposition transcript shortly after its completion, if that helps to alleviate your stated concerns.”
In the past, Comer has stated that if the president’s son desired to appear “in front of the committee,” his panel would “drop everything.”
However, after Biden’s offer, he voiced reservations about a public format, pointing out that the committee has to examine thousands of pages of bank records, many of which contain other people’s private information.
But he said that with Democrats on the committee “jumping up and down” during a hearing of this kind, investigators would not be able to concentrate on their line of inquiry.
Democrats saw that as evidence that Republicans couldn’t support their investigation.
“Why the chairman is suddenly terrified and wants to bury Hunter in a basement is beyond me. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) stated, “If the evidence is so strong and convincing, you should present it to the American people in committee.”
It’s an indication that his own members don’t trust him. It is obvious that he opposes members of his committee asking questions. Furthermore, the impeachment hearings have been witnessed. It’s obvious that he wants to dominate the story because he wants to misrepresent it.”
Some Republicans also backed the idea of public testimony from Biden.
“I’m an open door kind of guy. I believe in transparency and everything and in government,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said on “Dan Abrams Live.”
“I don’t care if he wants to sit in the bathtub and do it; I don’t care,” he continued. “Just get his dag-gum butt before the committee and let’s ask him some tough questions.”
House Republicans this week advertised that they are advancing their inquiry, launching a new website devoted to the matter, while internally discussing whether to take a vote to formally launch the inquiry already announced by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).