- ‘We take you up on your offer,’ Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell told Republicans
- House Republicans subpoenaed Hunter to testify behind closed doors
- Hunter countered with an offer to testify in public
Hunter Biden told House Republicans on Tuesday he will testify in public any day in December after he was issued a subpoena for a closed-door interview.
‘We take you up on your offer,’ Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell wrote to House Oversight Chairman James Comer.
Then Lowell offered the condition to Hunter’s testimony: ‘But – rather than subscribing to your cloaked, one-sided process – he will appear at a public Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing.’
Lowell blasted House Republicans for using tax payer dollars in their ’empty investigation’ and and noted that: ‘A public proceeding would prevent selective leaks, manipulated transcripts, doctored exhibits, or one-sided press statements.’
Hunter Biden – seen above with his wife Melissa Cohen – offered to testify in public before Congress in December
He went on to add that Hunter was willing to appear on December 13 – which is the date House Republicans asked for – or ‘any date in December we can arrange.’
‘All you will learn is that your accussations are baseless. However, the American people should see that for themselves,’ Lowell wrote.
House Republicans are investigating Hunter’s business dealings and have charged President Joe Biden personally benefited from his son using his connections. The Biden family have denied any wrong doing and President Biden has repeatedly said he was not involved in his son’s business affairs.
In November, House Republicans subpoenaed Hunter Biden and President Biden’s brother James to testify. James Biden was asked to appear for an interview with the panel on Dec. 6 and has yet to respond.
There are risks for Hunter Biden in testifying in public.
He is currently under indictment for gun charges brought by special counsel David Weiss where he has pleaded not guilty.
But additional tax charges could also be handed down, and anything Hunter Biden testified to in a congressional hearing would be admissible in criminal trial.
Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell wrote to House Oversight Chairman James Comer
Melissa Cohen and Hunter Biden with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in Nantucket over the Thanksgiving holiday
Hunter and James were subpoenaed as part of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry in President Biden.
House Republicans are investigating whether there is enough evidence to launch a formal impeachment.
They say they have 12-15 more interviews to conduct.
They must then decide whether to vote on impeachment articles – and force moderates to make a politically fraught vote on whether or not to impeach the president.
Ending an impeachment inquiry without a vote, or with a failed vote, would be an embarrassing defeat for Republicans, and would effectively look like it cleared the president of any wrongdoing.