First son Hunter Biden has offered to testify publicly before the House Oversight Committee investigating his business dealings.
Hunter, 53, suggested appearing on Dec. 13 in a letter sent to the panel, obtained by NBC News.
He was subpoenaed by House Republicans earlier this month, and was originally called to appear in a closed-transcript interview.
But his lawyer suggested the closed-door interview would be used to manipulate the facts.
“We have seen you use closed sessions to manipulate, even distort facts and misinform the public. Therefore, we propose to open the door,” his lawyer Abbe Lowell said in the letter.
President Biden’s brother James, 73, has also been subpoenaed. It is unclear whether the hearing will remain behind closed doors.
Hunter Biden will testify in a public hearing on Dec. 12, 2023. REUTERS
Both Hunter and James are accused of leveraging their connections to the president during eight years as former President Barack Obama’s vice president and for years afterward to negotiate business deals — including in ventures involving China and Ukraine.
“The House Oversight Committee has followed the money and built a record of evidence revealing how Joe Biden knew, was involved and benefited from his family’s influence peddling scheme,” said committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) as he announced the subpoena. earlier this month.
“Now, the House Oversight Committee will bring in members of the Biden family and their associates to question them on this record of evidence.”
“Unlike the many lies that President Biden has told the American people about his family’s business schemes, bank records don’t lie,” Comer said.
“These records reveal how the Biden family sold Joe Biden around the world to benefit the Biden family, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of US interests.”
“The committee is investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House,” Comer and Jordan wrote. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), whose panel is part of the impeachment inquiry, wrote to Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, that his testimony is needed to determine whether the president should be impeached.
“The committee is investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House,” Comer and Jordan wrote.
“Your client is also in a position to provide information regarding whether… Joe Biden, as Vice President and/or President: (1) takes any official action or implements any change in government policy because of money or other things of value given to him or his family, including whether he asked then-Vice President Biden to intervene in Ukraine’s investigation into companies paying your clients large sums of money; (2) abuses his position of public trust by giving access to foreign interests to him and his office in exchange for payments to his family or him; or (3) abuses his position of public trust by knowingly participating in a scheme to enrich himself or his family by giving the impression to foreign interests that they will receive access to him and his office in exchange for payments to his family or him,” the letter added.
President Biden’s brother James, 73, has also been subpoenaed. It is unclear whether the hearing will remain behind closed doors. AP
“This deposition will allow your client to provide answers about the services he and others provided in return for the millions of dollars the Committee has identified and whether they are connected to public office held by President Biden.”
The subpoena came after Comer released subpoenaed bank records showing that James Biden paid his brother $40,000 in 2017 and $200,000 in 2018 using checks labeled “loan repayment” that the Republican says directly implicates the president in benefiting from foreign affairs.
The Oversight chairman said the 2017 sum was from “laundered” Chinese-origin funds and the 2018 payment from James’ receipt of $200,000 from a troubled US hospital supplier – which the first brother promised to connect with Middle Eastern investors.
The White House said there was evidence that the transfers were indeed loans, although Comer aides said the money transferred to James Biden actually came from a law firm linked to some of Biden’s relatives, clouding the picture.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
