House GOP Moves to Hold Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress

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Facts

  • The Republican-led House Judiciary and Oversight Committees are planning to hold a markup session where they are expected to prepare a resolution to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas.1
  • The committees subpoenaed Hunter Biden, son of US Pres. Joe Biden, for a closed-door deposition on Dec. 13 as part of an impeachment inquiry into his father’s foreign business dealings, but Hunter said he would only testify publicly. The House refused his request, and Hunter instead delivered a pre-written statement outside of the US Capitol building.2
  • The Oversight Committee will hold a markup meeting next Wednesday to prepare the contempt resolution, with the entire House then set to vote on the resolution at a later time.3
  • Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a press release that their investigation “has produced significant evidence suggesting President Biden knew of, participated in, and benefitted from his family cashing in the Biden name.” They added that Hunter defied two subpoenas requesting his testimony on the evidence.4
  • However, Hunter’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, accused the Republican lawmakers of playing politics, insisting that the younger Biden has 'offered to answer all their proper questions.'5
  • Wednesday’s markup meeting comes as the GOP ramps up its impeachment inquiry. The House GOP will hold a closed-door transcribed interview with Georges Bergès, a New York City art gallery owner who sold Hunter Biden’s art, next week. Republicans accuse Bergès of selling Biden’s art to supporters seeking to ingratiate themselves with the administration.6

Sources: 1Forbes, 2FOX News, 3ABC News, 4The Post Millennial, 5CBS and 6NBC.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by American Greatness. Hunter Biden believes that he can continue to use his family name to avoid personal responsibility, but House Republicans are holding him accountable for defying two legitimate congressional subpoenas. There's ample evidence that Hunter and his father made a fortune selling political influence, and the Bidens must be willing to answer to the American people.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Huffington Post. Republicans have spent years peddling baseless conspiracy theories about Pres. Joe Biden and his son, yet they have no evidence to show the public. Instead, they are resorting to political games with a sham impeachment inquiry and issuing bad-faith subpoenas. If the GOP actually cared about discovering the Bidens' so-called corruption, they would not have rejected Hunter Biden’s offer to testify publicly.

Predictions