Hunter Biden told Republicans in the House of Representatives on Tuesday that he will testify publicly every day in December after being issued a subpoena for a closed-door interview.
“We will take you up on your offer,” Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell wrote to House Oversight Chairman James Comer.
Then Lowell imposed a condition on Hunter’s testimony: “But — rather than subscribing to your veiled, one-sided lawsuit — he will appear at a public hearing of the Oversight and Accountability Committee.”
Hunter Biden has gone on the offensive in the indictment against him and his latest salvo escalates the battle he faces with Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Lowell blasted House Republicans for using taxpayer money in their “empty investigation,” noting that: “A public process would prevent selective leaks, doctored transcripts, falsified evidence or one-sided press statements.”
Hunter Biden – seen above with his wife Melissa Cohen – offered to testify publicly before Congress in December
He added that Hunter was willing to appear on Dec. 13 — the date House Republicans requested — or “any date in December that we can arrange.”
“The only thing you will learn is that your accusations are baseless. But the American people should see that for themselves,” Lowell wrote.
House Republicans are investigating Hunter’s business dealings and have accused President Joe Biden of personally benefiting from his son’s use of his connections. The Biden family has denied any wrongdoing 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 December 6 and has not yet responded.
There are risks for Hunter Biden in testifying in public.
He is currently indicted on weapons charges brought by Special Prosecutor David Weiss, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
But additional tax levies could also be imposed, and anything Hunter Biden testified about at a Congressional hearing would be admissible in the 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 during the Thanksgiving holiday
Hunter and James were subpoenaed as part of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are investigating whether there is enough evidence to initiate formal impeachment proceedings.
They say they still have twelve to fifteen interviews to conduct.
They must then decide whether to vote on articles of impeachment — forcing moderates to cast a politically charged vote on whether 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 actually look like it would absolve the president of any wrongdoing.
Hunter Biden has gone on the offensive after being hit with three federal charges related to his 2018 gun purchase and facing an investigation into his taxes. He has sued the IRS for releasing his tax information, which he claims should have remained confidential.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are also investigating whether politics influenced decisions to file charges against Hunter Biden after a plea deal with federal prosecutors fell through.
US Attorney David Weiss and Hunter’s attorneys reached a plea deal in July that called for the president’s son to plead guilty in Delaware federal court to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his taxes in exchange for a probation recommendation from prosecutors.
A separate weapons crime charge for illegally possessing the special Colt Cobra .38 pistol would have been dropped within two years if Biden had complied with the terms of what is known as a diversion agreement.
The plea deal, which Republicans labeled a “sweetheart deal,” fell apart in a Delaware courtroom as the president began questioning some of its details, including one that would theoretically protect Hunter Biden from other tax-related crimes during the same period. .
Prosecutors said that would not be the case. Hunter’s lawyers said yes. The agreement fell apart. The three federal charges related to the gun purchases were announced earlier this month.
Two of the charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while the third carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney David Weiss leaves the interview before members of the House Judiciary Committee in early November
Weiss told the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month that politics played “no role” in his investigation of Hunter Biden and that he has never been deterred from filing charges by the Justice Department or other federal agencies.
That testimony took place behind closed doors and was part of House Republicans’ investigation into Weiss, after two IRS whistleblowers alleged Weiss had been stiffed in his investigation of the president’s son.
“I am and have been the decision maker in this case,” Weiss said, according to his prepared remarks.
