Hunter Biden defiantly appeared at the Capitol on Tuesday, rebuffing a subpoena from House Republicans and turning the spotlight on their persistent but seemingly futile attempt to link President Joe Biden to his son’s business activities. Despite weeks of back-and-forth, Hunter opted for a public statement, denouncing the House Republicans’ investigation.
In his statement, Hunter expressed frustration at being the target of what he called the “unrelenting Trump attack machine” and vehemently denied any financial involvement from his father in his business affairs. The move to defy the subpoena underscored Hunter’s rejection of the Republican narrative attempting to implicate President Biden in alleged improprieties.
“For six years, I’ve been the target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine shouting. ‘Where’s Hunter?’” Hunter Biden told reporters. “Well, here’s my answer. I am here.”
Hunter addressed key aspects of the GOP probes, vehemently denying any financial involvement from his father in his business dealings.
“Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business — Not as a practicing lawyer. Not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not my investment at all nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist,” he said. There’s no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen.”
The Republicans’ insistence on a closed-door deposition and their threat of contempt charges appeared to be part of a strategy to tie the President to his son’s legal troubles. However, Hunter’s public appearance and strong denial aimed at dispelling such connections signaled a significant setback for the Republicans’ ongoing efforts to establish a link between Joe Biden and the controversies surrounding Hunter.
By defying the subpoena, Hunter risks facing contempt of Congress charges. Representative Darrell Issa (r-Calif.) indicated an expectation of holding Hunter in contempt following his remarks.
“My expectation is that we will hold him in contempt,” Issa said shortly after Hunter Biden’s remarks.
This event unfolded against the backdrop of a broader legal and political context, where the Republicans’ attempts to draw connections between the President and his son’s business dealings appeared increasingly unsuccessful and futile.
