Hunter contempt hearing booked — as Republicans eye Joe Biden impeachment
WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee will convene next week to debate holding Hunter Biden in criminal contempt of Congress — as Republicans investigate President Biden’s involvement in the first son’s refusal to comply with two deposition subpoenas last month.
Hunter, 53, said in a speech outside the Capitol Dec. 13 that he would not honor Oversight and Judiciary Committee summonses to give testimony in the impeachment inquiry into alleged Biden family corruption — claiming “my father was not financially involved in my business” despite evidence the now-president interacted with his son’s associates from China, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.
Joe Biden “was familiar with what Hunter was going to say,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed to reporters that same day — fueling Republican demands for information on the president’s role in what they characterized as obstruction of Congress.
The Oversight Committee announced the Jan. 10 contempt hearing on X.
“Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,” the committee’s GOP majority said. “Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law. @JudiciaryGOP will also hold a markup.”
The White House and Hunter Biden’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Contempt of Congress can amount to a crime punishable by a minimum of 30 days in jail per charge.
Two former advisers to then-President Donald Trump — Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro — were prosecuted by the Biden Justice Department on contempt charges for refusing to testify to the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The House of Representatives formalized the impeachment inquiry, which launched Sept. 12 without a floor vote, just hours after Hunter refused to comply with the subpoenas — arguing the vote would strengthen Congress’ power to enforce demands for records and testimony in court.