Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has indicated a willingness to submit to a closed-door deposition before Congress, contingent on the issuance of new subpoenas. This development, as reported by RadarOnline.com, represents a pivotal change in Hunter Biden's stance, potentially impacting ongoing investigations led by Republican members of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees.
Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden's attorney, conveyed this altered position in a letter addressed to Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Lowell's communication underscores the strategic shift: "If you issue a new proper subpoena, now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition," he wrote.
Previously, Hunter Biden had shown a preference for public testimony, defying a subpoena for a private deposition last month. This defiance led to a Republican-initiated resolution to hold him in contempt of Congress, which is set for a full House vote soon. Lowell, in his letter, challenged the original subpoenas' validity, issued in November, citing the House's formal vote in December to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Responding to this overture, Comer and Jordan, in a joint statement, defended the legality of their initial subpoenas while expressing their resolve to proceed with contempt charges "for now." They stressed their determination to avoid further stunts or delays from Hunter Biden, emphasizing, "The American people will not tolerate, and the House will not provide, special treatment for the Biden family."
The legal intricacies of this situation are further complicated by historical precedents and political maneuvers. The Trump-era Office of Legal Counsel's opinion, cited by Lowell, argued that an impeachment inquiry without a House vote was unconstitutional. This opinion was a point of contention during former President Trump's impeachment inquiry, initiated without an initial vote by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and later mirrored by current Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in his 2023 probes into the Biden family.
Hunter Biden's willingness to engage in a closed-door session, as opposed to a public hearing, marks a strategic shift in his legal approach. This comes after a notable appearance at a markup of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, where he made a surprise appearance to emphasize his readiness for public testimony.
The Oversight Committee, led by Comer, maintains its pursuit of crafting legislation to combat "influence peddling" by family members of high-ranking officials. In this light, Hunter Biden's testimony could provide critical insights into the complexities of such relationships.
House Democrats, represented by Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), have urged Republicans to accept Hunter Biden's offer and halt the contempt proceedings. Raskin's statement highlights the potential for moving forward constructively, suggesting a path to resolution.
As the situation evolves, Hunter Biden's agreement to testify in a closed session under a new subpoena may offer a turning point in the ongoing investigations. The response from House Republicans, balancing legal formalities with their investigative goals, will shape the trajectory of this high-profile inquiry. The coming days are set to unfold with heightened scrutiny as both sides navigate the legal and political complexities of this unprecedented situation.
