Hunter Biden arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday, not to comply with his subpoena and be deposed at the House Oversight Committee, but to hold a press conference and again offer to testify publicly. He maintained that his father, President Biden “was not financially involved” in his business, and saying there is “no evidence because it did not happen.”
Hunter Biden offer to testify publicly is a de facto rejection of the GOP demand that he appear Wednesday for the closed-door deposition he was subpoenaed for. That deposition was scheduled to take place Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
Instead, he delivered a public statement on Capitol Hill Wednesday, blasting “MAGA” Republicans who have “invaded” his privacy, “attacked” his family, and “ridiculed my struggle with addiction.”
“They belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass my father, who has devoted his entire life to public service,” the president’s son said. “For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here.”
Hunter Biden added that “my father was not financially involved in my business,” saying he was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the U.S.
“No evidence to support that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen,” Hunter Biden said.
The White House and President Biden have maintained that the president was “never in business” with his son. Biden has also said he never spoke to his son about his business dealings, but evidence–like email records and testimony from Hunter Biden’s former business partners–presented by House Republicans in their investigations seem to contradict those statements.
The president’s son went on to blast House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., who are co-leading the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
Hunter Biden said the chairmen had manipulated evidence and misstated personal information.
“Republicans have lied over and over about every aspect about my personal and professional life,” Hunter Biden said. “So much so, that the false facts are believed by too many people.”
He added: “They have taken the light of my dad’s love for and presented it as darkness. They have no shame.”
Hunter Biden said House Republicans have “engaged in unprecedented political interference.”
“Yet here I am, Mr. Chairmen—taking up your offer…I’ve chosen,” he said. “I am here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions.”
He added: “Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say.”
“What are they afraid of? I’m here. I’m ready,” Hunter Biden said.
The president’s son then left Capitol Hill.
Comer and Jordan last week threatened to hold Biden in contempt of Congress if he defied the subpoena and failed to appear for his deposition.
Comer and Jordan had vowed to release the full transcript of Hunter’s deposition if he did participate. They also vowed to then schedule a public hearing for the president’s son to testify in a setting for the American people to hear from him directly.
Hunter’s failure to appear comes as House Republicans seek to vote on a resolution that would formalize the impeachment inquiry against the president.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.