Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Newsmax Wednesday that Hunter Biden's surprise appearance on Capitol Hill earlier in the day at a hearing where Republican lawmakers were pushing for a vote to hold him in contempt of Congress is "crazy" and "cowardly."
"I mean, let's face it: A congressional subpoena is not a suggestion," Carter said during an appearance on Newsmax's "American Agenda." "It is to be followed. And we are a country of laws, and he should be following the law.
"For him to show up like this, as I say, it's just cowardly — and then not to participate on top of that," he continued. "You know, there're not two sets of laws here in America. There's not a set of laws for everyone else and then a set of laws for the Bidens. All laws apply to everyone, whether your last name is Biden or not."
Hunter Biden reportedly entered the hearing and sat quietly in the gallery with his attorney Abbe Lowell, creating a stir, with members of the House Oversight Committee arguing among themselves and admonishing him for the unexpected appearance.
"I'm looking at you, Hunter Biden," said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. "You are not above the law. Hunter Biden, you are too afraid to show up for a deposition. And you still are today."
The younger Biden had been subpoenaed by House Republicans to appear for a private deposition on Dec. 13 as part of their impeachment inquiry of his father, President Joe Biden. He said he would be willing to testify publicly; but lawmakers rejected that offer, saying he needed to be privately deposed in addition to any public testimony he might offer.
On the day of the scheduled deposition, Hunter Biden appeared outside the Capitol building and spoke with reporters but did not appear for the closed-door testimony.
House Republicans allege that the president and his family improperly profited from an influence-peddling scheme from the years when Biden served as vice president in the Obama administration. The White House and Hunter Biden have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
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Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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