Some believed Hunter Biden was getting a reprieve as House Republicans paused their vote to hold President Joe Biden's son in contempt of Congress.
But Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Newsmax on Thursday the pause opened a window to bring Hunter Biden in for a closed-door deposition in front of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, which he chairs, and the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
"If he can't answer questions, then it's pretty much case closed," Comer told "Eric Bolling The Balance" when asked if he was worried Hunter Biden would plead his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
"Everything that we've been speculating about the Biden crimes would be true," Comer said. "If he's innocent, he's got an opportunity to come in. No one thought Hunter Biden would ever sit in front of a congressional committee. We've had to fight Treasury, we've had to fight Secret Service, we've had to fight the FBI. And we won every step."
Hunter Biden was facing a contempt of Congress charge for defying a congressional subpoena to testify Dec. 13 as part of the impeachment inquiry into his father. As the contempt resolution was proceeding through the House, Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, signaled his client was willing to come in for a deposition. By pausing the contempt vote, House Republicans could negotiate with Lowell for a deposition date.
Hunter Biden, who has pleaded not guilty to federal gun and tax charges after a plea deal with the Department of Justice fell through, is scheduled to be deposed by the Oversight and Judiciary committees on Feb. 28, following interviews in the preceding weeks with Biden family members and associates. Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings are seen as central to the House's impeachment inquiry over an alleged influence peddling scheme involving the president and members of his family.
"This is an investigation of Joe Biden," Comer said. "We know Hunter Biden is a criminal. What we're trying to do is tie Joe Biden's involvement in this. We know through our interviews and our depositions and through the emails, through the laptop, and through the bank records, that Joe Biden has benefited in, participated with, and been involved with all of his family's shady business schemes.
"For us to get to the culprit here, which is Joe Biden, we have to bring Hunter Biden in for a deposition. If we don't bring him in, and we've got a date given by Abbe Lowell in a few weeks from today, then [Attorney General] Merrick Garland will never prosecute him."
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Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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