Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at Congress amid debate over contempt impeachment | International

Republicans were preparing to practice one of their favorite games this Wednesday: beating the President of the United States through his son, Hunter Biden. What they did not expect was that Hunter himself would appear before the House of Representatives committee that was debating impeaching him in contempt. With the effect of his rebellion, it shows that he is available to appear in public and provide explanations as needed, but not “in the cellar” behind closed doors so that his words can be manipulated, as a Democratic spokesman put it.

Hunter Biden’s surprise appearance grabbed all the spotlights and stunned Republicans. They wanted to present him as someone who refused to attend the summons and who was hiding, but it turns out that he wasn’t hiding: he was there. Democrats, prepared for the occasion, shot back at Republican attempts to charge him with contempt, saying they would also vote in his favor if at the same time numerous Republican officials and lawmakers who ignored similar subpoenas to the commission investigating the attacks . Capitol.

In addition, Jared Moskowitz, a Democratic spokesman, recalled that the chairman of the commission, James Comer, had invited Biden to attend his election either open or closed. When Comer, visibly nervous, tried to deny he had said that, Democrats unfurled a large poster with quotation marks of his words from last October 31 when he gave a choice between a closed-door appearance or testimony.

“I am hearing about the fear of the witness to appear before the commission (…). It is interesting. here is He’s not too scared,” Moskowitz said. The Democrats offered Hunter Biden to be present at the time and take all questions publicly, but the Republicans declined. A mess arose in the commission. With their strategy, the Democrats dismantled the campaign on behalf of Biden’s son that the Republicans mounted. The president’s son was in the room for less than half an hour. He stood up as Marjorie Taylor Green, Trump’s loyal shield, was about to intervene, saying he was a “coward” not to stand by and watch her insult him without being able to respond. Hunter’s departure stole the spotlight from Taylor Green.

His conversational success won’t prevent Hunter Biden from being accused of contempt. If the commission, with a Republican majority, approves the resolution against them as expected, it will go to the full House for consideration. And if the House votes to hold Hunter Biden in contempt, it will be up to the Justice Department to prosecute him.

“It is clear that Republicans are not interested in knowing the facts or they would allow Hunter to testify publicly,” Abe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, said in a statement Friday. “Instead, House Republicans continue to play politics by asking for an unprecedented contempt proposal against someone who has offered to answer all of their valid questions since the first request.”

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Hunter Biden was called to Congress to testify behind closed doors on December 13. He showed up at the Capitol doors and said he wouldn’t do it. At the time of his summons, moreover, the commission to investigate the President for possible political process (impeachment) had not even been approved by the full House, so the obligation to comply with its requirements was less clear.

The president’s son said in December that he refused to appear behind closed doors to avoid “distortions, tampered evidence and lies” in “illegal investigations” by House committees. “There is no justice or decency in what these Republicans are doing. They have repeatedly lied about every aspect of my personal and professional life, so much so that their lies have become false facts that many people believe,” he said that day. said

Hunter Biden is charged with three felonies in Delaware for the illegal purchase and possession of a gun while under the influence of drugs and nine others in California for tax fraud, after a plea deal he was willing to accept was derailed. Minor crimes that would not have led to his imprisonment.

“For six years, MAGA Republicans (an acronym for Donald Trump’s slogan, Make America Great Again), they have questioned my character, invaded my privacy, attacked my wife, my children, my family and my friends. They made fun of my struggle with addiction. They have belittled my recovery and tried to dehumanize me to shame and hurt my father, who has dedicated his entire life to public service. For six years, I have been the target of Trump’s relentless attack machine, ‘Where’s the Predator?’ Well, here’s my answer: I’m here,” he said later. Today, without speaking, the message was the same: He was there.

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