Comer & Jordan: No Special Treatment for Hunter Biden - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

Chairmen reiterate Hunter Biden must appear for deposition, then public hearing

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) today wrote to Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, reiterating Hunter Biden must comply with the committees’ lawful subpoenas and first appear for a deposition on December 13, 2023, and then a public hearing at a later date.

“We appreciate your confirmation that Mr. Biden is available and willing to testify on December 13. Pursuant to the terms of the subpoenas, the Rules of the House of Representatives, and the respective Committee rules, this testimony will occur initially in a deposition setting, as has been the consistent practice of Committees of the House of Representatives in recent Congresses—during both Republican and Democrat majorities—as well as these Committees during this inquiry. We also appreciate your confirmation that Mr. Biden is willing to testify at a public hearing. We look forward to his testimony in a hearing at the appropriate time,” wrote Chairmen Comer and Jordan.

The Supreme Court has recognized that Congress has a “broad and indispensable” power to conduct oversight. The House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Judiciary, and Ways and Means require Hunter Biden’s testimony to inform potential legislative reforms relating to federal ethics and financial disclosure laws. In addition, the Committees are investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden based on evidence received to date showing that President Biden knew about, participated in, and benefited from his family cashing in on the Biden name.

“Mr. Biden’s attempt to avoid sitting for a deposition pursuant to the terms of the subpoenas—by offering instead to testify at a public hearing—amounts to a demand that he receive special treatment from the Committees. Mr. Biden will not succeed in attempting to dictate to the Committees how they conduct their investigation. The subpoenas Mr. Biden has received compel him to appear before the Committees for a deposition; they are not mere suggestions open to Mr. Biden’s interpretation or preference. Several Justice Department, FBI, and IRS officials have testified in transcribed interview and deposition settings, as has Devon Archer, Mr. Biden’s business associate. Notably, other Hunter Biden business associates are also cooperating with our subpoenas and not demanding a public hearing first. Mr. Biden seems to believe that he should be treated differently than other witnesses before the Committees. Nonetheless, if it helps to alleviate your stated concerns, you should be aware that, consistent with House and Committee rules and practice, we intend to videotape the deposition and release the deposition transcript soon after its completion,” continued Chairmen Comer and Jordan.

Read the letter to Abbe Lowell here.