Hunter Biden has already been indicted by a special counsel on multiple federal criminal charges related to gun ownership and tax avoidance. And today, House Republicans will take the unprecedented step of moving forward with holding President Joe Biden’s son in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena.
But the process isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.
The House Judiciary and Oversight Committees will separately mark up a report today laying out the GOP argument for holding Hunter Biden in contempt. Both committees will then recommend that the House vote on a contempt resolution. That resolution could come up for a floor vote as soon as next week, we’re told.
The resolution seeks to refer Hunter Biden to the Justice Department for criminal contempt of Congress. It would also authorize the House to sue the younger Biden in civil court to compel his testimony.
The contempt resolution is the latest example of how the GOP impeachment investigation into the president has focused on Biden’s family members. Republicans are searching for any proof that Biden’s actions as vice president were improperly affected by his family’s business dealings.
To date, the inquiry hasn’t found any conclusive evidence of impeachable offenses.
Remember: The House Judiciary and Oversight Committees subpoenaed Hunter Biden in November to appear for a December private deposition. Hunter Biden showed up to the Capitol on the day of his scheduled closed-door interview. But he thumbed his nose at the House GOP, declining to testify privately and offering to participate in a public hearing instead.
Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) insisted they wouldn’t allow the targets of the investigation to dictate their probe and vowed to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress.
James Biden update: Comer told us in the Capitol Tuesday night that “we’re still trying to schedule a date” to interview James Biden, the president’s brother. “I’m still hopeful that we’ll hear from him,” Comer added.
Comer also told us Oversight staff also have an appointment to interview former Hunter Biden associate Tony Bobulinski in a number of weeks.
