Comer invites Biden to hearing to address gap between public statements, impeachment evidence

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer sent a letter to the White House on Thursday inviting President Biden to appear publicly for a hearing in April.

Comer also asked Biden to answer a series of questions in writing addressing the inconsistencies between his public statements and evidence gathering during the impeachment inquiry, both from bank records and witness testimony.

“You have repeatedly denied playing any role in your family’s business activities, but the Committee has amassed evidence – including bank records and witness testimony—that wholly contradicts your position on these matters,” Comer wrote.

“Additionally, the White House has taken a position hostile to the Committee’s investigation and refuses to release certain information or make available witnesses to testify regarding issues relevant to the ongoing impeachment inquiry currently authorized by the full House of Representatives,” he continued.

You can read the letter below:

Comer summarized the findings of the House probe, including its account of $24 million flowing to Biden family members from foreign sources and apparent lack of tangible work product being offered by Hunter Biden’s businesses. Some bank records suggest funds originating from a Chinese company ended up in Joe Biden’s bank account via presidential brother James Biden.

The letter comes after the impeachment inquiry held its first public hearing last week where witnesses contradicted President Biden's public claims.

"Two of those hearing witnesses have stated you participated in schemes to provide access to your or others’ offices in exchange for payments to your family: Mr. Tony Bobulinski and Mr. Jason Galanis," Comer wrote. 

President Biden has repeatedly denied any involvement or knowledge of his son’s or other family members’ business dealings, both before and after becoming president.

“First of all, I have never discussed with my son, or my brother, or anyone else, anything having to do with their businesses, period,” then-candidate Biden famously said on the campaign trail in August 2019.

“In light of the yawning gap between your public statements and the evidence assembled by the Committee, as well as the White House’s obstruction, it is in the best interest of the American people for you to answer questions from Members of Congress directly, and I hereby invite you to do so,” Comer concluded.

The contains detailed questions for President Biden and his staff to answer in written format surrounding his previous claims about family business in China, Ukraine and Russia as well as the alleged loans he provided to his brother, which warranted the substantial checks marked as “loan repayments.”