House GOP moves to hold Hunter Biden in contempt

The House Oversight Committee announced Friday it will move next week to hold Hunter Biden in contempt Congress for refusing to submit to an interview under subpoena in his father’s impeachment inquiry. 

The committee’s move under Chairman James Comer sets up a high stakes showdown in the shadows of the 2024 election where Joe Biden is seeking re-election. 

“Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,” the committee announced on the social media platform.

"Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law. @JudiciaryGOP will also hold a markup,” it added. 

The markup session where the committee will consider a contempt resolution is scheduled to take place next Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 10:00AM.

This resolution marks the latest step in the House Republicans' impeachment inquiry into Hunter Biden's father, President Joe Biden. The Oversight Committee has pursued evidence that the Biden family used influence peddling to advance their financial interests while Joe Biden was Vice President.

“Our investigation has produced significant evidence suggesting President Biden knew of, participated in, and benefitted from his family cashing in on the Biden name. We planned to question Hunter Biden about this record of evidence, but he blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas, choosing to read a prepared statement outside of the Capitol instead of appearing for testimony as required," Oversight Chairman Comer  and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan said in a joint statement.

"Hunter Biden’s willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name," they continued.

Last month Hunter Biden appeared on Capitol Hill with his lawyers to announce that he would not comply with the congressional subpoena, unless the hearing was held in public. He also said he is going to "make sure that the House committee's illegitimate investigations of my family do not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence and lies."