House Republicans say Hunter Biden trial is only the beginning of accountability

The House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden say that Hunter Biden's conviction on three federal gun charges Tuesday is a good first step, but should only be the beginning of accountability for the Biden family. 

"Today’s verdict is a step toward accountability but until the Department of Justice investigates everyone involved in the Bidens’ corrupt influence peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden family, it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden," House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a post to X after the verdict. 

Comer is referring to the millions in payments Hunter Biden received from foreign sources, including from Ukraine and China, that his committee uncovered in its investigation. Bank records show that some money from those payments ended up in Joe Biden's bank account before the former vice president decided to run for president. 

Jason Smith, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, echoed Comer's sentiments, emphasizing that, were it not for the IRS whistleblowers who came forward last year, it is possible Hunter Biden would not have faced any accountability at all. 

"If it were not for the IRS whistleblowers coming forward to the Ways and Means Committee, Hunter Biden would have never faced accountability for the crimes he has committed," Smith said in a post to X. "Today’s verdict is a step towards ensuring equal application of the law, regardless of one's last name." 

It is no secret what House Republicans believe the next steps should be. Last week, the three chairmen leading the probe from the Oversight, Ways and Means, and Judiciary Committees filed criminal referrals with the Justice Department for both Hunter and James Biden for allegedly making false statements to their committee's during impeachment inquiry depositions. 

"We’ve caught President Biden’s son and brother making blatant lies to Congress in what appears to be a concerted effort to hide Joe Biden’s involvement in his family’s schemes," the letter attached to the referral reads. 

The criminal referrals are likely to face roadblocks at the Justice Department, which is under the authority of President Biden’s handpicked attorney general in Garland.

The agency has hindered aspects of the House Republicans’ investigation thus far, including by refusing to supply an audio recording of President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur over Biden mishandling of classified documents.