WASHINGTON – Hunter Biden relented Friday and agreed to appear for a deposition in the House impeachment inquiry against his father, moving to avoid a vote on contempt of Congress charges as soon as next week.
Hunter, 53, waved the white flag in a letter to Congress from his attorney, Abby Rowell.
“If you issue a new and appropriate subpoena, Mr. Biden will respond to a hearing or deposition as a formally authorized impeachment inquiry is underway. I intend to accept such subpoenas,” Lowell wrote.
The House Judiciary Committee and Oversight Committee passed separate resolutions Wednesday holding Hunter in contempt. after the eldest son avoided an interview scheduled for Dec. 13, infuriating Republicans and disrupting oversight hearings.
Contempt of Congress carries a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail, but if the full chamber approves sanctions, the decision to prosecute would be made by the Justice Department, appointed by President Biden.
It was not immediately clear Friday whether Republicans would shelve the contempt charges.
Lowell's letter comes after highly paid lawyers and other Democrats had previously argued that Hunter could not participate in the deposition because he prefers to testify publicly. This reflects a major change in his attitude.
The new communication comes as the House of Representatives had not voted in November to formally launch an impeachment inquiry, even though the Oversight and Judiciary committees have subpoena powers in their own right. They claim the original subpoena was flawed.
Republicans said they welcomed hearings with Hunter Biden, who regularly implicated his father in foreign business relationships, but it would be led by committee staff to dig into the facts to establish an investigative record. He said it would only happen after a private deposition was taken. .
More outlandish Republican panelists deviate sharply from the script during impeachment inquiry hearings, while former President Donald Trump and his family also try to flip the script by claiming they have ethical dilemmas. The cooperative efforts of the Democratic Party drew attention.
