The House Rules Committee is expected to consider a resolution charging Hunter Biden with contempt of Congress, and a full House floor vote could be held as early as next week on whether to recommend the eldest son for prosecution.
The House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday passed a resolution charging Hunter Biden with contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a Congressional subpoena as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
The House Judiciary Committee vote was 23-14. The House Oversight Committee vote was 25-21.
House committee formally recommends detention of Hunter Biden for contempt of Congress
The resolution is currently scheduled for consideration in the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, January 16th at 4:00 p.m. The committee will set the conditions for floor debate and prepare resolutions.
It is unclear at this time whether each committee's resolution will be considered on the floor for a full vote, or whether the House Rules Committee will combine both resolutions into one for consideration on a vote of contempt of Congress. .
Hunter Biden (center) and attorneys Abby Lowell (right) and Kevin Morris (left) speak at the House Oversight and Accountability Committee's “Contempt of Congress'' in the Rayburn Building. A resolution recommending to the House of Representatives that the House of Commons discover,” arrived at the markup. Wednesday, January 10, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
One source told Fox News Digital that the full House vote on whether to hold Hunter Biden in contempt could come as early as Wednesday.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, said the committee had taken “unprecedented action to insult a private citizen who is prepared to provide all the information the committee seeks.” He strongly criticized this move.
Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at the House Oversight Committee Markup with attorneys Abby Lowell and Kevin Morris. Biden and his lawyers ultimately left the markup session before the resolution was voted on.
Hunter Biden (center) and his attorneys Abby Lowell (right) and Kevin Morris (left) at the Rayburn Building for a resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Robert Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress. Leaving House Oversight and Accountability Committee Markup entitled. Wednesday, January 10, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
Hunter Biden had offered to testify publicly ahead of a subpoenaed deposition on December 13th. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) rejected his request, emphasizing that the eldest son would receive no special treatment. He pointed out the dozens of other witnesses who appeared in court: They were forced into interviews and depositions. Comer and Jordan promised to release Hunter Biden's deposition.
However, the eldest son defied the subpoena, ignored the offer, and made a public statement outside the Capitol. At the time, he said, his father “was not financially involved in my business.”
Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) presents the House Oversight and Accountability Committee entitled “Inappropriate Litigation: Oversight of Third-Party Litigation Funding” on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in the Rayburn Building. Arrive at the hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
Comer said Wednesday that Hunter Biden “blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas.”
“Hunter Biden's willful refusal to comply with the committee's subpoena constitutes a criminal act,” Comer said, “and is in contempt of Congress.” It is legitimate to send him to Japan.”
House Republican Hunter Biden says he 'violated federal law' by ignoring subpoena, prepares contempt resolution
“I'm not going to give Hunter Biden any special treatment because of his last name,” Comer said. “All Americans must be treated equally under the law, and that includes the Biden family.”
U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2023. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the White House declined to answer questions about whether Hunter Biden was informed in advance that he would appear in Wednesday's House Oversight Committee markup session.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “Here's what I'll say: Hunter, as you all know, he's a civilian and a member of this White House.'' Not,” he said. . “He makes his own decisions, like he did today regarding his response to Congress.”
Hunter Biden and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. (Getty Images)
She went on to say that she would refer “any further questions or any other questions about this process” to Hunter Biden's attorney.
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Asked again if the White House had been informed in advance, Jean-Pierre said: “I have nothing. I have nothing more to share.”
Last month, Comer and Jordan expanded their investigation. president biden He said he was involved in his son's “scheme” to defy a subpoena for a deposition, which “could constitute an impeachable offense.”
