Hunter Biden is now said to be ready to testify publicly before the Republican-led investigative committee examining his father’s alleged influence dealings with, among others, China, according to a letter from his lawyers.
The committee is currently conducting an impeachment investigation of President Joe Biden and his possible involvement in his son’s foreign affairs. Republicans claim that Hunter Biden charged foreign clients tens of millions of dollars for meetings with his father during his time as vice president.
In a letter to the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, lawyer Abbe Lowell writes that Hunter Biden is prepared to “answer all relevant questions”, provided that the questioning is public.
The lawyer justifies the demand to testify publicly by stating that “closed sessions are used to manipulate facts and misinform the public”. The defense also notes that classified information should not generally be discussed during public hearings.
Joe Biden denies
The president himself denies knowledge of or involvement in his son’s business dealings but has been seen and photographed with several of his son’s clients.
Hunter Biden’s former business partner, Devon Archer, claimed in July this year that Hunter got his position on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma solely to guarantee the company’s influence over American politics.
On social media, such as X, both Donald Trump and Elon Musk have shown their support for Hunter Biden to be required to testify before Congress.
Raise your hand if you agree with Elon Musk saying Hunter Biden should TESTIFY in front of Congress?
YES OR NO?? pic.twitter.com/Y7TtspKR9Z
— Donald Trump 🇺🇸 News (@realDonaldJNews) November 29, 2023
Lengthy processes
During the year, both the Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee have presented evidence suggesting that the Biden family received about 20 million dollars through shell companies from businessmen and politicians in Ukraine, China, and Russia. Both committees have pointed out that about 150 of these transactions have been flagged as “suspicious” by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Suspicions that the Biden family’s private business activities have not always been above board, as well as the legal processes surrounding these, have been a long-standing issue since the presidential election in the fall of 2020. A film about the twists and turns of what can be described as a soap opera in shady dealings was released a couple of years ago.
The investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings continues to be a political issue in politically divided USA, where the question of openness and allegations of influence are central.
