“I came here today to provide the committee with one irrefutable fact that should end this investigation's false premise,” he said, according to a copy of the statement obtained by The Washington Post. “That means I don't involve my father in my business.” . “Not when I was practicing as a lawyer, not when I was involved in domestic and international investments and transactions, not when I was a member of a board of directors, not when I was active as an artist. Never. “
House Republicans have struggled to uncover solid evidence that Joe Biden profited from or was involved in his family's business activities, an allegation that is at the center of the presidential investigation. Hunter Biden's testimony follows an appearance by President Biden's brother James, who testified last week that Joe Biden is not involved in his own business. Several other former colleagues of Hunter and James Biden have made similar statements, all under oath.
Hunter Biden's appearances on the Oversight and Judiciary Committees have so far been mostly impeachable despite Republican efforts to prove the president improperly benefited from his family's businesses. This could give Republicans a final chance to change the course of the impeachment inquiry, which has been made public. Democrats argued that the record makes a strong case for halting the effort.
“This has been a comedy of errors from the beginning,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said ahead of the hearing. He urged Republicans to “fold up the circus tent” and end the impeachment inquiry.
“We have fallen far short of constitutional standards,” Raskin said of impeachment. “No one on their side, even a civilian, can say anything that Joe Biden considers to be any criminal act.” It stipulates that a person can be impeached and removed from office for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Republican leaders in charge of the investigation said they found information suggesting the president actually profited from his family's overseas business dealings and used his position to help them. ing.
After the first hour of Hunter Biden's testimony, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers came out of the hearing room to explain what happened.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R.C.) said Hunter Biden did not invoke the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination during questioning, but reiterated that he could not recall specific events. said.
“Hunter Biden is both rebellious and dishonest,” Mace said. “Some of his testimony is in direct conflict with other witnesses.” She did not go into detail about which witnesses are who or what aspects are in conflict. .
Hunter Biden's team has often expressed frustration that so few Democrats come to their defense, but large groups of Democrats stood at microphones during breaks, sometimes nervous. Although he used a variety of metaphors that made sense, he did exactly that.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) called the hearing an “exploration of deep-sea fishing,” and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) called it “4th and 20th on its own” for Republicans. He said it was equivalent. 10, and they don't have Patrick Mahomes. ”
Congressman Dan Goldman of New York agreed. “The first hour of this much-anticipated testimony established what is a haphazard and bogus impeachment inquiry,” he said.
Hunter Biden said in his opening statement Wednesday that the credibility of several witnesses cited by Republicans has since been undermined, including Alexander Smirnov, who was recently indicted on charges of lying to the FBI about the Bidens. he pointed out. He also submitted his two-page resume as an exhibit, claiming he had the necessary qualifications for the job or business opportunity he was pursuing.
Hunter Biden said, “For over a year, your committee has pursued my father in a partisan political pursuit and hounded me.” “You have been trafficking in innuendo, distortion, and sensationalism while ignoring the clear and convincing evidence staring you back. There is no evidence to support any conspiracy, because there is none.”
Hunter Biden, who admitted that he was at one point a serious drug addict, said he had his own failures and shortcomings, but he should reflect on himself, not his father.
“Let me be clear: I have made mistakes in my life and have wasted opportunities and privileges that have been given to me. I know that. I am responsible for that. And I will make amends. I intend to,” he said. “But my mistakes and shortcomings are my own, not my father's. My father dedicated his life to public service and only tried to make this country a better place to live.”
He said his father was by his side while he battled addiction and “saved my life.”
“Thanks to his love and support, I was able to get sober, stay sober, and rebuild my life as a father, husband, son, and brother,” he said. “Instead of being a loving and supportive parent, what he got was a barrage of hateful conspiracy theories that created this sham impeachment inquiry and continues to fuel relentless personal attacks against him and me.”
Hunter Biden arrived at the Capitol shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, pulled up in a black Suburban and was joined by his attorney, Abby Lowell.
Prior to the hearing, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said that Hunter Biden's associates had not allowed Joe Biden to attend business meetings or put him on speakerphone. He outlined some of the past interviews he said he had used and had conversations with. Drinking coffee with his son's friends.
“He is a key witness in our investigation into President Joe Biden,” Comer said.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) pointed to the dangers of public hearings and the possibility that nothing revelatory will come out of them.
“Thank you for bringing up something that may not seem like a big deal,” he told Fox Business, “or a great opportunity to get to the bottom of this very complex plan that the Biden family has been working on for decades.” It was,” he said.
