Hunter Biden appeared at the Capitol on Wednesday before lawmakers and investigators from the House Oversight and Judiciary Committee to deny several unsubstantiated claims that Republicans have presented as key evidence in President Biden's impeachment inquiry. did. House Republicans have struggled to prove that the president profited unfairly from his family's businesses, and even some members of the conference have expressed skepticism about the investigation. The president's brother James testified to lawmakers last week that Joe Biden had no involvement in his business dealings.
Hunter Biden testified in 2017 that he never introduced or involved his father in any business with the Chinese energy company he worked for, defending his close relationship with his father and seeking to protect customers. He clarified that he never called his father on his behalf.
“All I know is this: My father was never involved in my business,” Hunter Biden testified. “I have never received a penny from anyone or benefited in any way from anyone. I will not take any action on their behalf in any way. And that's not just in my case. I can say with 100 percent certainty that this applies to the entire family.
During cross-examination, Hunter Biden was questioned about his relationship with former business associate Tony Bobulinski, and revealed that Bobulinski and another man were the ones who suggested involving Joe Biden in the business deal with CEFC China Energy. He repeatedly testified that they were friends. Hunter Biden testified at the time that he had no knowledge that Bobulinski and James Gillier brought up the names of his family members when discussing business arrangements, but added, “I have full confidence in Bobulinski.'' We ultimately discontinued our partnership with them.
Hunter Biden said he “didn't think he could be trusted” to end his partnership with Bobulinski, who has long accused the Bidens of wrongdoing. “I didn't think he was competent. I thought he was arrogant. I noticed that he often didn't tell the whole truth, or the truth at all. . Therefore, I could not accept him as a partner in any business.”
But the president's son was less resolute when asked whether his father was present at a 2017 luncheon with CEFC officials at the Four Seasons Hotel. Hunter Biden testified that he did not remember the luncheon described by Rob Walker, another of his jobs. Colleagues who appeared in private interviews in Congress in January. But he added that he did not question Mr Walker's recollection of the event. Walker said Joe Biden was present at the luncheon, but the then-former vice president testified that he had no involvement in his and Hunter Biden's business.
Walker said in January of the extent of Joe Biden's participation in the 2017 meeting: “He was nice to talk to, it was just a normal chat.” “I can't believe he really knew why they were there. He specifically said, 'Good luck with whatever you guys are doing.' ”
Asked about other dinners his father may have been involved with at Café Milano, a popular restaurant in Georgetown, Hunter Biden said his father often ate there with friends, and that his father often stopped by. He testified that they had eaten dinner together. , a family member, a work colleague, or a “combination” of the three.
“He would stop and have a bowl of spaghetti with me and whoever I was sitting with,” Hunter said of his father's visits to the restaurant. He acknowledged that his father was present at the two dinners held at Café Milano, as were potential business partners, but said: Her appearances were short and related to her work with the World Food Program and her birthday.
Hunter Biden had no recollection of dropping his laptop at a computer repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware, in April 2019, according to a transcript of his testimony. He has said in the past that he doesn't know if the laptop is his and doesn't remember dropping it, but deep down in his memory, which he admitted was a severe drug addiction, he can't be trusted. Admitted.
In a lawsuit filed against the store owner last year, the younger Biden acknowledged that some of the data released was his, and claimed that the store owner, John Paul Mac Isaac, had access to the data in April 2019. admitted that he could have obtained the In response to a question from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) about his laptop, Hunter Biden testified that if he needed a laptop repaired, he would normally take it to an Apple Store. The exchange with Gaetz turned sharp after the Florida congressman pressed Hunter Biden about drug use and addiction.
“Was I an addict? Yes, I was an addict,” Hunter Biden testified. “What does that have to do with whether you're going to proceed with the impeachment of my father, other than just trying to embarrass me?”
At one point he told Gates: Hunter Biden responded to his accusations that the family's finances are “intricately intertwined,” pointing to extensive financial records obtained by the committee and a lack of evidence linking his father to wrongdoing.
“Do you see the transaction, Mr. Gates?” Hunter Biden asked. “It's not my duty to point out to you something that doesn't exist. It's your duty to create something and come up with something based on the vast amount of evidence you've assembled that shows no involvement.”
Hunter Biden was repeatedly asked about his drug abuse, despite his attorney Abby Lowell's protests that questions about Biden's drug addiction were outside the scope of the impeachment inquiry. In a lengthy exchange with Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), she asked why an alcoholic addicted to crack cocaine could be “responsible for handling millions of dollars and considered an expert. ” and asked why she was “so hostile” towards him. – Dollar-scale international transactions with a focus on corporate governance. ”
“Again, I think it's very difficult to define addiction,” Hunter Biden explained. “I think there are moments when you're fully capable. I think there are a lot of people around this room who have struggled with alcoholism and are still in this room and still functioning.”
After Wednesday's testimony, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said the next step in the impeachment inquiry would be a public hearing, but no such hearing has yet been scheduled.
