Hunter Biden Plays Games With House Testimony, Comer Lays Down the Law
Apparently, someone convinced Hunter Biden he could bully Rep. James Comer, who heads up the House Oversight Committee investigating Biden family corruption. Let's just say that's not going very well.
Things started on Tuesday morning when Hunter Biden's lawyer Abbe Lowell let it be known that his client would graciously comply with the congressional subpoena issued by Comer. The catch was that the president's son only wanted to appear in a public hearing.
On Tuesday morning Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell informed the House Oversight Committee that his client would comply with a subpoena issued earlier in the month by Chairman James Comer, but only for public testimony. The subpoena specifically requires Hunter to sit for a closed door deposition.
Public testimony is always a political risk for whatever committee is investigating. Hillary Clinton testifying on the Benghazi tragedy is probably the best example. With the cameras rolling, Clinton was able to be combative, partisan, and dismissive. In her corner were the Democrats on the committee ready to push narratives that would inevitably be clipped for the nightly newscasts.
The result was a news cycle in which the now two-time failed presidential candidate was lauded as having put the entire controversy to bed. In the end, she would go on to lose the 2016 election to Donald Trump, but it wasn't because of her public testimony before Congress.
In other words, why give Hunter Biden and his Democrat colleagues an immediate public platform to obfuscate and set the narrative? Closed-door testimony provides the same opportunity to uncover tangible evidence without the same opportunity to grandstand and give the press the headlines it wants. A public hearing can come later once the groundwork is laid.
Comer responded to Hunter Biden's ultimatum by laying down the law.
“Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That won’t stand with House Republicans. Our lawfully issued subpoena to Hunter Biden requires him to appear for a deposition on December 13," Comer released in a statement Tuesday. “We expect full cooperation with our subpoena for a deposition but also agree that Hunter Biden should have the opportunity to testify in a public setting at a future date."
Hunter Biden does not get to choose how he complies with a subpoena. Legally, he is required to appear for closed-door testimony on December 13th because that is what the subpoena requires. There is no "but I'm the president's son" exception that allows him to dictate that he will only appear in a public hearing. The arrogance of Hunter Biden's lawyer is noted, but it's also irrelevant.
Rep. Jamie Raskin complained about the development and Comer (through the House Oversight Committee X account) smacked him.
Democrats may be hypocrites, but there's no requirement for Republicans to play along. Raskin previously demanded Steve Bannon appear in closed-door testimony before appearing publicly. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Make Hunter Biden testify under oath in a setting that he and his lawyers can't easily manipulate. Then, once all the evidence has been gathered, stick him in a public hearing and tear him apart.
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