Hunter Biden tells Congress his father is not involved in his business dealings

Washington — hunter biden He is testifying before a Republican-led House committee on Wednesday. impeachment inquiry In a closed-door deposition to President Biden, his father told lawmakers he was not involved in President Biden’s various business dealings.

In a prepared opening statement Wednesday, Biden disputed the investigation’s premise, saying “my father has no involvement in my work,” but said his own testimony “contradicts this baseless and destructive investigation.” We must put an end to this political farce.”

“For over a year, committees have been hounding me in their partisan political pursuit of my father,” he said in prepared remarks. “You trafficked in innuendo, distortion, and sensationalism while ignoring clear and convincing evidence staring you in the face. We have no evidence to support a MAGA-motivated conspiracy.”

Republicans on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees have long sought Hunter Biden’s testimony. Last month, moves were being made to have him detained on charges of contempt of Congress. before he agreed to voluntarily testify. They argued that Hunter Biden’s testimony was a “key element” of the impeachment inquiry. The impeachment inquiry focuses on allegations that the president profited from his family’s overseas business dealings while vice president.

However, the investigation has yet to uncover any evidence of impeachable offenses, and the blow comes as a special counsel appointed by President Trump was investigating Hunter Biden. One-time FBI informant indicted The president and his son allegedly lied about receiving $5 million in bribes from a Ukrainian energy company. Prosecutors also revealed in a court filing last week that an informant, Alexander Smirnov, claimed to have had an affair with him. Russian intelligence official.

The allegations, which prosecutors now say are false, are at the heart of Republicans’ claims that the president acted improperly to benefit his family’s overseas business deals.

Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abby Lowell, said the charges show the impeachment inquiry is “based on dishonest and unreliable allegations and witnesses.” The White House dismissed the impeachment inquiry as a “baseless political stunt.”

Lawmakers heard testimony last week from the president’s brother, James Biden. Said The president “never got involved” in the business dealings of other members of his family.

In his opening statement, the president’s brother said, “I have a 50-year career in various business ventures. Joe Biden has never been involved in any of those activities and has no direct or indirect financial interest in them.” “We haven’t done it,” he reportedly told lawmakers privately. Obtained by CBS News. “none.”

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement Tuesday that the committee’s investigation found that “Joe Biden was a ‘brand’ that his family sold to enrich themselves.” He said it had become.

“Joe Biden attended dinners, spoke on speakerphone, showed up to meetings, had coffee with his son’s foreign business associates,” Comer said.

Hunter Biden’s former business associate testified Last year, the younger Biden sometimes put his father on speakerphone during business meetings, but he said he never discussed business over the phone. The official said Hunter Biden was called by the then-vice president to help sell his “brand.”

Hunter Biden’s lawyer said his father’s interactions with his client’s business associates were “no more than small talk.”

Republicans claim these cases show the president was involved in his son’s overseas dealings, which the president and his son have repeatedly denied.

Comer said the committee is planning further subpoenas and questioning of witnesses after Hunter Biden’s deposition.

An impeachment aide said the committee plans to eventually hold a hearing.

Hunter Biden was indicted on nine tax charges in California in December for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019 while struggling with addiction. He has since paid off his tax arrears with the help of a loan from him. Kevin Morris, Hollywood lawyer.

morris testified In January, he denied to lawmakers that he used loans to Hunter Biden to gain access and influence in the White House.

“I do not expect and have not expected to receive anything from Hunter’s father or the Biden administration in exchange for helping Hunter, and I have never asked President Biden or his administration for anything. My only ‘s goal has been, and will continue to be, to help his friend and Biden, his “client,” he said in a statement after his testimony.

In addition to the tax charges, Hunter Biden was also indicted on three federal gun charges in Delaware for lying about drug use to purchase a gun he possessed for 11 days in 2018.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

Nikole Killion and Jenna Gibson contributed reporting.