WASHINGTON – House Republicans on Wednesday demanded White House records that could link President Biden to a “conspiracy to obstruct” Hunter Biden’s testimony in the impeachment inquiry into the first family’s foreign business dealings.
Biden was “certainly familiar with what his son was going to say” when he declined to appear for testimony before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees on Dec. 13, White House press secretary Karine said. Jean-Pierre, shortly after Hunter ignored the panel’s subpoenas.
“In light of Ms. Jean-Pierre’s statement, we are forced to examine the President’s involvement in his son’s plan to defy the Committees’ subpoenas,” said Oversight Chairman James Comer (R- Ky.) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R.-Ohio) wrote to White House counsel Ed Siskel.
“[W]“We are required to examine, as part of our impeachment investigation, whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding,” the letter says.
“Under the relevant section of the penal code, it is unlawful to ‘corruptly… attempt to influence, obstruct or impede the due and proper exercise of the investigative power under which any investigation or inquiry is carried out by… any committee of any House or any joint committee of Congress[.]’ Likewise, any person who ‘collaborates, incites, advises, orders, induces or procures’ the commission of a crime will be punished as the principal author of the crime.”
House Republicans are demanding White House records that could link President Biden to a “conspiracy to obstruct” Hunter Biden’s testimony. fake images
Comer and Jordan requested that the White House turn over documents by Jan. 10 about communications related to the subpoenas for Hunter Biden’s deposition, in addition to all communications related to President Biden’s public statement on Dec. 6 that he “does not interacted” with his son Hunter. or the foreign associates of his brother James Biden, despite evidence that he did so repeatedly as vice president.
“The committees have amassed substantial evidence that Hunter Biden’s business efforts have improperly included his father, and the president has made false claims about his knowledge of and involvement in these plans,” the chairs wrote.
President Biden speaks to the media before leaving for Camp David. AP
“In fact, just days before Mr. Biden appeared for his testimony, the president claimed that he had not interacted with any of his son’s business partners. This is false. The President met, spoke and received money from his son’s foreign business partners.
“In light of this evidence, the fact that the President had advanced awareness that Mr. Biden would defy the Committees’ subpoenas raises a troubling new question that we must examine: whether the President corruptly sought to influence or obstruct the Committees’ proceedings. Committees preventing, discouraging or dissuading your child from complying with the Committees’ subpoenas. “Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense.”
The three-page letter to Siskel seeks to “[a]All documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding the deposition of Hunter Biden, including, but not limited to, communications with Hunter Biden, Winston & Strawn LLP, and Kevin Morris.”
Jim Jordan and James Comer hold a news conference after the House voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry. Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
It also requests “[a]All documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding President Biden’s statement regarding his family’s business partners on December 6, 2023.”
Spokespeople for the White House counsel’s office and Hunter Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The impeachment inquiry launched on Sept. 12 was retroactively authorized in a House party vote hours after Hunter refused to appear for his deposition, and Republicans argued the move would bolster legal efforts to enforce subpoenas for testimony and documents.
Biden would be the fourth president in US history to be impeached, although he would likely be acquitted by the Democratic-led Senate.
Republicans are weighing accusations including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, while alleging that Biden corruptly used his power as vice president to help Hunter and his first brother, James Biden, in nations where he wielded influence.
Hunter Biden and Beau Biden leave the White House on their way to Camp David. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Other witnesses have not fully cooperated with the investigation. Former Delaware Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf, whom two IRS whistleblowers accused of spearheading a sweeping cover-up to protect Joe and Hunter Biden in a tax fraud investigation, testified 79 times during a Dec. 14 deposition that she “ was not authorized” by the Justice Department will discuss alleged misconduct by investigators.
First Brother James Biden did not appear for a Dec. 6 deposition specified by the committee’s subpoenas, but his legal team is in talks to schedule a later date.
Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry point to a series of interactions by Joe Biden with foreign businessmen throughout his eight-year vice presidency and in the years since, including meetings with associates of his relatives from two companies linked to the Chinese government and others from Mexico and Kazakhstan. , Russia and Ukraine.
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