Contempt Charge Hunter’s Path Open for Dropping

The House Oversight Committee has reportedly decided not to recommend holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he agrees to comply with a new subpoena expected to be issued.

He was initially subpoenaed in November for a deposition in December as part of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden refused to comply with the order, and instead read a statement to the media outside the Capitol, insisting he would only testify in a public hearing.

The Oversight and House Judiciary Committees then voted to advance contempt of Congress charges against Hunter Biden after a hearing in which he made a surprise appearance.

Hunter Biden’s lawyer sent a letter to Oversight Committee chair, Rep. James Comer R-Ky., and Judiciary chair, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, stating that the president’s son would sit for a deposition if they sent a new subpoena, arguing that the original one was invalid because the full House hadn’t yet voted to authorize the impeachment inquiry, as noted by the Washington Examiner.

According to the outlet, on Sunday the committees sent Hunter Biden a letter saying they would issue a new subpoena requesting his testimony in a deposition.

“Although the Committee’s subpoenas are lawful and remain legally enforceable, as an accommodation to Mr. Biden and at your request, we are prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden’s appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks,” Jordan and Comer said in a letter to Hunter Biden’s lawyer, as reported by the news outlet.

“To be clear, the issuance of these subpoenas does not in any way suggest or imply that the Committees believe the assertions in your January 12 letter to have any merit. Our willingness to issue these subpoenas is rooted entirely in our interest in obtaining Mr. Biden’s testimony as expeditiously as possible.”

The Washington Examiner, citing an unnamed source, reported that if Hunter Biden shows a willingness to comply with the new subpoena, contempt charges are likely to be dropped.

“If they agree to genuinely cooperate and we can work out a deposition date, the chairman will recommend to leadership that we hold the floor vote on contempt in abeyance for now,” the source told the Washington Examiner.

The contempt of Congress charge for Hunter Biden is still on the schedule to be voted on this week.