Hunter Biden, defying impeachment subpoena, offers public testimony again

Hunter Biden, the president’s son, appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to offer to testify publicly in House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into his father, though he insisted he would not appear for a private deposition they had planned because of his refusals.

The younger Mr. Biden, who has been served a subpoena to testify, spoke to reporters at a hastily called news conference outside the Capitol, near the Senate, across the street from a House office building complex where Republican lawmakers were speaking behind closed doors. waiting to question him. .

“I’m here,” Mr. Biden said. “Let me say as clearly as possible: my father was not involved in my company.”

“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was involved in my company because this did not happen,” he added.

The younger Biden has objected to giving private testimony because he fears Republicans will selectively leak his comments and try to distort what he says. He has repeatedly suggested they instead appear at a public hearing to answer their questions.

“They have lied again and again,” Biden said of Republicans.

Republicans have threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress if he doesn’t follow the rules. They say a public hearing is not enough.

Mr. Biden is under federal indictment on tax crime charges. House Republicans plan to hold a vote Wednesday evening to formally open an impeachment inquiry into his father, hoping to link the younger Biden’s alleged misconduct through foreign business deals to the sitting president.

This is a development story. Check back later for updates.