Hunter Biden Backtracks: What Changed In His Decision To Dodge Testimony?

This decision contradicts his previous offer to testify publicly to avoid a congressional subpoena.

In a letter addressed to the House Oversight Committee, Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that his client would not be attending a hearing scheduled for later this month. The reason given was a clash with a court hearing in one of Hunter's federal criminal cases. However, Lowell also hinted that Hunter Biden would not participate in what he termed a "carnival side show."

"Your blatant planned-for-media event is not a proper proceeding but an obvious attempt to throw a Hail Mary pass after the game has ended," Lowell wrote to Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), the chairman of the Oversight Committee panel.

This marks a change from Hunter Biden's offer in November to testify publicly in lieu of facing a congressional subpoena. Lowell had proposed a public hearing over a closed-door deposition, arguing that the latter "could be manipulated."

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March 14, 2024

Comer had invited Hunter Biden and three of his former business associates to a March 20 hearing titled "Influence Peddling: Examining Joe Biden’s Abuse of Public Office." This is part of an investigation into the president's alleged involvement in his son's business dealings.

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Last year, Republicans initiated an impeachment investigation into President Biden concerning his alleged involvement in his son's foreign business transactions. The president has denied any involvement in his son's affairs. However, eyewitness accounts and other evidence suggest he attended meetings with his son and his son's business partners.

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On February 28, Hunter Biden gave a deposition in which he denied his father's involvement in his business dealings. He confirmed that he and his father had met with businessman Tony Bobulinski in California. At the time, Hunter Biden and Bobulinski, who is one of the witnesses invited to this month's hearing, were negotiating a deal with CEFC China Energy, a Chinese energy conglomerate with ties to Chinese military intelligence.

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Hunter Biden informed congressional investigators that he could not remember if his father attended other meetings with CEFC China Energy officials.

Rob Walker, a long-time associate of the Biden family, informed Congress and the FBI that the Bidens attended a 2017 meeting with executives from CEFC China Energy. The company later paid $6 million to Hunter and Jim Biden, the president’s younger brother, for consulting and legal services.

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"Hunter Biden for months stated he wanted a public hearing, but now that one has been offered alongside his business associates that he worked with for years, he is refusing to come," Comer said in a statement.

Comer stated that the hearing would proceed as planned and that he "fully expect[s] Hunter Biden to participate."