Hunter Biden, the president’s son, has refused to sit for closed-door questioning by Republican lawmakers investigating his business dealings and said that he would only testify in a public hearing, Report informs referring to Los Angeles Times.
Biden had been ordered to appear for a deposition Wednesday morning as part of a subpoena issued by House investigators. Instead, he held a news conference outside the Capitol and read from a prepared statement in which he attacked Republicans for “distortions, manipulated evidence and lies.” He asserted that there was no basis for any impeachment inquiry of his father, a Democrat.
“I am here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions,” Biden said. “Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry or hear what I have to say. What are they afraid of?”
The abruptly called news conference offered rare public comments by Biden about his business affairs and came hours before House lawmakers were set to vote on whether to formalize the impeachment inquiry into the president.
Biden’s attorneys on Monday filed several motions to dismiss the Delaware case and invoked several arguments, including that the charges were vindictively and selectively prosecuted and the result of a pressure campaign by congressional lawmakers that trampled on the separation of powers among the three branches of government.
His defense lawyers are also trying to dismiss the Delaware case on grounds that it violates the diversion agreement he and prosecutors signed this summer. Under that agreement, prosecutors gave Biden immunity for the firearms and tax matters and agreed to wipe out a felony firearms charge if he completed certain terms over a 24-month period, including drug tests and a ban on purchasing firearms.
Prosecutors maintain the diversion period has not begun, since the federal probation office did not sign the agreement. But Biden’s lawyers point to prosecutors’ comments in court that indicate the deal was in effect - and remains so.