Politics
REPORT: Eric Swalwell In Hot Water Legally After Helping Hunter Biden Skip GOP Deposition
Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has come under fire for allegedly assisting Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, in avoiding the deposition subpoena issued by the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee.
House sources, including Republican lawmakers, contend that Swalwell, a member of the Judiciary Committee, may have played a role in what they describe as “aiding and abetting” Hunter Biden’s refusal to comply with the congressional subpoena.
The subpoena was part of an effort by Republicans to compel Hunter Biden to testify in connection with various controversies surrounding his business dealings and financial transactions. While these claims remain unverified, they raise questions about the involvement in ongoing investigations, and whether Swalwell’s role constitutes a crime of aiding and abetting.
BREAKING: House sources say that Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell–as a member of the Judiciary Committee,which subpoenaed Hunter Biden–"aided and abetted" a crime this morning when he worked with Hunter's lawyer Abbe Lowell to help Hunter flout the subpoena in contempt of Congress
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) December 13, 2023
It seems Rep. Eric Swalwell reserved the spot for Hunter Biden’s press conference today pic.twitter.com/547Ku0oOKC
— Ashley Oliver (@asholiver) December 13, 2023
After initially agreeing to appear before the Oversight Committee, Hunter reneged when he was denied the opportunity to open the hearing to the public. The sudden change rocked Capitol Hill on the same day that Republicans were poised to formalize an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden’s involvement with his family’s business affairs.
The mountain of evidence against Hunter is substantial. Special counsel David Weiss has charged the embattled first son in two states with crimes related to tax fraud stemming from overseas business deals. James Biden, the brother of President Biden, has received a subpoena to answer questions about the money he and his wife Sara received from the deals, some of which was transferred into the private bank account of the president.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Chair James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), quickly reacted to Hunter’s decision to forgo the deposition. On Wednesday morning they announced their intention to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against him, accusing him of unlawfully defying the subpoena and vowing not to grant him special treatment due to his last name.
In a joint statement, they stated, “Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden. As our committees were today prepared to depose Hunter Biden, he chose to make a public statement on Capitol Hill instead.”
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also expressed her support for the contempt proceedings, emphasizing the importance of holding Hunter Biden accountable. She said, “Hunter Biden refusing to show up today is unacceptable… Hunter Biden is clearly trying to hide and cover up the money laundering and the abuse of power that he and his father are guilty of.”
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Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.
We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden.
Read my full statement with @Jim_Jordan below.👇 pic.twitter.com/0m5zc4k4a6
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) December 13, 2023
Despite Hunter Biden’s decision to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill, where he criticized Republicans for publicly posting private photos of him, the allegations against him persist. Some Republicans argue that his public statements are merely distractions from the core issues at hand.
“I look forward to following the process for contempt of Congress, which absolutely should be done. Hunter Biden refusing to show up today is unacceptable… Hunter Biden is clearly trying to hide and cover up the money laundering and the abuse of power that he and his father are guilty of,” said Greene.
These events will further complicate the already tumultuous political landscape in Washington, D.C.