Hunter Biden has turned down an invitation Wednesday to attend a public hearing next week.
The invitation came from House Republicans and was rebuffed as a “carnival side show,” the Associated Press reported.
“Abbe Lowell, the president’s son’s attorney, blasted Republicans’ efforts to bring his client before a public hearing after he had sat for a nearly seven-hour deposition last month,” according to the AP.
“Your latest step—this March 6 invitation—is not a serious oversight proceeding,” Lowell said in the letter attained by the AP. “It is your attempt to resuscitate your Conference’s moribund inquiry with a made-for-right-wing-media, circus act.”
Republican Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee from Kentucky, sent the invitation. Three of Biden’s former business associates, who all are currently facing their own legal challenges, also received invitations.
“Your idea of congressional ‘fact-finding’ is, amazingly, to have Mr. Biden appear with the discredited ‘witnesses’ you continue to promote,” Lowell said.
The bulk of the committee’s investigation has been on Hunter Biden’s overseas work in China and Ukraine, the AP reported.
“While lawmakers have unearthed ethically questionable behavior by the president’s son and other family members, Republicans have yet to produce evidence of misconduct by Joe Biden while in public office,” according to the AP.
Hunter Biden and his lawyers at one point wanted a public hearing rather than a private disposition. In the end, the two sides agreed to sit-down testimony first, followed by a public hearing.
“In response, Comer said the committee had called Hunter Biden’s bluff,” per the AP.
“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,” the Comer said.
Comer said the hearing set for March 20. The hearing will happen whether or not the president’s son is there.
“The American people demand the truth and accountability for the Bidens’ corruption,” Comer said.
