Senate Republicans on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are moving ahead with their investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.
On Wednesday, Republicans voted to issue a subpoena to Blue Star Strategies — a company linked to Burisma Holdings where Hunter Biden served on the board until 2019.
Senators are seeking information from Jan. 1, 2013 to present-day “related to work for or on behalf of Burisma Holdings or individuals associated with Burisma.”
Senate Democrats argued that a subpoena was not necessary and claimed that Blue Start would voluntarily cooperate with the probe.Â
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) blasted the decision to vote on the subpoena, “You made the decision to force a vote on a purely political matter that will do absolutely nothing for those at risk of contracting COVID-19.”
However, a spokesperson for Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said that the company “has delayed our efforts for more than five months.”
Additionally, other Democrats raised concerns that the probe would disseminate Russian disinformation.
But Republicans brushed off concerns and suggested that if there was nothing inappropriate then there is no need for concern.
“The question I would ask is, what is everybody worried about?” Johnson asked as he questioned why Democrats were concerned about the subpoena.
“If there’s nothing there, we’ll find out there’s nothing there. But if there’s something there, the American people need to know that,” he added.
Republicans currently hold an 8-6 seat majority on the committee and were able to vote to issue the subpoena despite Democratic opposition.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Uth) previously said he would vote for the subpoena, as IJR reported.
Republicans have suggested that Hunter Biden’s position on Burisma’s board while his father was still vice president was inappropriate and have raised questions over alleged corruption.
A spokesperson for Joe Biden’s campaign responded to the subpoena vote, “Senator Johnson should be working overtime to save American lives – but instead he’s just trying to save the President’s job.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously blasted Republicans for moving ahead with the vote on the subpoena during a global health crisis, as IJR reported.
“We’re in the middle of a public health and economic crisis, but instead of holding oversight hearings about testing, PPE, or bringing in the FEMA administrator, Senate Republicans are choosing to pursue diversionary, partisan conspiracy theories to prop up President Trump,” Schumer previously said.
