House GOP still planning to call Hunter Biden to testify publicly as support for impeachment wanes

The House Republicans running the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden still plan to call Hunter Biden to testify in a public hearing, although sources familiar with their planning say the two sides have not engaged on setting a date.

Hunter Biden initially balked at appearing before the committee behind closed doors and insisted the hearing be held publicly. But after Republicans voted to formally authorize the impeachment inquiry and amid threats of a contempt of Congress vote, lawyers for the president's son agreed to arrange his testimony.

Despite mixed reviews on the effectiveness of the closed-door deposition, the committee chairmen remain publicly supportive of conducting the public hearing in the near future.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., claimed that there were “inconsistent” aspects of Hunter Biden's deposition that need to be aired out in a public setting. Comer is leading the impeachment inquiry along with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways and Means Committeeman Chair, R-Mo.

“Parts of Hunter Biden’s testimony are inconsistent with other witnesses’ testimonies,” Comer said in a statement, “It’s clear we need a public hearing to get the truth for the American people.”

Comer similarly said that he heard “some contradictory statements that I think need further review” after the president’s brother, James Biden, testified before the committee earlier in February — a sign that both Biden family members who testified did not provide the committee with anything that directly proved their claims, so their best chance of success was to try to undercut their testimony.

The White House and Hunter Biden's lawyers did not immediately return a request for comment.