Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at contempt of Congress hearing

Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance Wednesday on Capitol Hill, defiantly walking into a House committee hearing centered on whether to hold him in contempt.

The move sparked outrage from Republicans, who've issued a congressional subpoena for him to sit for a closed-door deposition in their ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The president's son has said he would testify only in a public forum, and has previously castigated the probe as «illegitimate.»

«You're the epitome of white privilege, coming into the Oversight Committee, spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed. What are you afraid of?» Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said just after he entered the room.

Mace was interrupted by another lawmaker, Democrat Jared Moskowitz, who said they could «hear from Hunter Biden right now» and called for a vote to have him speak.

Hunter Biden made his way into the hearing amid opening statements and took a seat in the front row. He was accompanied by his lawyer Abbe Lowell.

Hunter Biden left a short time after, when the chairman called on Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to speak.

Lowell then spoke to the press outside the hearing room, though Hunter Biden ignored shouted questions.

«Hunter Biden was and is a private citizen. Despite this, Republicans have sought to use him as a surrogate to attack his father,» Lowell said.

Lowell accused Republicans of caring «little about the truth» and trying to «hold someone in contempt, who has offered to publicly answer all their proper questions.»

Ahead of Wednesday's hearing, the Oversight Committee released a 19-page report recommending he be held in contempt of Congress, as well as the text of the proposed resolution.

«Mr. Biden's flagrant