Jun 05, 2024 - 21:51
By huffpost.com

Republicans Refer Hunter And James Biden For Criminal Prosecution In Impeachment Probe

WASHINGTON ― Republicans on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice to prosecute President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and brother James over alleged false statements they made to Congress.

Hunter and James Biden spoke to lawmakers earlier this year about their overseas business deals as part of Republicans’ impeachment inquiry. The criminal referrals may be the climax of the probe, which has not uncovered official acts of corruption by the president.

“We’ve caught President Biden’s son and brother making blatant lies to Congress in what appears to be a concerted effort to hide Joe Biden’s involvement in his family’s schemes,” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a press release.

The three alleged false statements, however, center on small-scale aspects of Republicans’ sprawling investigation:

Hunter Biden claimed in his February deposition he had accidentally sent a threatening WhatsApp message in 2017 to the wrong Chinese businessman because he was high or drunk; Republicans pointed to records that “demonstrate conclusively that Hunter Biden made this threat to the intended individual.” The content of the message was the problem, however, since Hunter Biden implied his father would somehow retaliate against the businessman if he didn’t pay.
Hunter Biden denied having a formal role in a company called Rosemont Seneca Bohai, one of several limited liability corporations associated with his business activities. Republicans obtained a document signed by Hunter Biden indicating that he was the company’s corporate secretary. (Hunter Biden’s business partner, Devon Archer, also said Biden had no role in the company, but Archer is not being referred for prosecution.)