President Joe Biden's brother, James Biden, during a closed-door interview with members of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday altered his story on his involvement in a business deal involving Hunter Biden and several of his associates after lawmakers showed him documents contradicting his claims, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
James Biden initially told lawmakers he was not part of a proposed deal with Rob Walker, Hunter Biden, James Gilliar, and Tony Bobulinski involving an entity known as SinoHawk and the CEFC China energy firm.
But, when presented Wednesday with a document with his signature on it, James Biden changed his story to say he did not recall signing the agreement, according to the source.
James Biden also previously told lawmakers that Joe Biden never met with business associates. Messages produced by a previous witness contradict that claim.
According to the source, James Biden also said Wednesday that he threw away a diamond Hunter Biden had given him to appraise. CEFC chairman Ye Jianming had given the diamond to Hunter Biden to entice him to do business with CEFC.
James Biden also confirmed there is no loan documentation for the two "loans" Joe Biden allegedly provided him and said no interest was charged.
James Biden in his opening statement said his brother "has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest" in his 50-year career in a variety of business ventures, according to a copy obtained by CNN.
"Because of my intimate knowledge of my brother's personal integrity and character, as well as my own strong ethics, I have always kept my professional life separate from our close personal relationship," James Biden said.
"I never asked my brother to take any official action on behalf of me, my business associates, or anyone else," he added.
The interview with both Republican and Democrat staff as well as lawmakers lasted more than eight hours. During several breaks, Republicans came out and told reporters, without citing details, that James Biden's responses contradicted his opening statement and that he had made efforts to avoid directly answering investigators' questions.
The interview with Biden was the latest in a series that GOP lawmakers have conducted recently as they seek to rebuild momentum for an impeachment process surrounding the Biden family's overseas finances that has stalled in recent months.