House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., urged Hunter Biden to attend the upcoming public hearing regarding his father's involvement in the family's business dealings, saying it's time to decide between perpetuating "dishonesty" or coming "clean to the American people."
Comer made the comments in a letter he sent Friday to Biden attorney Abbe Lowell, obtained by Newsmax.
Biden through his attorney earlier this week declined the committee's invitation to the March 20 hearing, with Lowell calling it a "carnival side show" and "made-for-right-wing-media, circus act."
In his letter on Friday, Comer reminded Lowell that it was Biden who was grandstanding for a public hearing while he flirted with a contempt of Congress charge for initially skipping the closed-door deposition he was subpoenaed to attend.
"It is surprising given Mr. Biden's complaints about participating in a 'closed-door' deposition regarding the Biden family's business dealings," Comer wrote to Lowell. "Only a few months ago, Hunter Biden demanded — outside the United States Capitol — a public hearing where he would answer questions in front of the American people. After facing questions during a deposition, Mr. Biden decided to reverse his position."
"The only conclusion that one can reach is that Mr. Biden knows his public testimony would not withstand scrutiny," Comer added in the two-page letter.
Biden ultimately sat for a seven-hour deposition before the Oversight and Judiciary committees on Feb. 28.
During that hearing, Biden confirmed that his father, President Joe Biden, met Hunter Biden's business associates from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine at a Washington, D.C., restaurant while he was still vice president in the Obama administration. It was an admission that proved President Biden "lied to the American people about his family's business dealings," Comer said.
But Comer also asserted that Hunter Biden provided testimony that contradicted that of former business partners Devon Archer, Jason Galanis, and Tony Bobulinski, all of whom are also invited to the March 20 hearing.
"The Committee has selected these individuals to sit alongside Mr. Biden because his testimony contains material discrepancies regarding matters concerning his father," Comer wrote.
"In the interest of transparency, the Committee would ask Mr. Biden to reconsider his refusal to appear before Congress for a public hearing," Comer wrote to Lowell, adding that it will go on "with or without Mr. Biden."
"The hearing you describe as a 'planned-for-media event' is exactly what Mr. Biden has previously demanded. Indeed, Mr. Biden will be afforded the opportunity to provide his perspective alongside those with whom he has worked most closely," Comer added.
"President Biden has not been truthful regarding his family's business and his own participation in it; it is time for Mr. Biden to decide whether he is going to perpetuate that dishonesty to protect his father or come clean to the American people," Comer continued.
"The Committee urges Mr. Biden to appear and let the American public determine whose story to believe," he concluded.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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