Washington: Hunter Biden made an unexpected appearance at a US House hearing as Republican lawmakers were pushing for a vote to hold him in contempt of Congress for not testifying in the impeachment inquiry targeting his father, Democratic President Joe Biden.
The younger Biden entered the hearing on Wednesday (Thursday) without speaking to reporters, and sat quietly in the hall with his lawyers, sparking pandemonium, as members of the House Oversight Committee quarreled with each other and rebuked him for the surprise.
Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, accompanied by his attorney Abby Lowell, left, leaves a House Oversight Committee hearing as Republicans take the first step toward holding him in contempt of Congress.credit: AP
“It doesn't matter who you are…. who your father is or your last name. Yes, I'm looking at you, Hunter Biden. You are not above the law,” Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said. “Hunter Biden, you are too afraid to come to testify. And I still do to this day.”
House Republicans allege that the president and his family improperly benefited from political actions Biden participated in when he was vice president from 2009 to 2017. The White House and Hunter Biden deny any wrongdoing.
Hunter Biden is facing his own legal troubles. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday to face criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million ($2 million) in taxes. He was also charged in Delaware with lying about his drug use while purchasing a gun. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Delaware.
Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz asked why the committee did not accept the testimony of the 53-year-old Biden at the time.
Hunter Biden accompanied by his attorney, Abby Lowell, right, sitting in the front row at a House Oversight Committee hearing.credit: AP
“The witness accepted the president’s invitation. The witness just happens to be here,” Moskowitz said. “Let’s vote. Let's take a vote. Who wants to hear from Hunter now, today?”
The younger Biden left the hearing shortly after.
