The House voted to authorize its impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden this week, but not before his son defied a subpoena to sit down with lawmakers behind closed doors.
Speaking outside the Capitol on Wednesday, Hunter Biden denied his father’s involvement in his foreign business dealings as Republicans allege corruption during the elder Biden’s time as vice president.
BIDEN BEAT TRUMP ‘CHAOS’ IN 2020 — NOW NIKKI HALEY WANTS TO DO THE SAME
“Their lies have become the false facts believed by too many people,” Hunter Biden said, suggesting Republicans fear his public testimony.
“What are they afraid of?” he added. “I’m here. I’m ready.”
House Republicans, who refused Hunter Biden’s request to testify in public without the private deposition, vowed to hold him in contempt of Congress as a result.
The vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry comes three months after ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) unilaterally opened it and is seen as clearing the way for the president’s impeachment sometime early next year.
Both chambers of Congress also passed their annual defense bill this week, much to the anger of conservatives whose cultural war amendments were stripped out of it.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) could face the wrath of those conservatives in January when Congress must deal with the first of two deadlines to fund the government. But first, the House headed home on Thursday for its Christmas recess and is not slated to return until Jan. 9.
The Senate, by contrast, will remain in session into next week as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) attempts to pressure Republicans into accepting a compromise on further funding for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to plead for that aid, his third visit since Russia invaded in February 2022, but failed to move the needle with Senate Republicans, who are demanding changes in border policy to greenlight further money.
This week also marked a bittersweet farewell for McCarthy, who received tributes from the House floor and snapped photos with staff on Thursday, the chamber’s last day in session of the year.
McCarthy, who sat down with the Washington Examiner and a handful of other outlets for an exit interview of sorts, will be retiring from Congress at the end of the month after Democrats and a small group of hard-line Republicans ousted him from the speakership in October.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Here’s a look at scenes from the week of Dec. 11, captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings.
Hunter Biden defies congressional subpoena outside the Capitol
Zelensky visits Washington for third time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Congressional leaders attend menorah lighting at the Capitol
Senate holds a hearing on sexual assault in the Coast Guard
