Hunter Biden And His Lawyers Sprung ‘Trap’ on House Republicans, Prominent Attorney Says
Subpoenas for president's son are called "legally invalid"
Hunter Biden’s appearance during a congressional hearing this week wasn't only a stunt to make House Republicans appear foolish, it was part of a legal strategy that makes the subpoenas they're issuing for the president’s son “legally invalid.”
That's according to a letter from Hunter Biden's attorneys to Republican Reps James Comer, of Kentucky, and Jim Jordan, of Ohio. The pair are chairmen of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, respectively.
A copy of that letter was shared on social media by Norm Eisen, a former attorney in the White House under President Barack Obama and co-counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during the first impeachment and trial of President Donald Trump in 2020.
The younger Biden set off political fireworks Wednesday when he arrived in the hearing room while the House Oversight Committee was voting to hold him in contempt.
House Republicans want to question Hunter Biden in their evidence-free impeachment inquiry against President Biden. The younger Biden is willing to testify publicly but Republicans have insisted on a closed-door interview.
But those subpoenas against Hunter Biden are now “legally invalid,” according to the letter written Friday by Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell.
In the letter, Lowell reminded that previously Comer offered — on national TV — to allow the president’s son the chance to testify publicly before changing his mind.
“Hunter Biden just delivered a devastating blow to the contempt proceedings,” Eisen wrote on the social media service formerly known as Twitter. “This new letter from his counsel Abbe Lowell shows that the House GOP walked into a trap.”
“Rather than accepting Mr Biden's offer to voluntarily sit for a public hearing, you are now seeking to have the full House find him in contempt based on subpoenas for a deposition that you issued on November 8 and 9, 2023,” Lowell's letter said. “I write to make you aware (if you are not already) that your subpoenas were and are legally invalid and cannot form a legal basis to proceed with your misdirected and impermissible contempt resolution. And you two, of all people, should know that is the case.”
Lowell added: “You proceeded with a contempt process, erroneously claiming Mr Biden was seeking ‘special treatment,’ despite Mr Comer’s repeated and public statements about witnesses’ and Mr Biden's ability to testify at a deposition or hearing at their choice.”
The letter cited Comer's specific offers to that effect.
If the committees issue new, legal subpoenas, Hunter Biden will comply, Lowell wrote.
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