Hunter Biden told congressional investigators Wednesday that he never involved Joe Biden in his business dealings in a carefully-worded opening statement that reflects a subtle change from language previously deployed by Joe Biden and the White House.
The first son is testifying behind closed doors on Capitol Hill in front of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Judiciary Committee as part of the ongoing impeachment probe into his father’s alleged involvement with a major influence peddling scheme. Hunter Biden’s statement regarding the degree of his father’s involvement appears to be deliberately worded and a departure from previous White House statements denying Joe Biden was involved in his son’s overseas business interests.
“I am here today to provide the committees with the one uncontestable fact that should end the false premise of this inquiry: I did not involve my father in my business,” Hunter Biden said in his opening statement. “For more than a year, your committees have hunted me in your partisan political pursuit of my dad. You have trafficked in innuendo, distortion and sensationalism — all the while ignoring clear and convincing evidence staring you in the face.”
Joe Biden said as a candidate for the presidency that he had never discussed business matters with his son, but the White House has shifted its language as more information and potential evidence suggesting Joe Biden was involved has emerged.
After an Internal Revenue Service whistleblower disclosed a July 2017 text message sent by Hunter Biden to a Chinese business associate in June 2023, the White House clarified that Joe Biden “was not in business with his son” at any point in the past, departing from initial denials contending that Joe Biden and his son had never even talked about business. At the time, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained the subtle alteration by saying that “nothing has changed” with regard to the White House’s public line on the issue.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28: U.S. President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn before boarding the Marine One presidential helicopter to depart the White House on February 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father,” reads the July 2017 message purportedly sent by Hunter Biden to his Chinese business partner.
Additionally, two former business associates of Hunter Biden — Devon Archer and Tony Bobulinski — have both testified that Hunter Biden, at minimum, marketed his last name to advance business interests, with Bobulinski alleging that Joe Biden enabled his son’s overseas business dealings and profited from them. Another ex-partner of Hunter Biden, Rob Walker, told congressional investigators about a 2017 lunch meeting in Washington, D.C., involving Hunter Biden, his associates and Chinese businessmen that Joe Biden briefly attended.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 13: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) (L) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) speaks to the media in the Rayburn House Office Building on December 13, 2023 in Washington, DC (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Additionally, Archer also testified that Hunter Biden and Joe Biden would speak on the phone while Hunter Biden was attending business meetings, frequently putting his father on speakerphone.
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