House Republicans take steps to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress
A pair of House committees leading the impeachment inquiry into President Biden over his family's finances will vote next week on advancing a measure holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress.
Why it matters: The president's son has refused to sit for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee as the panel tries to build the case for impeachment.
Driving the news: The Oversight Committee will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET on a resolution recommending the House find Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress "for refusal to comply with a subpoena," according to a notice from the panel.
- The House Judiciary Committee announced it will meet concurrently to mark up a report laying out the case for the contempt resolution.
What they're saying: "We planned to question Hunter Biden... but he blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas, choosing to read a prepared statement outside of the Capitol instead of appearing for testimony as required," Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement.
What we're watching: The full House will have to vote to refer Hunter Biden to the Department of Justice for contempt of Congress, meaning virtually every Republican will need to be on board.
- No Republicans defected last month when the House voted to formally authorize the impeachment inquiry.
- Whether Hunter Biden is actually prosecuted is ultimately at the discretion of the Justice Department – which declined to act on some of the contempt referrals from the Jan. 6 committee.