By Casey Harper (The Center Square)
House oversight Republicans on Thursday stepped up their investigation into Hunter Biden, calling on the president’s son and his associates to hand over documents showing illegal business dealings.
The committee also demanded the handover of documents related to the foreign affairs of Hunter Biden, James Biden and Eric Schwerin. Critics have accused Hunter of using his father’s political influence to secure overseas deals that could compromise the president.
“The American people deserve transparency and accountability about the Biden family’s theft of influence,” said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the Oversight Committee. “The Oversight Committee is committed to exposing waste, fraud and abuse at the highest levels of our government.”
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The committee is particularly interested in finding out the extent to which President Joe Biden was involved in affairs, or at least what he knew, about any wrongdoing by foreign entities that could compromise national security, they argue.
Oversight Republicans vowed after taking the majority in November to make the investigation one of their top concerns.
Hunter is currently under federal investigation by the US Department of Justice.
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“Evidence obtained in our investigation reveals that the Biden family’s business model is built on Joe Biden’s political career and connections,” Comer said. “Members of the Biden family have tried to sell access to people around the world, including those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, to enrich themselves to the detriment of American interests. If President Biden compromises his deals with foreign adversaries and they influence his decision-making, this is a threat to national security.
The Hunter investigation has many legal avenues and opportunities for prosecution other than foreign entanglements, including potential tax violations and false statements to federal law enforcement. Politically, Hunter’s investigation further complicates Biden’s 2024 aspirations, especially now that the president is facing his own investigation into the trove of classified documents he held under the Obama administration.
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Hunter has until Feb. 22 to respond to the committee’s letter. The committee is considering new ethical laws to expressly prohibit certain aspects of hunter behavior.
“The evidence shows that you engaged in foreign business dealings with individuals connected to the Chinese Communist Party and received significant amounts of money from foreign companies without providing any known legitimate services,” the committee’s letter to Hunter said. “The committee is investigating President Biden’s knowledge and role in these foreign business dealings to assess whether he compromised our national security at the expense of the American people. The financial conduct of you and your associates raises significant ethics and national security concerns.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.