In a significant development on Capitol Hill, House Republicans are reportedly negotiating with Hunter Biden's legal team to arrange for his deposition. This surprising turn of events could indicate a shift in the strategy of the two House committees currently investigating the president's son, suggesting a possible retreat from their previous intent to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress.
According to sources at the Capitol, the House Rules Committee has decided not to consider a resolution for contempt against Hunter Biden at this time. Originally, the plan was to present the citation and hold a House vote on Thursday to hold Hunter Biden in contempt. However, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is now exploring the option of reaching a deal that would allow Hunter Biden to provide testimony.
Hunter Biden's attorney, Abby Lowell, has argued that the initial subpoena issued by Republicans occurred prior to the House's formalization of its impeachment inquiry. As a result, she contends that it may be improper to hold her client in contempt for non-compliance. Lowell has revealed that the current negotiations involve discussing the parameters surrounding Hunter Biden's potential testimony, including the prospect of invoking the Fifth Amendment.
While some Republicans express weariness over what they perceive as being led on by Hunter Biden, legal experts caution that the negotiations should proceed with caution. Comer has emphasized the importance of establishing clear ground rules regarding Hunter Biden's ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment during any potential deposition.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats argue that it would be inappropriate to hold Hunter Biden in contempt, even though he had failed to comply with the initial subpoena. They contend that the circumstances of the subpoena, issued prior to the formal impeachment inquiry, need to be taken into consideration.
The decision by the House Rules Committee not to convene a meeting regarding the contempt resolution signifies that the House may potentially back away from their plan to hold Hunter Biden in contempt in the coming days.
These new developments raise questions about the trajectory of the ongoing investigations and the extent to which Hunter Biden will be compelled to testify before the House committees. As negotiations continue between Hunter Biden's legal team and House Republicans, the ultimate resolution remains uncertain.
