On Sunday, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) discussed the potential consequences that Hunter Biden could face for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas as part of the impeachment inquiry against his father, President Joe Biden. During an interview with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures,” Jordan stated that Biden could potentially face criminal charges and up to one year in jail for contempt of Congress.
According to Jordan, if the House Judiciary Committee passes a resolution to hold Biden in contempt and it is later approved by the full House, the decision will then be left up to Attorney General Merrick Garland. He stated that if Garland decides to press charges, the first son could face up to one year in jail for failing to comply with a subpoenaed deposition to be interviewed by Congress.
The House Oversight Committee has also taken action against Biden, with Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announcing on Friday that the panel has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to consider a resolution to hold Biden in contempt of Congress. This comes after Biden skipped a scheduled deposition last month and held a press event demanding a public hearing to answer “legitimate” questions.
In response to the potential charges, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), has criticized the move, stating that there is no precedent for holding a private citizen in contempt of Congress who has offered to testify in public, under oath, and on a day of the Committee’s choosing.
However, Jordan noted that the Department of Justice has recently prosecuted former Trump administration aides Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for contempt of Congress for resisting subpoenas issued by the January 6 Committee. He declined to make any predictions about whether Attorney General Garland will also prosecute Biden, stating that it will be his decision.
Jordan continued by saying that there is significant support in the House, particularly from the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, to pass the contempt resolution. He predicted that if the resolution is passed, it will move quickly to the House floor for a vote.
The charge of contempt of Congress carries a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail and a maximum of one year, as well as a fine of up to $100,000. According to the Department of Justice, the decision to press charges ultimately lies with the Attorney General and their prosecution team.
Democrats have been attempting to uncover potential conflicts of interest and corruption involving Hunter Biden and his business dealings in Ukraine and China while his father was serving as vice president under President Barack Obama. Hunter has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the investigations are politically motivated.
Republicans, however, have argued that the allegations against Hunter are legitimate and require further investigation. They believe that it is necessary for Biden to comply with congressional subpoenas in order to shed light on any potential wrongdoing and hold those involved accountable.
If charges are ultimately brought against Hunter Biden for contempt of Congress, it could potentially have major implications not only for him but for the Biden administration as a whole. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but it is clear that both sides are taking this matter very seriously and it could have significant consequences moving forward.
Overall, this is a developing story and we will continue to monitor any updates or developments in the coming days and weeks.