GOP lawmakers probe Joe Biden over possible 'conspiracy to obstruct' Hunter Biden subpoena

In the wake of his son's decision to go AWOL from a scheduled congressional deposition, President Joe Biden is now facing new scrutiny over what some lawmakers are calling a possible “conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,” as The Hill reports.

The latest controversy arose when, on Dec. 13, Hunter Biden failed to appear for a closed-door deposition before the committees as required by subpoena.

Rather, he made an appearance outside the U.S. Capitol in which he delivered a prepared statement and declined to answer questions from members of the press.

Later that same day, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the first son's conduct, and it was then that she revealed that the president was “certainly familiar with what his son was going to say” during his Capitol remarks.

The new avenue of investigation into the president was outlined in a letter sent to White House counsel Edward Siskel by House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).

In a press release issued by the Oversight panel, the lawmakers explained that they are now probing “whether President Biden sought to influence or obstruct the Committees' proceedings by preventing, discouraging, or dissuading his son, Hunter Biden, from complying with the Committees' subpoenas for a deposition as part of the House of Representatives' ongoing impeachment inquiry.”

Comer and Jordan wrote in their letter, “In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress.”

“Under the relevant section of the criminal code, it is unlawful to 'corruptly...endeavor to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any investigation or inquiry is being had by...any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress[.].' Likewise, any person who 'aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures' the commission of a crime is punishable as a principal of the crime,” they wrote.

The Republican legislators went on, saying that their committees “have accumulated substantial evidence that Hunter Biden's business endeavors have improperly included his father, and the President has made false claims about his knowledge and involvement in these schemes.”

“In fact, just days before Mr. Biden was scheduled to appear for his deposition, the President claimed he had not interacted with any of his son's business partners,” they continued. “This is false.”

Highlighting the potential implications of their findings, the duo noted that “the fact that the President had advanced awareness that Mr. Biden would defy the Committees' subpoenas raises a troubling new question that we must examine: whether the President corruptly sought to influence or obstruct the Committees' proceeding by preventing, discouraging or dissuading his son from complying with the Committees' subpoenas.”

“Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense,” Comer and Jordan declared.

It is not just President Biden who may be on the hot seat over Hunter Biden's antics earlier this month, as Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has suggested that Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA), who allegedly facilitated the first son's press statement by reserving a spot for him on the Senate side of the Capitol complex, should face serious consequences as well.

Hinting at a possible contempt citation for Hunter Biden, Biggs added, “We probably need to vote Eric Swalwell in contempt, because the rumor is that Mr. Swalwell aided and abetted him by setting up his facilities so he could have his [press] conference across the way” an elude possible subpoena enforcement actions by the House Sergeant at Arms.