Republicans file suit against Hunter and James Biden for alleged lies

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Image source, Getty Images

Author, Max Matza
Role, BBC News
June 5, 2024

Updated 8 hours ago

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to charge President Joe Biden's son and brother, Hunter and James Biden, with lying to Congress.

On Wednesday, while Hunter was in federal court on a separate case, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee sent criminal referrals to the department, alleging the two men lied about making millions from to “influence peddling schemes”.

The committee said it was trying to “protect Joe Biden from the impeachment inquiry,” referring to the slow pace of Republican efforts to remove the president.

“We caught President Biden's son and brother blatantly lying to Congress in what appears to be a concerted effort to hide Joe Biden's involvement in his family's schemes,” the president said of the committee, James Comer, in a new press release.

The move comes as Hunter is on trial in Wilmington, Delaware, for allegedly lying about being a drug user in order to purchase a handgun. There are reports that James may testify for the defense.

“These criminal referrals are a reflection of criminal acts committed by the Biden family, and the Justice Department must take action to hold the Bidens accountable,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, one of the Bidens’ most vocal supporters. impeachment and President Biden's electoral opponent. Donald Trump.

Both Hunter and James Biden were ordered to testify before Congress in December 2023. They each met separately with the committee in February, where they allegedly lied.

Republicans have repeatedly claimed that Biden's men used the family name to unjustly enrich themselves, profiting from Joe Biden's political career.

The White House has previously dismissed the allegations, calling them “baseless insinuations.”

The DoJ, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland – a Biden appointee – is unlikely to pursue the charges requested by Republicans.

Mr. Garland appointed a special counsel for the Hunter Biden gun case to preserve the independence of the investigation.

However, if Donald Trump wins the November election, a new attorney general could choose to pursue prosecutions.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy opened the impeachment inquiry into President Biden last September, and the full House of Representatives voted to make it official in December.

Conservative Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to bring the articles of impeachment to the House for a vote, but current Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants the investigative process to continue.