House Republicans have taken a decisive step in the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden by accusing his family members of criminal conduct.
Fox News reported that House committee chairmen have issued criminal referrals to the Department of Justice for Hunter Biden and James Biden, claiming they made false statements to Congress.
Hunter Biden, President Biden's son, allegedly misled Congress about his involvement with Rosemont Seneca Bohai LLC. He reportedly denied details concerning the entity’s banking activities, including substantial financial transactions from foreign sources.
President Biden's brother, James Biden, is accused of falsifying information regarding a meeting with business associate Tony Bobulinski. The meeting was pertinent to a potential agreement with CEFC China Energy in 2017, which James denied took place. Contrarily, bank records, textual exchanges, and direct testimonies from Bobulinski suggest otherwise.
The House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees have backed these allegations with what they describe as substantial evidence. Their investigations suggest a pattern where the Bidens allegedly gave false testimonies to Congress to protect the president during the impeachment inquiry.
James Comer emphasized the severity of these actions, pointing out the serious consequences of lying under oath. Jason Smith, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, echoed this sentiment: "Lying to Congress to impede an ongoing congressional investigation is a serious offense."
Republicans argue that these false statements were deliberately made to shield President Biden from allegations of using his office for personal and familial financial gain. This referral comes as Hunter Biden faces upcoming federal trials on separate charges, including gun-related offenses and tax evasion, with jury selection scheduled to begin on September 5.
Jim Jordan highlighted the financial incentives behind the alleged falsehoods, explaining, "They lied to cover up President Biden’s involvement in their family’s international influence peddling schemes that have generated millions of dollars."
Republicans further believe these initiatives fortify their ongoing impeachment inquiry into alleged influence peddling by the Biden family. According to Republicans, these alleged business entanglements directly involved and financially benefited President Biden.
Discussing the charges, James Comer mentioned, "This is not the end of our efforts to hold the Bidens accountable; it’s only the beginning." Moreover, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan expressed deep concern over the administration's financial dealings and the evasion strategies deployed to obfuscate the president's involvement.
Officials from the House Republican camp have clearly stated their expectations for the Department of Justice. Jason Smith underscored the potential consequences of inaction: "If the Department of Justice fails to act on our criminal referral and hold Hunter Biden accountable, they will once again be telling the American people there are two tiers of justice in this country."
The referrals made by House Republicans to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Special Counsel David Weiss are central to an impeachment inquiry related to alleged misuse of power for personal gain.
Democrats see this legal situation as politically motivated amidst a tense electoral climate, with significant implications for accountability and the rule of law. As the Department of Justice takes action, national and international observers are keenly awaiting the outcomes, which could set important legal precedents.
