After Several Hours, House Oversight Committee Votes to Hold Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress

On Wednesday evening, after a markup that stretched on for hours and became quite chaotic at times, with even a brief visit from the first son himself, the House Oversight Committee voted 25-21 along party lines to hold Hunter Biden in contempt. 

Hunter Biden had received lawful subpoenas to provide closed-door testimony. He had offered to appear for public testimony, but House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) quickly let him know that that would not be acceptable. Comer and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) also made clear to Hunter and his attorneys that he was expected to appear and would face consequences if he did not. Hunter showed up to the Capitol on December 13, to the Senate side, to give a press conference in a space reserved by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and then left. On Wednesday, the Committees took action to follow through. 

The matter was expertly summed up by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) early on in the markup, as members devolved into discussing "white privilege," as well as January 6 and former and potentially future President Donald Trump.