Five takeaways from the Hunter Biden transcript

Republicans conducting the impeachment investigation into President Biden released the transcript of their private interview with Hunter Biden on Thursday evening, just one day after the president’s son huddled behind closed doors for nearly seven hours on Capitol Hill. 

The younger Biden is perhaps the most crucial witness to appear before the Oversight and Judiciary committees since GOP leaders formally launched their impeachment probe last September, and Republican investigators had fought for months for the opportunity to grill him in person about his overseas business deals.

The investigation has split House lawmakers down straight party lines, and Wednesday’s feisty testimony from the president’s son did nothing to change that. 

Republicans have alleged that his business ventures were tainted by corruption and influence peddling that financially benefited other members of the family, including the president — allegations they say were bolstered Hunter Biden’s testimony.