Hunter Biden Defies Closed-Door House Subpoena, Demands Public Hearing

Hunter Biden was subpoenaed for a closed-door deposition on Wednesday. Instead, he held a press conference at the Capitol and demanded a public hearing. 

The Details: Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), who lead House committees investigating Hunter’s business dealings, threatened to hold the younger Biden in contempt of Congress for defying their subpoena. 

Key Quotes: “For six years, I have been the target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine shouting ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here is my answer, I am here,” the president’s son said, accusing House Republicans of trying to “dehumanize me all to embarrass and damage my father.”

For Context: GOP-led House committees are investigating whether the president committed impeachable offenses related to his son’s business dealings, which allegedly involved selling influence, real or not, over then-Vice President Biden. Hunter has also been indicted on gun and tax charges. In February, Hunter hired Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who had previously represented Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump and was reportedly known for “aggressive tactics.”

How the Media Covered It: Right-rated outlets were likelier to feature the story at the top of their home pages. The New York Post (Lean Right bias), which first reported Hunter’s laptop in 2020 and has since covered him negatively, said Hunter “made a shameless plea for public sympathy.” Left-rated outlets tended to describe Hunter’s statement with more forceful words like “demands” and “slams.”