Republican Admits Hunter Biden's Transcript Will 'Read Well'

Representative Andy Biggs, an Arizona Republican, told Fox News' Harris Faulkner on Thursday that the transcript of Hunter Biden's deposition in his father's impeachment probe will "read well."

The Context

House Republicans are leading an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The president is accused of being involved with and benefiting from his son Hunter's foreign business dealings. The White House has repeatedly denied that Biden had anything to do with his son's dealings.

In a much-anticipated closed-door meeting on Wednesday, the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees interviewed Hunter on claims that his father personally benefited from and influenced his foreign business deals in China and Ukraine while Biden was vice president under the Obama administration.

Hunter said in his opening statement, which was obtained by Newsweek, that he did not involve his father in his business, adding, "Not while I was a practicing lawyer, not in my investments or transactions, domestic or international, not as a board member, and not as an artist. Never."

What We Know

Biggs, a member of the Oversight Committee, said on The Faulkner Focus that some of the statements Hunter made during his testimony were "absolutely contradictory," but admitted that "when the transcript comes out, it's gonna read well for him 'cause they did a great job prepping for a read."

Biden initially refused to comply with his subpoena, saying that he would testify publicly, but not partake in a private deposition. He eventually agreed to a closed-door meeting with the conditions that it would not be filmed and that a transcript of the testimony would be quickly released following the interview.

Newsweek reached out to Hunter Biden's lawyer and Biggs' office via email for comment.

The Views

Representative James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the Oversight committee told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday night: "I thought it was a very good deposition for us. We were able to confirm a lot of the wrongdoings through Hunter Biden's testimony. There are many financial crimes that we believe were committed by the Biden family.

"But what we also learned today, Sean, was that a lot of what Hunter said was contradictory to what a least three of what his former associates said."

Meanwhile, Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who is a ranking member on the Oversight Committee, said on Capitol Hill on Wednesday: "This whole thing really has been a tremendous waste of our legislative time and the people's resources."

Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell said following his client's deposition: "There is nothing left to ask, answer, say, or do ... this political charade should finally come to an end."

What's Next?

Despite a crucial source in the impeachment inquiry, former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, getting charged with making false statements and manufacturing false records concerning the Biden family's business dealings in Ukraine earlier this month, House Republicans are continuing their probe with confidence.

"The next phase now is to bring Hunter in for a public hearing and hear from the other Biden associates and let's determine then who the American people think are telling the truth," Comer told Hannity Wednesday night.

Updated 2/29/24, 12:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Updated 2/29/24, 12:27 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.