Comer: DOJ’s Hunter Indictment Shields Biden Family Corruption
First son Hunter Biden was indicted in a Los Angeles federal court this week on nine federal tax counts, sparking fresh debate about the motivations of the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ). House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) took a controversial position on the new charges, suggesting that the indictment might be more about shielding the Biden family’s corruption than administering justice.
“What he got charged with, with that indictment last night, that had nothing to do with all of the so-called loans that the Bidens have taken,” Comer said on Friday.
This week’s indictment includes six misdemeanor and three felony federal tax charges. The court filings submitted in support of the charges by the DOJ go into detail about Hunter Biden’s extravagant spending and significant income over five years but do not mention Joe Biden by name at any point.
Comer spoke to the bravery of IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler for moving the investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged tax crimes forward, saying, “Every American should applaud these men for their courage to expose the truth.”
Comer’s take on the DOJ’s motivation for bringing the case this week is founded on the claim that the indictment serves as a shield for Hunter Biden, especially from a deposition before the House Oversight Committee that has been scheduled for next week. Comer said, “My concern is that Weiss may have indicted Biden to protect him from having to be deposed in the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.”
During an interview Friday with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Comer was challenged about his claim, given the significance of the felony charges Hunter Biden now faces. Tapper pointed out that Hunter is now “facing like 17 additional years in prison.” Of course, Tapper assumes that the DOJ will aggressively prosecute the new charges and that Joe Biden will not grant a pardon to his son at some point.
Comer noted that his committee’s investigation has produced evidence showing Joe Biden’s direct participation and benefit from his family’s financial activities, despite no direct connection being made in this week’s indictment of Hunter. “The House Oversight Committee’s investigation of the Bidens’ influence peddling schemes reveals how Joe Biden knew about, participated in, and benefitted from his family cashing in on the Biden name,” Comer said.
The unfolding situation around Hunter Biden’s indictment poses critical questions about the possible political motivations of the Biden DOJ. As more details emerge, conservatives and Republican lawmakers are expected to demand accountability and transparency into the first family’s financial arrangements and international deals.