Jim Jordan's Attack on Hunter Biden Backfires

An attack by the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan, on Hunter Biden, the president's son, for offering to appear before Congress in a public hearing instead of complying with the terms of a subpoena has been met with suggestions of hypocrisy.

"Donald Trump Jr. sat for two depositions with Congress," the GOP representative for Ohio wrote on Tuesday. "Why can't Hunter Biden?"

His comments came after a lawyer for Biden offered to testify publicly in front of the House Oversight Committee, which is pursuing an investigation into the Biden family's financial and business dealings. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a letter that he would rather do so to avoid his testimony being selectively leaked to manipulate the public narrative.

"If, as you claim, your efforts are important and involve issues that Americans should know about, then let the light shine on these proceedings," Lowell wrote.

Both Jordan and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer responded that Biden could testify publicly in future, but that they wanted him to comply with the terms of the subpoena, issued earlier this month, and sit for a deposition on December 13 behind closed doors.

"Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else," Comer said in a statement. Jordan told the Associated Press that House Republicans were "happy he wants to talk."

However, his criticism of Biden over attempting to defy the terms of the subpoena prompted its own disapproval, referencing Jordan disregarding a subpoena to appear before the now defunct House investigation into the January 6, 2021, uprising on the Capitol.

The GOP representative faced taunts from House Democrats in September over the matter. He was originally handed a subpoena to appear in front of the investigation in December 2021, but did not show up at his scheduled deposition dates in 2022.

"Is it just me or is it a little rich for Jim Jordan, who DEFIED A SUBPOENA, to be complaining about Hunter Biden offering to COMPLY with a subpoena?" Daniel Goldman, a Democratic representative for New York, wrote. "Chairman Jordan, we'd be happy to take your testimony any way you want to give it."

"Steve Bannon was subpoenaed by the House—and refused to appear. Jim Jordan was subpoenaed by the House—and refused to appear," Tristan Snell, a lawyer who, as an assistant attorney general for New York was part of the legal team that prosecuted Trump University, commented. "Hunter Biden was subpoenaed by the House, agreed to appear—and MAGA Republicans now refuse to let him appear."

In response to Jordan's question—"Why can't Hunter Biden [attend a deposition]?"—Brian Krassenstein, an internet personality and political commentator, said: "Why can't Jim Jordan?"

Newsweek approached Jordan's office via email for comment on Wednesday.

Jordan was previously accused of "flaming hypocrisy" for the same reason when the subpoenas were first handed out to Biden family members at the beginning of the month.

As well as Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's brother, James, and former business associate, Rob Walker, were served. James Biden's wife, Sara, and Hallie Biden, the widow of the president's son, Beau, were also asked to appear voluntarily for transcribed interviews.

At the time, Lowell described the subpoenas as a "political stunt" and said the investigation had so far yielded only "worn-out, false, baseless, or debunked claims." He added that his client was "eager to have the opportunity, in a public forum and at the right time, to discuss these matters with the Committee."