Republican Lawmaker Stumped by Question Over Hunter Biden Subpoena

House Republican Greg Murphy was challenged on CNN after saying he would vote to hold Hunter and James Biden in contempt if they fail to turn up after being subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, despite voting against holding Steve Bannon in contempt when he failed to testify before the January 6 committee.

On Wednesday, James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, revealed he had signed subpoenas for Hunter and James, son and brother of President Joe Biden respectively. This forms part of an ongoing impeachment investigation into Biden, who Republicans allege traded political favors for financial payments to members of his family. The president has strongly denied any wrongdoing, and insists he "never talked business" with Hunter or his business partners.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Biden in September, which could potentially lead to a full impeachment trial similar to the two faced by Trump. Comer has claimed to have "mountains of evidence" against Biden, though Republicans faced mockery after it emerged the transfer of $200,000 from James to Joe Biden in 2018, which had been touted as a key piece of evidence, was in fact a loan repayment.

Murphy was asked whether he would vote to hold Hunter and James Biden in contempt, should they refuse to appear before the oversight committee, during a Thursday appearance on John Berman's CNN show. He replied: "Absolutely, absolutely, why would they not be? What do they have to hide?"

Berman then noted Murphy had voted against holding Bannon in contempt after he refused to testify before the January 6 committee in 2021, which led to the conviction of the former president's ex-chief White House strategist the following year.

Murphy responded: "It's a little bit of higher different standards John when you have somebody who's in elected office versus someone who's not in elected office."

The CNN host then asked "what office Hunter Biden is in?" prompting Murphy to comment: "I'm not talking about Hunter Biden, I'm talking about Joe Biden the president of the United States."

Appearing visibly exasperated Berman then said: "You haven't subpoenaed him...I'm asking if Hunter Biden or Jim Biden, the brother or son of the president who are not elected officials, if they're not responsive will you hold them in contempt?"

In response, Murphy again accused Biden of influence peddling, before suggesting the difference Hunter and James have with Bannon is the latter isn't related to the former president, whereas the former are to the incumbent.

The CNN anchor appeared unconvinced, stating: "He was a former employee of President Donald Trump and the other people who you did not vote to hold in contempt literally worked for the former president Donald Trump."

Newsweek has reached out to Murphy for comment by telephone.

Despite Comer's criticism of Biden for loaning his brother $200,000 in 2018, The Daily Beast has since claimed the Republican committee chair engaged in a similar practice, swapping land with his brother related to their family farming business with one loan for $200,000 involving a shell company. Newsweek contacted Comer by email for comment on the story.