As part of its investigation of the Biden family’s business dealings, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Hunter Biden, James Biden, and their business associate Rob Walker to testify before the panel.
The Committee also requested transcribed interviews from James Biden’s wife, Sara Biden; President Biden’s daughter-in-law, Hallie Biden, the widow of President Biden’s son Beau, who later was romantically involved with Hunter; Hallie Biden’s older sister, Elizabeth Secundy; and Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen.
According to financial records subpoenaed by the Committee earlier this year, the Biden family, including Hallie Biden and Sara Biden, received nearly $1 million in payments from accounts linked to Walker. According to the records, Robinson Walker, LLC wired $25,000 to Hallie Biden in March 2017.
Walker partnered with a Chinese energy company, CEFC, on a venture named Sinohawk Holdings.
The Committee additionally requested a transcribed interview with Tony Bobulinski, a previous business associate of Hunter Biden’s who was also involved in Sinohawk Holdings.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said, “The House Oversight Committee has followed the money and built a record of evidence revealing how Joe Biden knew, was involved in, and benefited from his family’s influence-peddling schemes. Now, the House Oversight Committee will bring in members of the Biden family and their associates to question them on this record of evidence. Unlike the many lies President Biden told the American people about his family’s business schemes, bank records don’t lie. These records reveal how the Bidens sold Joe Biden around to the world to benefit the Biden family, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of United States interests.”
“The House Oversight Committee, along with the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, will continue to follow the facts and deliver the transparency and accountability American people demand and deserve,” Comer added.
The subpoenas come as part of the Committee’s months-long investigation into the Biden family’s financial operations and whether or not President Biden benefitted from or participated in his family’s business operations.
The investigation, led by Kentucky Republican and Committee Chairman James Comer, is a part of the more extensive House impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo, lead that inquiry.
The subpoenaed and voluntary testimony will likely flow into the broader impeachment inquiry as Republicans attempt to uncover if President Biden misused his authority or committed a high crime or misdemeanor.
Comer subpoenaed both Hunter’s and James Biden’s personal and business bank records in September. The subpoenaed documents raised additional questions about whether or not President Biden was aware of or engaged in his family’s business dealings.
Comer said last week that the subpoenaed bank records confirmed that President Biden received $40,000 in laundered Chinese money from the bank account belonging to James Biden and Sara Biden.
Comer said the money trail began in July 2017 when Hunter Biden demanded a $10 million payment from CEFC called SinoHawk Holdings, which he worked on with James Biden, Walker, and Bobulinski. In a WhatsApp message, Hunter claimed he was sitting with his father and that the Biden network would ensure “you will regret not following my direction” if his Chinese business associate refused to pay up, Comer explained.
Comer, citing bank records he and his Committee have obtained, said that on Aug. 8, 2017, the $5 million in funds were sent to Hudson West III, a joint venture established by Hunter Biden and CEFC associate Gongwen Dong. The same day, Hudson West III sent $400,000 to Owasco, P.C., a separate entity controlled and owned by Hunter Biden.
Days later, on Aug. 14, 2017, Hunter Biden wired $150,000 to Lion Hall Group, a company owned by James Biden and his wife Sara Biden. By Aug. 28, 2017, Sara Biden withdrew $50,000 cash from Lion Hall Group. She later deposited it into her and James Biden’s personal checking account, Comer said
Comer noted that Sara Biden sent a check to Joe Biden for $40,000 just days later. The check had a memo line reading: loan repayment.
Subpoenaed financial records also showed that Joe Biden acquired a $200,000 direct payment in 2018 in the form of a personal check from James Biden and Sara Biden. That check was also labeled loan repayment.
Comer has instructed the White House to provide documentation confirming the checks were repayments of personal loans. The White House has yet to comply with those requests.