Following an announcement on Thursday that the GOP will be investigating President Joe Biden for his alleged involvement in son Hunter’s shady overseas business dealings, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the incoming Oversight Committee chairman, defended the choice to make a probe into the Biden family — and, specifically, Joe Biden — a top priority.
“What we proved today was, first of all, Joe Biden lied to the American people when he said he had no knowledge of Hunter Biden’s shady business dealings,” Comer told Fox News’s “Special Report” host, Bret Baier. “That is a complete lie.”
(Video: Fox News)
As BizPac Review reported, Rep. Comer, joined by Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, held a press conference on Thursday in which the duo accused Joe Biden of “waste, fraud, and abuse” in overseas business dealings involving Hunter Biden.
Comer stated the investigation has uncovered instances of “influence peddling, including with people closely tied with foreign governments like China and Russia.”
“We want the bank records and that’s our focus,” Comer said. “We’re trying to stay focused on: Was Joe Biden directly involved with Hunter Biden’s business deals and is he compromised? That’s our investigation.”
‘Abuse of the highest order’: House Republicans accuse Joe Biden of being involved in Hunter’s shady business dealings https://t.co/Ouf0NxINSC pic.twitter.com/QF4MWYH7IH
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) November 18, 2022
“[Joe Biden] also denied having any financial benefit from Hunter Biden,” Comer later told Baier. “What we have proven today is not only did he know about Hunter’s shady business dealings with our adversaries in Ukraine, Russia, and China, but he also was going to be an active part of that.”
Comer cited emails and whistleblower testimony that have been uncovered during the investigation into Hunter Biden that appear to show his father was very much a part of the Biden family’s deals, despite his claims to the contrary.
“Joe Biden was actively involved in Hunter’s shady business dealings,” Comer said. “And maybe that’s why we are getting such bad policy.”
“We learned today that one of their business propositions was to try to get China’s foot in the door on American natural gas industry,” he noted. “I think the American people need to know that. Has that compromised this administration?”
Even in the face of such apparently damning evidence, Baier still questioned Comer’s timing.
“Why roll this out today?” he asked the lawmaker. “For the people who look at this and say, ‘What did you take from the midterm elections?’ Republicans talked about focusing on the economy and inflation. Why roll this out today as the first kind of foot forward?”
“Well, we have the Commitment to America,” Comer answered. “It had four different tenets. One tenet holding this administration accountable. The Oversight Committee is 8% of the Republican conference. So, we’re focused on identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.”
“The other 92% of the conference, they are focused on other issues that I think are of the utmost importance to the American people,” he continued. “Reducing inflation. Trying to secure the border. Trying to get an energy policy that makes sense.”
But according to Comer, the nation’s citizens also want to know the truth about their leaders.
“I think the American people care about whether or not their leaders are compromised,” he said. “Whether or not they have been involved in shady business deals that have enriched themselves and their family members.”
“That’s what our investigation is going to be about,” he stressed. “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
“We are also going to be working on and introducing legislation that we hope reduces inflation, that the price of prescription drugs and things like that,” Comer said. “We have a big agenda. This is one small part of it.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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