Things got snarky on Friday’s episode of CNN’s “The Lead,” when host Jake Tapper decided that sarcasm was the best way to counter Rep. James Comer’s concern that the indictment of Hunter Biden by special counsel David Weiss may have been timed to “protect” the first son from being deposed in Congress next week.
“My job is not to entertain you all,” Comer (R-Ky.) told Tapper. “My job is to get the proof.”
And the House Oversight Committee chair claimed there’s a lot of “proof” to look at.
(Video: CNN)
“We have over 20,000 pages of bank documents. We have dozens and dozens of wires from our enemies around the world,” Comer stated. “We have no idea what the Bidens were doing to receive this money. They didn’t pay a penny in taxes on it.”
“What he got charged with, with that indictment last night,” he continued, referring to Hunter, “that had nothing to do with the so-called loans. We’ve identified, it appears, with the president’s son and brother, over $14 million in loans where it doesn’t look like they made any payments on — principal or interest. At what point do those loans, if you’re not going to pay ’em back, become income?”
There are crimes yet to be uncovered, Comer believes.
“So, we think this is just the tip of the iceberg,” he told Tapper. “We think there’s many more crimes. and my concern is that Weiss may have indicted Hunter Biden to protect him from having to be deposed in the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.”
With smug contempt, Tapper dutifully came to the defense of President Biden’s Department of Justice.
“Ah, yes! Yes!” he shot back, feigning an epiphany. “He indicted him to protect him. Yes! The classic rubric. He indicted him to protect him. I got it!”
Comer persisted, accusing the DOJ of a “coverup.” Tapper stopped just short of handing him a tin-foil hat.
“That’s why he indicted him, to protect him?” he asked, mocking the Republican lawmaker. “To cover it up?”
“Look, you indict him on the least little thing, the gun charge and not paying taxes —” Comer tried to explain.
The liberal host cut him off.
“He’s facing like 17 additional years in prison!” Tapper exclaimed. “These are felonies!”
“Yeah, but look at what he’s done!” Comer replied. “Anybody else in America would already be in prison.”
“You say he owes two million dollars,” he continued. “He may owe seven or eight million dollars. If these loans are fraudulent loans — I mean, a loan means you are going to pay it back.”
“At the end of the day,” Comer said, “this money is coming from bad people all over the world. Why are they paying Hunter Biden? We believe that it’s because they wanted direct access to Joe Biden, and I don’t think any American, whether they’re Democrat or Republican, would want to have a president that’s compromised to our biggest enemy in the world, China.”
On Thursday, Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) introduced a 14-page resolution directing the Oversight, Ways and Means, and House Judiciary Committees to “continue their impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden.”
The resolution puts House Republicans one step closer to a formal impeachment.
This morning I introduced a resolution directing @GOPoversight, @WaysandMeansGOP, and @JudiciaryGOP to continue their impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden.
It’s time to take the next step and put the House in the best position to uncover the truth. pic.twitter.com/9K5uMUy5qi
— Congressman Kelly Armstrong (@RepArmstrongND) December 7, 2023
“It’s time for the House to take the next step in the Biden impeachment investigation and adopt an impeachment inquiry resolution,” Armstrong said in a statement.
Armstrong continued:
The White House and multiple witnesses have repeatedly refused to cooperate with the investigation and have rejected subpoenas. Despite this refusal, the investigation has uncovered alarming details that demand further scrutiny.
The Biden family and associates received more than $24 million from foreign nationals. Joe Biden received $200,000 from his brother, James Biden, the same day James received a $200,000 loan from a failing rural hospital operator. Joe Biden also received $40,000 in laundered Chinese money from his brother and sister-in-law.
It’s become clear that the Biden family sold influence around the world using Joe Biden’s name as the product. An investigation in any jurisdiction around the country would move forward if it had these facts.
A vote on an impeachment inquiry puts the House in the best position to prevail in court and uncover the truth.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
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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