[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s brother James Biden met privately with House investigators Wednesday as Republicans continue their months-long impeachment inquiry into the president.
Republican lawmakers have argued that Joe Biden benefited financially from his family’s foreign business dealings, but no evidence has yet been provided to show that Biden was directly involved.
In a prepared opening statement obtained by USA TODAY, James Biden vehemently denied allegations that Joe Biden was directly involved in his business. The president’s brother said: “He has never been involved in any of these activities and has no financial interest, direct or indirect. None.”
James Biden added that he has “nothing to hide” and explained that he hopes that’s what lawmakers will do. ”Information that leads me to conclude that my negative and destructive beliefs about my relationship with my brother Joe are incorrect. ”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, left the meeting and expressed skepticism Wednesday about whether James Biden was telling the truth. “He certainly said some things that made me think he was conveniently forgetting something,” he told reporters.
Preparing to vote: See who’s running for president and compare their positions on important issues with our voter guide
James Biden told Republicans on Wednesday that the impeachment inquiry is “baseless.” Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers have vowed to move forward with the investigation and are scheduled to question the president’s son, Hunter Biden, in a Feb. 28 deposition.
What did James Biden say to Republicans?
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told reporters that James Biden “has a wall between him and Joe Biden in terms of business activities.” It has been made completely clear that there is.”
“Joe Biden was not an investor or a partner. He had nothing to do with the business that (James) Biden was working on,” Raskin said.
In his prepared opening statement, James Biden also attacked widespread Republican suspicions about his business practices and whether the president was involved.
“I have never asked my brother to take any official action on my behalf, my business associates, or anyone else,” James Biden said in his opening statement.
James Biden also denied any possibility of malicious activity regarding two checks he used to pay the president $40,000 and $200,000 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The check was marked “loan repayment,” but Republican investigators have expressed doubts that was its purpose.
Bank records previously reviewed by USA TODAY suggest that the check is indeed a repayment for a loan the president previously made to his brother.
“These were short-term loans that I received when Joe was a civilian and I paid them back within a few weeks. He had no information whatsoever about the source of the funds that I paid him back. The full explanation is that Joe lent me money and I paid him back as soon as I had the funds,” James Biden’s statement reads.
What did Republicans ask James Biden?
In an interview Wednesday, Jordan told reporters that Republicans planned to ask questions about James Biden’s various business affairs and “money, business, the (Biden) brand.” Republicans also investigated whether Joe Biden, as president, conspired to “cover up” his alleged involvement.
James Biden insists he has never tried to use his last name in his work, saying in his opening statement: “In every business venture I have ever been involved in, I have relied on my talent, judgment, skills and personal relationships.”
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a member of both the House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, questioned James Biden’s statements but did not immediately address the evidence. . Instead, he told reporters to wait for a transcript of his interview.
One of the deals Republicans are investigating is James Biden’s involvement in the now-bankrupt healthcare startup Amecore. Carol Fox, a bankruptcy trustee interviewed by investigators last year, testified that James Biden promised he could use her last name to secure funding for the company from the Middle East, but the money never came.
The parties agreed to a $350,000 settlement in the ensuing lawsuit.
Republicans are also questioning James Biden’s business ties to bankrupt Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC and whether Joe Biden was improperly involved. Tony Bobulinski, one of Hunter Biden’s former business associates, testified before the committee earlier this month that Joe Biden “enabled” these businesses.
But James Biden dismissed Bobulinski in front of lawmakers as someone who was “very arrogant, often rude and not a good listener, and acted like a stubborn bully.” James Biden accused his family of being upset about being left out of the deal.
Democrats echo that sentiment, questioning Bobulinski’s credibility as a witness. sFrom his testimony earlier this month.
James Biden interview comes after key officials were falsely indicted
James Biden’s sit-down with investigators comes after former FBI informant indicted on charges of lying about Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s involvement in Ukrainian energy company Burisma It was done a day later.
Informant Alexander Smirnov has been repeatedly touted by Republicans as a “credible source” supporting their claims that Joe Biden was inappropriately involved in some of Hunter Biden’s work.
Prosecutors said in a court memo that Smirnov admitted to having been in contact with Russian intelligence officials and said Russian officials passed on information about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. Prosecutors noted that Smirnov’s claims were “not trivial,” but the memo did not specify whether his claims could be verified.
Republican investigators have sought to downplay the charges against Mr. Smirnov, saying the charges against him are little different from those in the impeachment inquiry.
“That’s what it is,” Jordan told reporters Wednesday morning about the charges. “The basic facts remain the same.”
Raskin told reporters earlier in the interview that the room felt like a “quiet affair.”
“It feels as if everyone knows the impeachment inquiry is over,” Raskin said.
[ad_2]
Source link
