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Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Hunter Biden had a tense exchange Wednesday during Hunter Biden’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee, with the president’s son criticizing Gaetz’s line of questioning. I objected.
In a closed session, Biden called his father’s impeachment inquiry a “partisan political pursuit” driven by a “MAGA-motivated conspiracy,” according to a transcript released Thursday by the committee.
Gaetz, a frequent defender of former President Donald Trump, asked Biden about serving on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Gaetz wanted to know whether Biden, a recovering addict, had been “drugged” while on the board.
Biden’s lawyer, Abby Rowell, first objected to this.
“One of the things I talked about with the staff was the question of whether that was out of bounds. If you want to spend the rest of the last hour asking about his drug use, Please do that,” Lowell said. “That’s off the table. Certainly, this has nothing to do with the impeachment inquiry, and it has nothing to do with the oversight of ethics laws that might apply to the families of the president and vice president. So come on, but. That’s out of scope and a waste of time.”
Gaetz repeatedly asked Biden, “Did you take drugs while you were on the board of Burisma?”
Mr. Biden responded: Gates, look into my eyes. Do you really think it’s appropriate to ask me? ”
After Gaetz said “absolutely” yes, Biden asked, “Of all the people sitting around this table, do you think that’s the appropriate thing to ask me?” I fought back.
Biden revealed in a Daily Beast report earlier this month that in 2021, a young woman told prosecutors working on a sex trafficking investigation that she had sex with Gates at a party she attended. , could be hinting at a series of sordid allegations against Florida’s flaming brand. Where attendance fees were paid and drugs were present. When asked for comment at the time, a spokesperson for Gates said: Gates knows nothing about the woman you are referring to. ”
Last February, federal prosecutors decided to close the investigation against Gaetz without filing charges. Gates is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sex crimes and drug use.
Gaetz claims the investigation is retaliation for his role in the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.
“The Ethics Committee is working on retaliation against me for expelling Kevin McCarthy, who appointed every Republican on his own,” he told ABC News earlier this month.
When Biden asked Gates if his question was “appropriate,” Gates responded, “Yes. Are you going to answer?”
After some more back and forth, Biden responded at length.
“I say this: I’m absolutely transparent about my drug use. Again, I told you all about it earlier this morning. I’m sorry; I’m an addict. “I was an addict. I’ve been in recovery for over four and a half years now, Mr. Gates. I’m working really hard,” he said.
“Let me answer this. I’m trying very hard under tremendous pressure. Was I an addict? Yes, I was an addict. What does that have to do with whether you’re going to move forward with the impeachment of my father?”
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