White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined Thursday to respond to 's question about why she couldn't share information about President Joe Biden's role in son Hunter's legal defense.
Officials have repeatedly argued that Hunter Biden is a private citizen, but when asked why she couldn't share information about the president, who is a public figure, Jean-Pierre focused on Hunter and repeated her previous statements, that Hunter does not work at the White House.
“Emily, I really don’t have anything more to add. He is a private citizen. He is not a member of the White House. He doesn't work here. I just don't have anything else to share. I would have to – I would have to refer you to Hunter's representative. “I can’t add anything more,” she said.
The issue of Hunter Biden has proven sensitive in the White House as aides and observers are cautious about what they say about the first son.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined Thursday to respond to 's question about why she couldn't share information about President Joe Biden's role in son Hunter's legal defense
For example, the White House on Wednesday would not say whether President Biden knew that Hunter would cancel Republicans' contempt hearing on Capitol Hill, a surprise move that led to chaos at the Capitol.
Jean-Pierre said she would not elaborate on the president's private conversations, arguing that Hunter is a private citizen who makes his own decisions.
“Hunter, as you all know, is a private citizen. “He is not a member of this White House, but he makes his own decisions,” she said during her daily news conference.
She also declined to say whether Hunter, who lives in Los Angeles, stayed at the White House residence during his stay in Washington DC
“I will not talk about the president’s private conversation with his family,” Jean-Pierre said.
Hunter Biden caused chaos on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning when he unexpectedly appeared before the House Oversight Committee as it prepared to vote to convict him of contempt of Congress for failing to attend private testimony. Hunter had offered to testify publicly, but Republicans insisted he speak privately.
Jean-Pierre referred all questions to Hunter Biden's representatives.
This contrasted with her response to Hunter's Dec. 13 appearance on Capitol Hill. The first son went to the Capitol to testify publicly in response to the House Republican subpoena, but Republican lawmakers demanded a closed-door deposition.
When Jean-Pierre was asked about Hunter Biden's behavior that day, she said, “The president certainly knew what his son was going to say.”
In return, Republicans accused the president of interfering in congressional proceedings.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Republican of Kentucky, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, sent a letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel saying they were “forced to “As part of our impeachment inquiry, we are investigating whether the President was involved in a conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding.
The White House has refused to comment publicly on Hunter Biden's aggressive strategy against House Republicans who accuse President Biden of using his official position to enrich his family through Hunter's business dealings. House Republicans want to cross-examine Hunter on the matter as part of their impeachment inquiry into the president.
Democrats have condemned the move as a political ploy and retaliation for Democrats' impeachment of former President Donald Trump. And as for the federal indictment against Hunter, the government has said it is not interfering with the Justice Department's investigation.
Hunter Biden leaves a House hearing on Wednesday after briefly appearing in the room where Republicans wanted to hold him in contempt of Congress
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and Beau Biden Jr. watch the July 4th fireworks display
President Biden, Hunter Biden and White House officials have repeatedly denied that the president was involved in his son's financial affairs.
But Hunter's business partner told Congress that Biden, who was then vice president, would make phone calls with clients during Hunter's meetings – up to 20 times. The White House described these as casual discussions.
Hunter defended his father again Wednesday when asked why he had his father on the phone during business meetings.
“Do you have a father? Is he calling you? “Are you answering the phone?” he said as he left the hearing.
Hunter spent about 17 minutes at Wednesday's hearings with his attorneys. He walked out as Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia began talking about his business dealings and the ongoing impeachment inquiry into the president.
“Hunter Biden is terrified of strong conservative Republican women because he can’t even stand my words,” Greene said, calling Hunter a “coward.”
Later she also showed nude photos of her first son.
In response, Jill Biden criticized “horrible” Republicans in the House of Representatives for showing images and said what they were doing to her son was “cruel.”
“What they're doing to Hunter is cruel and I'm really proud of how he's rebuilt his life after addiction.” I love my son. It hurt my grandchildren. “That's what I'm very concerned about, that it will impact their lives as well,” the first lady said in an interview that aired Thursday on Morning Joe.
Biden sat down with MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski to talk about the 2024 presidential campaign and her family.
Brzezinski asked the first lady about the other side's criticism, including calling her “the Biden crime family” and criticizing her husband as a “liar” and “mentally incompetent.”
Jill Biden responded to Republican investigations into her family and the protests against her, such as the “Let's Go Brandon” meme, have made her even more determined to get Joe Biden another term in the White House.
“Oh, that makes me want to join the fight even more, because we have to win.” We have to win. “We cannot give up our democracy,” she said.
At Wednesday's hearing, Democrats on the panel called on Republicans who control it to let Hunter testify immediately, but Republicans insisted he must undergo closed testimony as ordered in their subpoena.
Hunter has said he will not testify behind closed doors because he fears the GOP will leak parts of the transcript to make him look bad.
Hunter Biden sits between his attorney Abbe Lowell (right) and Kevin Morris (left).
Jill Biden defended Hunter in an interview with MSNBC, saying what Republicans are doing to her son is “cruel.”
Republicans reacted angrily to Hunter's appearance.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina said he should be arrested and jailed immediately.
“You are the epitome of white privilege when you come on the Oversight Committee, spit in our faces and ignore a congressional subpoena to be served,” Mace said as Hunter sat in the audience. 'What are you afraid of? You don't have an asshole.'
“If the lady wants to hear from Hunter Biden, we can hear from him now,” offered Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida.
When the hearing began, Hunter entered the committee hearing room with his attorneys Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris and sat in the front row, causing a loud din in the room.
After their brief performance, they left as a group. Outside the hearing room, Lowell said his client “was and is a private citizen.”
“Yet Republicans have tried to use him as a surrogate to attack his father,” he said. “And despite their inappropriate partisan motives, we have offered to work with House committees on six separate occasions since February 2023 to see what and how relevant information could be provided to a legitimate investigation.”
Republicans criticized Hunter for a “stunt.” They later voted to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress. Now the full House of Representatives must vote on whether or not to refer the matter to the Justice Department for criminal charges.
If the House approves, Hunter's case will be sent to the Justice Department for prosecution. The decision will be made by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who was appointed to the job by Biden.
In addition to a 12-month prison sentence, if convicted, Hunter could be fined up to $100,000.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., wrote “These terms are non-negotiable.”
GOP whip Tom Emmer said: “Another day, another ridiculous PR stunt from Hunter Biden.”
“If this is the Biden family’s strategy to distract the American people from their disturbing pattern of corruption, then it is pointless.”
House Republicans had subpoenaed Hunter to appear for closed-door testimony on Dec. 13.
Hunter Biden has offered to testify publicly, but Republicans want him deposed behind closed doors
President Joe Biden leaves the White House with Hunter Biden and his son Beau Biden in December before the family's Christmas at Camp David
That day, Hunter arrived on Capitol Hill with an offer to testify publicly, but reiterated his concerns about testifying privately. Republicans rejected his offer to appear publicly.
“Let me say it as clearly as I can,” Hunter said at the time. “My father had no financial involvement in my business – not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private entrepreneur, not in my investments at home or abroad, and certainly not as an artist.”
“I am here today to testify at a public hearing and to answer all of the committee's legitimate questions.” Republicans do not want an open trial in which Americans can see their tactics, reveal their baseless investigations, or hear what I have to say . What are you afraid of? I am here. “I’m ready,” he added.
Hunter faces other legal problems.
In December, he was indicted on nine federal charges related to his taxes. Earlier this summer, he pleaded not guilty to charges that he filed his taxes late for two years.
On Thursday, he pleaded not guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to tax charges stemming from business dealings that also fueled Republicans' impeachment of his father.
Hunter is accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while also spending millions of dollars on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other expensive items.
If convicted, he could face up to 17 years in prison.
Biden's lawyer Abbe Lowell said he has paid back his taxes and is being persecuted because of his famous last name.
Hunter Biden also faces firearms charges in Delaware for violating laws against drug users possessing guns in 2018. He has also pleaded not guilty in that case and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Both cases were brought by federal prosecutor David Weiss, who has been investigating him since 2019 and was appointed special prosecutor last year.