The panel considered the measure because Hunter defied a subpoena on Dec. 13 when he instead made a public statement outside the Capitol accusing Republicans of trying to damage his father's presidency.
Republicans erupted in the room when they saw the president's son, with Rep. Nancy Mace (South Carolina) in particular asking “who bribed Hunter Biden to be here.”
In high spirits, Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz then suggested that the committee vote “immediately” on Biden’s confirmation hearing and asked those present to raise their hands, but only his party colleagues followed suit.
Hunter Biden appeared at the meeting this Wednesday along with his lawyer Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris, a deputy lawyer who is scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee next week to give an opinion.
Biden and Lowell left the room minutes later, just as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) began speaking.
Lowell addressed reporters and told them: “Hunter Biden was and is a private citizen. Still, Republicans have tried to use him as a surrogate to attack his father.”
He criticized them for demanding “an unprecedented determination to despise someone who has offered to answer all their questions publicly,” and the question, he added, is: “What are they afraid of?”
The Oversight and Judiciary Committees are taking steps to hold Hunter in contempt following December's disobedience.
Republicans in the House have been investigating Biden's son's alleged “influence peddling” for some time, even since his term as Vice President of the United States (2009-2017).
They have now launched impeachment proceedings against President Biden that remain focused on Hunter's business dealings and the handling of a Justice Department investigation into him for tax crimes.
ro/dfm