Karine Jean-Pierre again dodges the question of whether Biden knew about son Hunter’s business deals – instead accusing Republicans of focusing on the First Family rather than Americans
- The White House Press Secretary gave her first White House briefing in 2023
- She was asked about the House GOP’s plans to investigate Biden family members
- She said Republicans ‘want to focus on political division’
- Spoke as MP. Kevin McCarthy failed to secure votes to become Speaker of the House of Representatives
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre capitalized on the chaos in the House on Tuesday when she dodged a question about Hunter Biden’s business deals and accused House Republicans of ignoring American families.
In her first press briefing of the new year, Jean-Pierre was asked about Republican oversight in the House of Representatives, which will kick into high gear once Republicans can unite around a candidate for speaker, which they failed to do in tense voting on Tuesday.
Republicans claim to have evidence of Biden’s involvement in family businesses, armed in part with information gleaned from Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop.
“House Republicans pledged that fighting inflation would be their top priority during the midterms. They said it was important to them. … Instead they want to investigate the president and his family. They don’t want to focus on the American people in their family. They want to focus on the political division,” she said.
House Republicans “want to focus on the political divide,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. She fought back Republicans who say they have evidence of Biden’s involvement in family members’ business dealings
Asked specifically about the turmoil at the House GOP conference, Jean-Pierre said the president did not want to “interfere with this process.”
And she halted a trip Wednesday with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to McConnell’s home state. Biden has long called McConnell a friend, and they will highlight the Brent-Spence Bridge, which will receive $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funding.
“Tomorrow we’re looking at a trip, an event that’s going to be non-partisan,” she said.
She said the American people “want us to continue building on policies that the President is going to speak about tomorrow … When you think of infrastructure, it connects communities. And that’s one of the most important things we’re going to see tomorrow,” she said.
The White House press secretary was speaking when Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not receive enough votes to become the next Speaker of the House
No comment from the White House on Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) as a possible candidate for Speaker of the House
The White House is preparing to present Biden’s trip to Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday, January 4, 2023
House Republicans have vowed to investigate Hunter Biden’s business dealings, armed with subpoena power information from his infamous laptop
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held her first briefing in 2023
She opposed efforts to get her to include Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who in three ballots failed to get the 218 votes he needs to become the next speaker.
“I won’t interfere,” she said. She was also a mom when asked about Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), a potential replacement candidate. Their briefing came while political junkies had their eyes on C-Span to watch the House of Representatives, where 19 House Conservatives voted for Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan over McCarthy.
Jordan himself had endorsed McCarthy, and gave a speech advocating McCarthy’s election so the GOP could take over a large government and oversee the Biden administration.