Hunter Biden’s surprise appearance at a House Oversight Committee hearing debating whether to hold him in contempt of Congress served as a source of anger and frustration for House Republicans and a launch pad for House Democrats to strike back at formerly subpoenaed GOP members.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, surprised members by showing up for the discussion on whether to hold him in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena to sit for a deposition as part of the committee’s impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. The day he was set to go before the committee, the younger Biden held a press conference outside of the Capitol and called for a public hearing.
One Republican called for Hunter Biden’s arrest, and some Democrats blasted GOP members for their conduct during the chaotic hearing.
Here are the top five takeaways from Hunter Biden’s contempt vote hearing.
Nancy Mace cites white privilege while exploding at Hunter Biden’s surprise visit
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) argued for Hunter Biden’s arrest during Wednesday’s hearing, calling his appearance in the committee hearing room the “epitome of white privilege.”
“My first question is who bribed Hunter Biden to be here today? That’s my first question,” Mace said. “Second question, you are the epitome of white privilege. Coming into the Oversight Committee, spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed. What are you afraid of? You have no balls to come up here.”
Her words led to a cacophony of voices from Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) interrupted Mace to call for a vote to have Hunter Biden give public testimony. Mace hit back at the Florida Democrat, asking, “Are women allowed to speak in here?” and forcing Chairman James Comer (R-OH) to call for order.
Mace later said Hunter Biden should be “hauled off to jail” and pointed out that she voted to hold Steve Bannon, an ally of former President Donald Trump, in contempt of Congress in 2021.
“I believe that Hunter Biden should be held completely in contempt. I think he should be hauled off to jail right now because it wasn’t long ago, to my friends on the other side of the aisle, that you also believed in the power of a congressional subpoena,” Mace said.
Both Republicans and Democrats take issue with Mace’s white privilege comment
Reps. Bryon Donalds (R-FL) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) took issue with Mace casting the younger Biden’s hearing appearance as the “epitome of white privilege,” with the former calling it Democratic privilege and the latter saying it was insulting to her as a black woman.
Crockett spoke out against Mace’s comment on the basis of race, stating that it was a “spit in the face.”
“I can’t get over the gentlelady from South Carolina talking about white privilege. It was a spit in the face, at least of mine as a black woman, for you talk about what white privilege looks like, especially from that side of the aisle,” Crockett said.
Donalds disagreed with Mace’s assessment of Hunter Biden’s appearance as well, but he said it was a political problem, not a race problem.
“Let’s be very clear: This isn’t about Hunter Biden’s white privilege. This is about Hunter Biden’s Democrat privilege,” Donalds said, comparing him to Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s oldest son, who appeared before Congress under five subpoenas.
He said Donald Trump Jr. never put on a “circus” or dodged a subpoena by giving a “fake, phony press conference” outside the Capitol, referring to Hunter Biden’s actions in December.
“Hunter Biden did that. And then he has the unmitigated gall to show up here,” Donalds said. “And then, when the Democrats are saying, ‘Hey, he wants to speak,’ he leaves! This is a joke.”
Donalds also admonished his fellow committee members, saying that “the speechifying is great, but let’s do our business, members.”
Hunter Biden taunted about drugs
After Hunter Biden left the committee hearing room, reporters swarmed the first son to ask questions about his appearance on Capitol Hill and details of his foreign business dealings that House Republicans believe involved Joe Biden.
As Hunter Biden’s lawyer was preparing to read a statement, a reporter yelled, “What kind of crack do you normally smoke, Mr. Biden?”
Hunter Biden has frequently slammed House Republicans for weaponizing his drug addiction against him for political gain. He is facing several legal challenges heading into 2024, and he pleaded not guilty last month in Delaware federal court to three charges related to his 2018 purchase of a gun, with prosecutors accusing him of falsely filling out a federal firearms form and denying he was addicted to any narcotics.
He also faces nine criminal charges in Los Angeles that stem from a Justice Department special counsel investigation for failing to pay taxes on more than $7 million of income.
Robert Garcia calls out Marjorie Taylor Greene over naked photos of Hunter Biden
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) blasted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for complaining that Hunter Biden left the room as she was recognized to speak, calling her out for sharing naked photos of the first son in a previous hearing.
“She is the person that showed nude photos of Hunter Biden … showing d*** pics in this committee room,” Garcia said.
In July, Greene showed pictures of naked women and Hunter Biden performing sexual acts during a House Oversight Committee hearing involving two IRS whistleblowers. She warned the public that “parental discretion is advised” before holding up posterboards with photos that were obtained from Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop, enraging Democrats.
Raskin and Donalds tussle over stays at Trump hotels
Donalds and House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) engaged in a heated exchange over Trump hotel stays.
The Florida Republican asked Raskin whether he has stayed at a Trump hotel, to which the Maryland Democrat said, “No, and I would never stay at a Trump hotel.”
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“I’ve got too much self-respect and concern for hygiene,” Raskin added.
The conversation stemmed from a report released by House Democrats detailing that the former president received at least $7.8 million from 20 governments, including China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Payments were made to more than “500 entities Trump owned,” the report claims, including the Trump International Hotels in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas and Trump Tower and Trump World Tower in New York.