Hunter Biden has gotten himself into even more trouble this week by ignoring a Congressional subpoena. House Republicans are now threatening to initiate contempt proceedings against him.
Hunter’s middle finger (metaphorically) to Congress at the Capitol may not have been the only issue that he caused.
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said that Karine Jean-Pierre could have put Joe Biden into more trouble. KJP acknowledged that Joe and Hunter discussed Hunter’s statement and that he knew it well, raising questions about whether Joe had told him to ignore the subpoena. This could raise questions about obstruction. Biden’s staffers were also asked to explain how they had been defending Joe by using debunked talking points about Joe not speaking to Hunter’s associates.
There was also another issue: Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-CA), involvement in Hunter Biden giving the House a finger. Swalwell arranged that Hunter Biden be able to speak at the Senate Swamp, a place known for its sludge, and then stood beside him as he attacked Congress.
Turley, in a recent opinion piece published by The Hill, compared Swalwell’s previous comments and actions. He said:
Swalwell, as first reported by the Washington Examiner used his official position to reserve space for the Press Conference and assisted Hunter to refuse to appear before House committees that were investigating his father, Biden. The role played by a former House Impeachment Manager in helping to obstruct an impeachment investigation of three House Committees was curious.
Swalwell, of course, has called for the arrest and prosecution of those who were involved in the illegal conduct at the Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021.
Swalwell, for example, sponsored a 2021 resolution that explored whether dozens of Republican colleagues might be expelled from Congress under the 14th Amendment if they “made unsubstantiated allegations of systematic voter and election fraud.”
Turley called it “aiding, abetting, and obstructing both a possible crime and congressional proceedings.”
Hunter did not only show contempt for Congress, he also paraded his contempt in front of Swalwell.
Swalwell blamed Republicans for wanting to have a deposition behind closed doors. Turley pointed out that Swalwell used this method to take depositions in the investigation of Trump’s telephone calls with Ukraine. There is no public performance and you can ask the questioner as much as you want without being limited by time. You can’t choose to not attend. You cannot say in public that you don’t want to attend or I will not show up. You are still required to appear. Swalwell must have known that his argument was illogical.
Turley was not a shy man.
Swalwell didn’t just facilitate a crime; he went to great lengths to be associated with it.
Swalwell knew for sure that he helped Hunter to obstruct the investigation of Joe Biden by ignoring a subpoena. Swalwell not only assisted in setting up the press conference but also made sure he appeared behind Hunter to all network audiences. He probably used congressional staff to help him.
Swalwell’s actions encouraged and enabled contempt for Congress. Although his conduct might not warrant a criminal complaint, it is certainly worthy of action by the House.
Swalwell also committed another error.
In 2018, one member was especially passionate about calling for contempt sanctions against Steve Bannon. “If they do not force him to respond to legitimate questions, then they are ceding Congress authority and setting a very dangerous precedent where people can tell Congress what they won’t answer and show no resolve to subpoena to find out what is going on.”
Eric Swalwell was the man.
Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, suggested that the House Republicans might call Swalwell in to question him about his actions.
