The Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Thursday released the full transcript of Hunter Biden’s closed-door testimony that included eyebrow-raising exchanges between Biden and members of the committee.
The partially redacted 229-page document “underscores the disconnect” between Republicans’ criminal allegations against Hunter and President Joe Biden and the actual evidence they have, NBC News reported.
During the questioning, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., asked Hunter Biden if he was “on drugs” while serving as a board member of the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, drawing an objection from Biden’s attorney.
“Mr. Gaetz, look me in the eye. You really think that’s appropriate to ask me?” Biden asked Gaetz, according to the transcript.
“Absolutely,” Gaetz replied.
“Of all the people sitting around this table, do you think that’s appropriate to ask me?” Biden asked.
Gaetz has been accused of using drugs at parties by multiple people, including by a Republican senator, which he has denied.
“Yeah. Are you going to answer it?” Gaetz pressed Biden during the hearing.
“I will answer it this way: I have been absolutely transparent about my drug use,” Biden replied. “Again, I spoke to you all earlier this morning about that. I’m sorry; I’m an addict. I was an addict. I have been in recovery for over four and a half years now, Mr. Gaetz. I work really, really hard at it. Let me answer. I work really hard at it, under an enormous amount of pressure. Was I an addict? Yes, I was an addict. What does that have to do with whether or not you’re going to go forward with an impeachment of my father other than to simply try to embarrass me?”
Read the Hunter Biden deposition transcript from the GOP impeachment inquiry
WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Thursday released the full transcript of Hunter Biden's closed-door testimony from the previous day.
The document, at 229 pages with some redactions, underscores the disconnect between what House Republicans have repeatedly alleged are criminal actions by Hunter Biden and his father and the documentation and testimony they have made public as part of their impeachment inquiry.
“We wanted a quick and full release” of the transcript, a representative from Hunter Biden’s legal team told NBC News on Thursday. “This transcript shows why this [investigation] needs to end. They have nothing.”
The deposition was conducted by the Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, two panels that have been leading the impeachment inquiry, which began last year. During that time, Republicans have not presented any evidence of wrongdoing by the president.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement Thursday night that Hunter Biden's testimony “confirms much of our evidence uncovered to date in our impeachment inquiry of President Biden. However, parts of Hunter Biden’s testimony are inconsistent with other witnesses’ testimonies. It’s clear we need a public hearing to get the truth for the American people.”