In remarks before reporters this week shortly before House session days would end for the calendar year, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) ripped the handling of what’s now a formally authorized impeachment probe targeting President Joe Biden. Republicans’ investigation so far has largely been the work of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees — the latter of which counts Ocasio-Cortez as a member. (Ohio Republican Jim Jordan chairs the Judiciary panel, with Kentucky’s James Comer leading Oversight.)
GOP investigators have been seeking evidence that could tie the president to ostensibly corrupt business dealings in which family members of his were involved — evidence that’s yet to materialize. Following House Republicans subpoenaing his testimony, the president’s son Hunter Biden showed up in D.C. this week to potentially testify publicly — but GOP leaders refused, instead demanding a closed-door session, which obviously provides the opportunity for any involved party to essentially establish the public narrative about what Hunter actually said.
Ocasio-Cortez accused Republican leaders of blocking the possibility of due process and claimed public testimony was already put forward as a prospect for Hunter’s compliance despite Republicans’ rejection.
“It is the Committee that has rejected the terms that they themselves set out for compliance with that subpoena that is now preventing a public and due process from happening,” Ocasio-Cortez said, eventually adding: “Not only is the committee not allowing Hunter Biden to testify publicly, but they have not called a single witness — a single firsthand witness to any of their allegations. They haven’t allowed anybody to testify publicly, because they do not have a single witness to any of their alleged allegations.”
The House Oversight Committee held an early hearing amid the sprawling impeachment inquiry against the president that, like Ocasio-Cortez said, didn’t actually feature a single individual alleged to have personally witnessed corrupt activity. Instead, conservative legal figure Jonathan Turley was there! And during those September proceedings, Turley — a GOP witness — said he’d yet to see the necessary evidence in support of impeaching Biden.
.@RepAOC @AOC: “The Committee issued a subpoena and Hunter Biden is here in an attempt to comply…It is the Committee that has rejected the terms that they themselves set out for compliance with that subpoena that is now preventing a public and due process from happening.” pic.twitter.com/ArwI3GRgf1
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 13, 2023
