Although President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, has been the focus of much of the scrutiny surrounding his family’s international business deals, his younger brother, James, has also played a role in the developing scandal.
As lawmakers pursue an impeachment inquiry into the president, recent reports indicate his brother has been called on to testify on Capitol Hill this week.
JUST IN: Reporter asks James Biden “Did Hunter smoke crack at the White House?” WATCH
NOTE: James Biden is President Biden’s brother who is going for a deposition over alleged family corruption.pic.twitter.com/80cNkVC4H8
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The closed-door interview was scheduled to start Wednesday morning and, although the specific subjects discussed were not made public, the general topic clearly hinged on the underlying purpose of the larger inquiry: whether the elder Biden used his political connections for the financial gain of himself and his family.
“Bank records and witness testimony reveal Joe Biden knew about and participated in his family’s business schemes, and he has repeatedly lied to the American people about these facts,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) in defense of the ongoing hearings. “The American people demand the truth and accountability for any wrongdoing. We will continue to follow the facts to propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws and to determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted.”
As for James Biden’s alleged role in the ordeal, he has been implicated in a number of shady deals including a series of payments his company received in 2017 through an associate of Hunter Biden that reportedly originated from a Chinese energy company.
A separate associate, Tony Bobulinski, recently testified before Congress that he discussed with James Biden the potential implications of maintaining connections to China.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he recalled telling James Biden. “Aren’t you guys concerned that if Joe does run for president of the United States in the future that you guys are doing business directly with the Chinese? He looks at me and sort of chuckles and says, ‘Plausible deniability.’”
The president’s brother has also faced backlash over his work with a healthcare company called Americore, which he allegedly helped receive financial backing from sources in the Middle East.
A pair of checks from James Biden to his brother in 2017 and 2018, both of which were labeled as loan repayments, have fueled speculation that the former vice president directly benefited from his relatives’ business deals.
