Hunter Biden offers public House testimony but rejects private hearing

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Hunter Biden has offered to testify in public to the US Congress about his business affairs, but has rejected a subpoena from the House to do so in private, hours before the Republican-led chamber planned to vote to formalise an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden.

The US president’s son on Wednesday told reporters gathered outside the US Capitol that Republicans did not want their “tactics” exposed, as he insisted his father had not been involved in his business dealings.

“I’m here today to make sure that the House committees’ illegitimate investigations of my family do not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence and lies,” said Hunter Biden. 

“For six years, I have been the target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine, shouting ‘Where’s Hunter’. Well, here’s my answer: I am here.”

The House plans to vote Wednesday on formalising impeachment proceedings into the president, after Republicans alleged he had improperly benefited from his son’s business dealings. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

While three congressional panels have already probed Hunter Biden’s work, Republicans said a vote by the full House would strengthen their legal standing as they seek information from the White House.

Hunter Biden is also facing a probe by special counsel David Weiss, who was appointed by attorney-general Merrick Garland.

Last week, the US Department of Justice charged Hunter Biden with nine federal tax offences, including tax evasion, alleging he failed to pay at least $1.4mn of federal taxes for the years between 2016 and 2019.

The justice department has also charged him with illegal gun possession, after a plea deal with federal prosecutors related to both the gun and tax probes collapsed earlier this year. He has moved to dismiss the firearms charge.

Hunter Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that he had…