(Washington, DC) – The House Oversight and Judiciary committees conducted a closed-door transcribed interview with James Biden, President Joe Biden’s brother, on Wednesday as part of the ongoing Republican-led impeachment inquiry into the president.
The focus of the inquiry has been on James Biden’s business dealings, specifically loans extended by Joe Biden to his brother during a period when he was not in office. Republicans are probing whether the president played any role in his brother’s business transactions or utilized his influence for their mutual benefit. It is important to note that the committees have not presented evidence to support these claims.
James Biden’s interview precedes the scheduled transcribed interview of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, set for February 28. The logistics of Hunter Biden’s testimony had been a source of contention between Republicans and the president’s son for several months.
When questioned by local news about his intentions before the interview, James Biden simply stated, “The truth.” His attorney did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment on Wednesday morning.
James Biden refuted any suggestion that the president had influenced his business ventures throughout his 50-year career. He denied ever seeking official action from his brother on behalf of himself, his business associates, or others. Emphasizing his independence, James Biden asserted that in every business venture, he relied on his own abilities, judgment, skills, and personal relationships, without leveraging his status as Joe Biden’s brother. He addressed Republican skepticism regarding the loans, clarifying that they were “short-term” and made when Joe Biden was a private citizen.
