Hunter Biden, the president’s son, appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning to offer to publicly testify in House Republicans’ impeachment investigation into his father, though he insisted he would not appear for a private deposition they scheduled over his refusals.
The younger Mr. Biden, who has been served a subpoena to testify, spoke to reporters in a hastily called news conference outside the Capitol near the Senate, across the complex from a House office building where Republican lawmakers were waiting to question him behind closed doors.
“I am here,” Mr. Biden said. “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not involved in my business.”
“There is no evidence to support the allegations my father was involved in my business because it did not happen,” he added.
The younger Mr. Biden has objected to providing private testimony, saying he fears Republicans will selectively leak his remarks and try to distort what he says. He has repeatedly proposed that he appear at a public hearing instead to answer their questions.
“They have lied over and over,” Mr. Biden said of Republicans.
Republicans have threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress if he does not comply, saying a public hearing is not enough.
Mr. Biden is under federal indictment facing accusations of tax crimes. House Republicans plan to hold a vote Wednesday evening to formally open an impeachment investigation into his father, hoping to tie the younger Biden’s alleged wrongdoing through overseas business deals to the incumbent president.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.