WASHINGTON — The transcript of Hunter Biden’s testimony in Congress was released late Thursday, providing a full picture of the controversial testimony that took place behind closed doors on Wednesday as Republicans aggressively questioned the central figure in their impeachment inquiry.
The nearly 230 pages of questions laid bare the deep-seated animosity between President Joe Biden’s son and Republican lawmakers who have investigated his family in recent years. Arguments were frequent and tempers were short, offering a preview of what is sure to happen when Republicans hold a public hearing for Hunter Biden in the coming weeks.
He was defiant during the deposition as Republicans bombarded him with questions about his past business affairs and his life, with his answers ranging from heated to emotional as he spoke about his long battle with addiction and turmoil in his personal life.
Throughout the nearly seven-hour deposition, Hunter Biden remained adamant on one point, vehemently and repeatedly denying under oath that his father had ever benefited financially from or participated in any of his business dealings.
Takeaways from the transcript:
The 14-month Republican investigation into the Biden family focused on Hunter Biden and his overseas work for clients in Ukraine, China, Romania and other countries. Republicans have long wondered whether these business dealings involved corruption and influence peddling by President Biden, especially during the years he was vice president.
Republican investigators focused on a series of dinners and gatherings that took place after Joe Biden left the vice presidency, during which the younger Biden put his father on speaker phone while in the company of business associates.
“And why would you put your dad on speaker?” asked an unidentified Republican aide.
“I’m surprised my dad hasn’t called me by now, and if he did, I would put him on speakerphone to say hello to you, Congressman Raskin and everyone else in the room,” Hunter Biden responded. “It’s literally nothing shameful.”
He said that after the tragedies his family has suffered — including the deaths of his mother and two siblings — his family’s calls are always answered no matter what.
“You always answer the phone. It’s something we do all the time. And you can ask anyone I know,” Hunter Biden added.
Large portions of Wednesday’s testimony focused on Hunter Biden’s well-documented battle with drug and alcohol addiction.
In a particularly harsh exchange, Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, questioned whether the president’s son’s business dealings, especially with Ukrainian energy company Burisma, were legitimate. Gaetz asked, “Did you use drugs when you were on the board of Burisma?”
Hunter replied: “Mr. Gaetz, look me in the eye. Do you really think it’s appropriate to ask me?’
“Absolutely,” Gaetz said.
Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, intervened and told his client he did not have to respond.
“I’ll answer it this way: I have been absolutely transparent about my drug use,” Hunter Biden said. “I’m sorry; I’m an addict. I was an addict.”
He told the panel he has been in recovery for more than four years and is “working very, very hard at it” under what he called enormous pressure.
“Was I addicted? Yes, I was addicted,” he said. “What does that have to do with whether or not you go through with impeachment proceedings against my father, other than just trying to embarrass me?”
Gaetz tried to interrupt, but Hunter Biden kept talking: “Why? Why?”
Another focus for House Republicans’ investigation is what they describe as Hunter Biden and associates selling the “Biden brand” to foreign customers.
One of their alleged key witnesses, Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, testified before the House Oversight Committee last year that the president’s family sold “the illusion of access” to the corridors of power in Washington. Republicans wondered whether Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company, wanted Hunter Biden on its board in 2014 “because your father was the vice president?”
“No, I don’t think it’s fair,” Hunter Biden responded.
When asked what value he brought to Burisma, Hunter Biden spoke about the breadth of his resume and defended his family.
“First and foremost, the name ‘Biden’ is my father’s legacy. And he passed it on to me and, while my brother was alive, my brother, my sister, and now to my children. It’s our responsibility not to screw that up.”
He added: “If other people saw the brand as something they could bring to market, then that wasn’t the case – and it wasn’t with me – without going through me first. And if they did, Then they didn’t do it through me first.”
Democrats at one point tried to roll the statement back on Donald Trump, contrasting the Bidens’ business dealings with the former Republican president’s family and its business dealings.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, the California Democrat, led a particularly pointed exchange aimed at highlighting differences between President Biden and Trump, the Republican front-runner, and challenging him for the White House.
“Did your father ever employ an immediate family member in the Oval Office to work in the Oval Office as well?” Swalwell asked.
“My father, to my knowledge, has never employed any immediate family members,” Hunter Biden testified.
Swalwell went on to ask questions about the Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., Trump’s lawsuit in New York City, his daughter-in-law’s recent attempt to lead the Republican National Committee, and his son-in-law Jared’s business dealings Kushner with Saudi Arabia.
“Has your father, as president and leader of the party, ever tried to install a daughter-in-law or anyone else in the family as chairman of the party?” Swallow examined.
“No. And I don’t think anyone in my family would be crazy enough to want to be chairman of the DNC” – the Democratic National Committee.
Had his father ever been fined $355 million? “No, thank God not,” Hunter Biden testified.
The impeachment inquiry has focused on several pieces of evidence as Republicans try to build their case, including emails, text messages and a laptop that is now in dispute.
One email from a business associate of Hunter Biden reportedly proposes reserving a $10 million equity stake in their company for “the big” man, who Republicans say is Joe Biden. It’s a message that has become central to the Republican Party’s claims of influence peddling, but one that another business associate, Rob Walker, has testified was all “bull—.”
Hunter Biden testified that he does not recall ever responding to the email. “I’m not even sure I ever read this in full.”
Further emails shown to the committee showed that any share distribution would be split equally among the five partners, including Hunter Biden and his longtime business partner Jim Biden, the president’s brother and his uncle. The business deal with a Chinese energy company never materialized and no one was paid.
“Isn’t there a secret big guy in this email?” asked a Democratic questioner.
“No, it doesn’t,” Hunter Biden responded.
“Joe Biden is nowhere in this agreement?” he asked.
“No he is not.”
As for Hunter Biden’s laptop that was allegedly delivered to a repair shop in Delaware and the source of many allegations against the Biden family, he testified that he has no recollection of bringing it in.
If his computer needed repairs, Hunter Biden testified, “I would have gone to the Apple Store.”