LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
Hunt the hunters. The surprise appearance of Hunter Biden to the press on Wednesday, December 13, in front of the Capitol in Washington, testified to the new strategy adopted by the son of the President of the United States: no longer allowing himself to be trampled on without reaction. “For six years, I have been the target of the relentless attack machine of [l’ancien président Donald] Trump, shouting “where is Hunter?” Here’s my response: I’m here…I’m here today to testify at a public hearing. »
Word “public” imported. Hunter Biden in fact refused, that morning, to appear behind closed doors before the elected representatives of the House of Representatives, who are investigating his past financial affairs, at the time when his father was vice-president of Barack Obama (2009 -2017). These Republicans, even before starting their work, already accused Hunter Biden of having enriched himself thanks to the contacts and interventions of his father, in contracts concluded in Ukraine and China.
“Let me state this as clearly as possible: my father was not financially involved in my affairs”, assured Hunter Biden. After three years in the shadows, the latter decided to attack, in front of the microphones and the courts, to defend his honor and his family. Some allies of the president welcome this tactical borrowing from Donald Trump, depending on the site Politicowho summarized their thoughts as follows: “It pays to speak loudly, act quickly and hit hard. » White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refused to dwell on this media intervention by Hunter Biden in front of the Capitol. Qualifying the latter as “private citizen”, she acknowledged that Joe Biden was “definitely aware” remarks that his son intended to make there.
The Republicans intend to redouble their investigations. They intend to implicate Hunter Biden for contempt of Congress. But it’s just a pretext. On this same day, December 13, the majority confirmed by a vote the opening of an impeachment investigation against the Democratic president. The Republicans had skipped this formal step and started their work without this prerequisite, eleven months ago.
Eagerness
This eagerness is explained. Many moderate elected officials grimaced at the mention of this political destabilization enterprise, the conclusions of which are written in advance and the chances of succeeding are zero. Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, whose members conduct any impeachment trial, under the Constitution, on the basis of the impeachment passed in the House. But the imminent entry into an election year has led members of the Grand Old Party to forget their possible reservations. Donald Trump, big favorite in the Republican primaries for the 2024 presidential election, has been demanding this procedure against Joe Biden for two years, echoing those initiated against him, without success, on two occasions.
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