# GOP House investigation of President Joe Biden follow along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 18, 2022, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111 "2022-11-18T00:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/241 "2022-11-27T22:33:53Z")
So my modified response would be if it comes to subpoenas the Biden Administration should comply. Since I doubt they have anything to hide it shouldn’t be an issue, unlike those from the previous administration who have refused or fought the subpoenas. Maybe they will decide it is such a load of BS they won’t even wait for subpoenas. I don’t think showing up and answering questions in a way that makes Gym Jordan look like a fool is likely to be that difficult. Maybe I’m being naive but if HRC could stand testifying for 8-9 hours about Benghazi, etc. I would suggest members of the current administration do the same. It’s always possible someone will say otherwise but I really don’t feel thumbing their nose at the law is a good route to go just because others have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/242 "2022-11-27T22:48:42Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Maybe I’m being naive but if HRC could stand testifying for 8-9 hours about Benghazi, etc. I would suggest members of the current administration do the same. Could they stand it? Sure. But should they? These are people who actually have important jobs, and a day answering idiotic questions is a day they’re not doing those jobs. I’d vote for making the House committee(s) cross every T, dot every I and jump through every legal hoop possible before letting anyone spend one minute appearing during one of these hearings. The GOP will of course bray “What are they so desperate to hide?” but guess what – they will anyway. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/243 "2022-11-27T22:55:44Z")
The conflict isn’t likely going to be over whether Administration witnesses will testify before committees – I have no doubt that Alejandro Mayorkas can hold his own in an eight-hour grilling session. But what Republicans will also do is issue open-ended subpoenas for document production of all internal Administration communication and deliberation even tangentially related to whatever scandal they’re trying to drum up. Responding to that will take an enormous amount of staff time. Any documents produced will be used to justify additional subpoenas as Republicans react with outrage over supposed scandalous new information revealed in these document dumps. It will become a never-ending fishing expedition. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/244 "2022-11-28T01:15:24Z")
Look forward to 8 or 9 hours of this every couple months for the next two years. > That’s Chip Roy “questioning” Alejandro Mayorkas. Should Mayorkas continue to show up to be a prop for GOP rants? How about other administration officials? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/245 "2022-11-28T19:19:48Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Make it so fucking stupid and boring, everyone will just tune out. I don’t think that’ll be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/246 "2022-11-28T22:40:45Z")
My response was based on what Akaj said about following the law. Since there is not a law stating members of the Biden administration _have to_ show up and testify then I would agree it is would be a waste of time for them to do so. Subpoenas would be another matter, no? If Biden exerts executive privilege for certain people or topics that would change things as well. My only point was that just because the previous administration decided to thumb their nose at the law and get away with it I don’t see it being appropriate for the Biden administration to go down the same road. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/247 "2022-11-28T22:52:23Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Subpoenas would be another matter, no? Fun fact: since 1997 the chair of the House Oversight Committee can unilaterally issue subpoenas. That’s James Comer in 36 days. Wait, that’s not going to be fun at all. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/248 "2022-11-28T23:04:20Z")
I expect there will be a lot of things happening in the House in the next two years that won’t be fun. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/249 "2022-11-28T23:54:01Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > just because the previous administration decided to thumb their nose at the law and get away with it I don’t see it being appropriate for the Biden administration to go down the same road. Also even if they did it might not be as successful. The Trumpists could delay showing up for months on end as they appealed their way through the courts trying to establish precedent. But now that the precedent case law has been established those who try this tactic might be slapped down quickly. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/250 "2022-11-28T23:57:54Z")
As always, TFG figures a crime in plain sight must not be a crime: > **[Trump brags that he 'openly and transparently' took government documents from...](https://news.yahoo.com/trump-brags-openly-transparently-took-221058006.html)** > > "When will you invade the other Presidents' homes in search of documents, which are voluminous," Trump wrote on Truth Social. I’m still on the fence about whether they’re big and brass or wizened and orange. This … does _not_ help. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/251 "2022-11-29T00:06:27Z")
Large, distended and orange is my guess. Not really sure what that signifies. As to the article, he just seems given to confessing over and over. And taking the position that he can do it because EVERYONE is doing it. I look forward to someone making him prove this happened with previous Presidents. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/252 "2022-11-29T03:27:56Z")
Oh, but don’t have to “thumb their nose” at the law. The responding party can object to the subpoenas on the grounds that they are overly broad and are not material to the cause of action. Then they can suggest the requesting party send an amended subpoena stating _on what date_ and _on what exact subject_ the memoranda or other piece of evidence that might be relevant. Then that subpoena gets objected to on the grounds that it is in fact not relevant to the cause of action. Depending on how savvy the WH Counsel’s office is, they can delay the onset of hearings for years. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/253 "2024-01-30T20:12:18Z")
> **[Opinion | The eve of a Trump-Biden rematch is the worst time to subvert...](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/mayorkas-impeachment-trump-biden-rematch-rcna136284)** > > By continuing to cry wolf when none is at the door, Republicans lower our guard for when impeachment may actually be needed in the (possibly very near) future. _House Republicans have spent months searching unsuccessfully for a smoking gun in the [Joe Biden impeachment investigation](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/biden-impeachment-inquiry-vote-mike-johnson-rcna129062). Instead of admitting failure, they are now pivoting to another target in their frenzy to impeach anyone, no matter how baselessly: [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gop-unveils-mayorkas-impeachment-articles-lack-evidence-rcna136174). Both the Biden and Mayorkas impeachments are clearly not backed up by evidence. And both borrow from a House Freedom Caucus playbook of unmerited impeachment proceedings that dates to the failed [2016 impeachment of then-IRS Commissioner John Koskinen](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/republicans-seek-impeach-irs-chief-over-alleged-tea-party-targeting-n452446). What really concerns us, though, is the way these impeachments will both weaponize a key constitutional remedy and undermine its sober original intent. America needs impeachment to deal with the threat of future rogue presidents or other wayward government officials. Ahead of a potential Trump-Biden rematch, this is the worst possible time to turn the threat of impeachment into a partisan joke._ Well, looks like I was sorta wrong- they are gonna go after Mayorkas: ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/254 "2024-01-30T22:43:09Z")
Of course subverting impeachment was the whole point of the exercise. By Impeaching Joe Biden, hisHS secretary, his son and next up probably his hair dresser, the Republicans turn impeachment into a partisan joke. This makes it easier to Trump to downplay the significance of the two actual valid impeachments for cause that he suffered. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/255 "2024-02-24T12:02:32Z")
Remember Tony Bobulinski? He’s a witness in the Biden impeachment hearing who claims that Cassidy Hutchinson is a “liar and a fraud” in regards to her statement that she witnessed him meeting with Mark Meadows. But Hutchinson has a photo that says otherwise. Tony’s lawyer, who formerly represented her, apparently repeated those defamatory comments, which I guess you’re not supposed to do as a lawyer. > **[Ex-Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson says photo refutes Biden...](https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/trump-white-house-aide-cassidy-hutchinson-pushes-back/story?id=107465387)** > > A lawyer for ex-White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson is responding to House impeachment witness Tony Bobulinski, providing a photo he says refutes one of his claims. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/256 "2024-03-01T20:40:33Z")
The [transcript](https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hunter-Biden-Transcript_Redacted.pdf) of Hunter Biden’s deposition on Wednesday was released. I haven’t read the whole thing, but here’s one gem. First, from the lead-off statement: > Mr. Biden’s testimony today is relevant to that impeachment inquiry. In addition, today’s testimony is relevant to the committees’ ongoing efforts to consider legislative reforms to Federal ethics and financial disclosure laws. Specifically, the committees seek legislative initiatives that provide transparency when the President’s or Vice President’s family members engage in financial transactions with foreign nationals, foreign companies, or foreign governments. And here’s Eric Swalwell trolling the committee (p. 134): > [@](#): > > **Mr. Swalwell.** Any time your father was in government, prior to the Presidency or before, did he ever operate a hotel? > **The Witness [Hunter Biden]**. No, he has never operated a hotel. > **Mr. Swalwell**. So he’s never operated a hotel where foreign nationals spent millions at that hotel while he was in office? > **The Witness**. No, he has not. > **Mr. Swalwell**. Did your father ever employ in the Oval Office any direct family member to also work in the Oval Office? > **The Witness**. My father has never employed any direct family members, to my knowledge. > **Mr. Swalwell**. While your father was President, did anyone in the family receive 41 trademarks from China? > **The Witness**. No. > **Mr. Swalwell**. As President and the leader of the party, has your father ever tried to install as the chairperson of the party a daughter-in-law or anyone else in the family? > **The Witness**. No. And I don’t think that anyone in my family would be crazy enough to want to be the chairperson of the DNC. > **Mr. Swalwell**. Has your father ever in his time as an adult been fined $355 million by any State that he worked in? > **The Witness**. No, he has not, thank God. > **Mr. Swalwell**. Anyone in your family ever strike a multibillion dollar deal with the Saudi Government while your father was in office? > **The Witness**. No. > **Mr. Swalwell**. That’s all I’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/257 "2024-03-01T20:42:46Z")
That is absolutely sublime. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/258 "2024-03-01T20:46:08Z")
i do enjoy a representative the just asks the questions and not give a spiel. asking questions makes the point so much clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/259 "2024-03-01T21:44:26Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > And here’s Eric Swalwell trolling the committee My god, that was classic! ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111/260 "2024-03-01T21:58:38Z")
The best line of the entire testimony was Hunter Biden’s response to being pestered by a GOP Rep about whether he’d worked for foreign governments: “I never worked for a country. I am not Jared Kushner.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-house-investigation-of-president-joe-biden-follow-along-thread/975111.md?page=14)