AOC defends Hunter Biden after refusal to testify before Congress; GOP just ‘story telling at this point’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, defended Hunter Biden on Wednesday amid criticism by Republicans after he refused to testify before lawmakers behind closed doors. 

The president's son was subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees. He instead held a press conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill in which he refused to sit for a deposition while declaring that his father was never involved in his business dealings. 

Republicans have threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress

HUNTER BIDEN WILL NOT SIT FOR DEPOSITION BY GOP, SAYS FATHER NOT ‘FINANCIALLY’ INVOLVED IN HIS BUSINESS

Ocasio-Cortez joined a press conference with fellow Democrats to criticize Republicans where she said Biden was attempting to comply with the subpoena. 

"It’s also important to note, that not only is the committee not allowing Hunter Biden to testify publicly, but they have not called a single witness, a single first-hand witness to any of their allegations," she said. "They haven’t allowed anybody to testify publicly, because they do not have a single witness to any of their alleged allegations. They don’t."

"We have asked virtually every single person that has come to testify for this committee, ‘Have you seen, witnessed, participated, in a room, anything with first-hand testimony of any of what is being alleged?'" And every single witness that they have called before us has said, ‘No, I haven’t seen anything, didn’t hear anything, wasn’t party to anything," she added.

WH SPURNS BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ AHEAD OF LIKELY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY VOTE, HUNTER BIDEN DEPOSITION

"So this is just story telling at this point."

During his press conference, Biden defended the president and said critics have "belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass my father, who has devoted his entire life to public service. For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here." 

"My father was not financially involved in my business," he said, saying the elder Biden was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the United States.

Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Kentucky, and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said they would start proceedings to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress. 

"Today, the House will vote on an impeachment inquiry resolution to strengthen our legal case in the courts as we face obstruction from the White House and witnesses," both lawmakers said in a joint statement. "Today’s obstruction by Hunter Biden reinforces the need for a formal vote. President Biden and his family must be held accountable for their corruption and obstruction. And we will provide that to the American people."

WATCH: White House says Biden ‘proud’ of Hunter despite mounting legal issues, subpoena defiance

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that President Biden and first lady Jill Biden were "proud" of their son, Hunter, despite his defiance of a subpoena to testify before Congress and his mounting legal issues.

"When it comes to the president and the first lady, they are proud of him continuing to rebuild his life. They are proud of their son," Jean-Pierre said when asked during the White House press briefing whether Biden had watched Hunter's press conference outside the U.S. Capitol earlier in the day announcing his decision not to comply with the subpoena issued by House Republicans.

"The president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say. And I think what you saw was from the heart, from his son," she added.

SUPPORT FOR BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY GROWS WITH A NOTABLE LEVEL OF DEMOCRAT BACKING: POLL

When asked if Biden was okay with Hunter defying the subpoena, Jean-Pierre refused to "get into the specifics" surrounding the president's view.

She also wouldn't say the last time Biden and Hunter had spoken, noting those were "private" conversations.

Jean-Pierre was later pressed on Biden previously stating that people who defied congressional subpoenas should be prosecuted, comments he made in 2021 amid a probe into the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, but she declined to comment.

HUNTER BIDEN FACES BACKLASH AFTER DEFYING SUBPOENA WITH PRESS CONFERENCE ‘STUNT’: ‘HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT!’

"I don't have anything to add to what you have, what you just quoted me from the president. I just don't have anything to add," she said.

At his press conference Wednesday morning, Hunter offered to testify publicly before the House Oversight Committee, but declined to show for his scheduled closed-door deposition for which he was subpoenaed. 

He maintained that his father "was not financially involved" in the business dealings for which House Republicans are investigating him, and said there was "no evidence because it did not happen." 

WH SPURNS BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ AHEAD OF LIKELY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY VOTE, HUNTER BIDEN DEPOSITION

In his statement, Hunter blasted "MAGA" Republicans who he said "invaded" his privacy, "attacked" his family and "ridiculed my struggle with addiction."

Hunter is also facing a number of federal charges in California after being indicted last week.

The nine charges allege a "four-year scheme" when he did not pay his federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020 while also filing false tax reports.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Biden ignores reporter questions after son Hunter defies congressional subpoena

President Biden ignored reporter questions on Wednesday shortly after his son, Hunter, defied a congressional subpoena regarding the family's business dealings. 

The president's scheduled news conference before a meeting of his National Infrastructure Advisory Council was delayed for more than an hour Wednesday until Biden made an appearance, walking out to address members of the press gathered to hear the commander in chief speak from the White House.

Earlier in the day, Hunter Biden had arrived on Capitol Hill — not to comply with his subpoena and be deposed by the House Oversight Committee but instead to hold a press conference and again offer to testify publicly. He maintained that his father "was not financially involved" in his business, saying there is "no evidence because it did not happen." 

At the White House, President Biden joked with the waiting press to "please say seated," before staying on script about this administration's infrastructure initiatives. 

"Last year, I asked this council to ensure that resilience is built into all of our infrastructure projects, including critical sectors like energy, communications, transportation and health care. Together, you delivered, especially on these key challenges," Biden said. "Today, I'm looking forward to hearing about new projects this council will pursue in the coming years as well. So thank you all for being here. I'm just going to ask the press to step out so we can begin our briefing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." 

HUNTER BIDEN WILL NOT SIT FOR DEPOSITION BY GOP, SAYS FATHER NOT 'FINANCIALLY' INVOLVED IN HIS BUSINESS

Fox News' Peter Doocy could be heard repeatedly shouting to Biden, "Mr. President, did you watch Hunter this morning?" 

Over the sound of clamoring press, another reporter was heard asking, "Mr. President, should your son have defied the subpoena?" 

Yet, Biden looked at the press and walked away from the podium. 

Biden at the top of his brief remarks championed how two years ago he "signed into law a once-in a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure and — to fix our roads, railroads, bridges, ports, airports, remove every single lead pipe in the country and extend high-speed internet, advance clean energy, and modernize the electric grid — energy grid."

JOHNSON DEFENDS VOTE TO FORMALIZE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AMID WHITE HOUSE ‘IMPASSE’: 'WE HAVE NO CHOICE'

"Already, we've announced over 40,000 projects in 4,500 communities all across our country. And when folks see these big projects in their hometowns, when they see the cranes up in the air, the shovels in the ground, I really think — coming from an area that was shut down, up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the steel mill in Claymont, Delaware — I think it brings them hope," Biden said. "Because it's not just about building an infrastructure. It's about building better infrastructure, stronger infrastructure, infrastructure to withstand 21st century challenges from climate change, cyberattacks to natural disasters to foreign threats, and so much more." 

The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a resolution to formalize the Biden impeachment inquiry, as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Republican leadership have accused the White House of "stonewalling" their investigations into the president's alleged involvement in his son Hunter's business dealings.

On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Hunter Biden railed against "MAGA" Republicans who have "invaded" his privacy, "attacked" his family and "ridiculed my struggle with addiction." 

House Republicans say the Justice Department has refused to allow two attorneys to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. They claim the White House sent House Oversight and Accountability Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a letter saying they have no intention of complying with GOP subpoenas and requests for interviews without a formal vote, and the National Archives has withheld thousands of pages of documents and emails.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report. 

Support for Biden impeachment inquiry grows with a notable level of Democrat backing: poll

The support for a possible House impeachment inquiry against President Biden is growing among the American public, with nearly a quarter of Democrats saying they would back such a move, a new poll has found.

According to the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday, 49% of U.S. adults say they would support the House of Representatives officially launching an impeachment inquiry into Biden amid allegations of corruption within his family, compared to 48% who would not.

That number is up from the same survey in October that found 47% supported such a move, and 52% would be opposed.

HUNTER BIDEN FACES BACKLASH AFTER DEFYING SUBPOENA WITH PRESS CONFERENCE ‘STUNT’: ‘HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT!’

An impeachment inquiry is most notably supported by 24% of adults identifying as Democrats, although a majority (74%) would still be opposed.

The poll found that Biden's approval rating remains heavily underwater, with just 40% of adults approving of his job performance as president and 53% saying they did not approve.

That number is weighed down heavily by those identifying as independents, with just 36% approving of his job performance and 59% disapproving.

CALLS GROW FOR CONGRESS TO SUBPOENA JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S FLIGHT LOGS DESPITE DEMOCRAT ‘STONEWALLING’

Despite being a traditionally reliable Democrat voting bloc, younger voters' views of Biden also appear to be dragging him down, as just 39% of Gen Z and Millennial voters approve of his job performance, and 50% disapprove.

On favorability, Biden edges former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, with 40% of adults saying they view Biden favorably compared to just 38% for Trump. 

Among registered voters, 49% said they would vote for Biden if the 2024 presidential election were held today and 48% said they would vote for Trump.

WH SPURNS BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ AHEAD OF LIKELY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY VOTE, HUNTER BIDEN DEPOSITION

Biden trails Trump among independent voters 45%-50%, but held a surprisingly slight edge among Gen Z and Millennial voters 52%-48%.

The poll also asked about a number of hot-button policies, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, border security, abortion and gender.

On funding for Ukraine amid its war with Russia and Israel for its war against Hamas, 36% said they oppose funding for either nation, and 32% said they support funding both. Sixteen percent said they support only funding Ukraine, and 15% only support funding for Israel.

Half of Americans said they would not support allowing any Palestinian refugees from Gaza into the U.S. while 47% said they would support such a move.

BIDEN FACES GRIM RE-ELECTION ODDS AS HE TRAILS LEADING GOP CANDIDATES IN TWO KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES: POLL

A majority of 54% support building a physical wall at the southern border and 45% said they do not.

On transgender issues, a majority of Americans (59%) said they believed whether a person is a man or woman is determined by the gender they were assigned at birth, while 38% said a person can be a man or woman even if it wasn't the gender they were assigned at birth.

When it came to abortion, most Americans (54%) said laws should be determined by individual states, rather than at the national level (43%).

If a national law were in place, an overwhelming 84% said they would support exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, while 14% said they would support no exceptions.

On limitations, 21% said abortion should never be allowed, 18% said it should only be allowed in the first six weeks of pregnancy, 21% only in the first 15 weeks, 13% in the first 24 weeks, and 25% said a woman should be able to get an abortion at any point during a pregnancy.

Jordan says Hunter Biden made a ‘huge change’ by saying his father was ‘not financially involved’ in business

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said Hunter Biden made a "huge change" by saying his father, President Biden, was "not financially involved" in his business dealings.

Jordan's comments came shortly after Hunter Biden defied his subpoena by not appearing for a deposition before the House Oversight Committee, and instead, delivering a public statement defending himself and his family amid the House impeachment inquiry against his father. 

"My father was not financially involved in my business," Hunter Biden said Wednesday morning from Capitol Hill, adding the president was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the U.S.

HUNTER BIDEN WILL NOT SIT FOR DEPOSITION BY GOP, SAYS FATHER NOT 'FINANCIALLY' INVOLVED IN HIS BUSINESS

"No evidence to support that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen," Hunter Biden said. 

The White House and President Biden have maintained that the president was "never in business" with his son. Biden has also said he never spoke to his son about his business dealings, but Republicans say evidence — including email records and testimony from Hunter Biden's former business partners — seem to contradict those statements.

Jordan, shortly after Hunter Biden's public appearance, pointed out his changing narrative. 

"I would just point out that I've had a chance to review what Hunter Biden said in his press conference. I think he made an interesting statement," Jordan said. "He said his father was not financially involved in the business. And I think that qualifier, the word ‘financially’ is important because once again, it shows another change in this story." 

Jordan continued, "First, it was no involvement. Then no one ever, never talked to anyone, and then we find out about the dinners, the meetings, the phone calls, everything else." 

"Now, it's okay, he wasn't involved in the business financially," Jordan continued. "I think that is important. It's one of the reasons we want to talk to Hunter Biden." 

Jordan said the "biggest takeaway" from Hunter Biden's appearance was that statement about President Biden not being financially involved — which to Jordan indicates the elder Biden may have been involved in his son's business dealings in other ways.

WHITE HOUSE, HUNTER BIDEN’S TEAM KEEP SHIFTING GOALPOSTS IN DENYING DAD’S INVOLVEMENT WITH BUSINESSES

"That is a huge change, which means — sort of means he's involved," Jordan said. "I think that's how anyone with common sense would read it." 

Jordan described the change as indicating President Biden has "been involved, just not financially." 

Jordan said that "is a huge departure from everything they've said now for the last three and a half years." 

President Biden, dating back to August 2019 on the 2020 campaign trail, said he "never discussed with my son or my brother or anyone else anything having to do with their business, period." 

A month later, Biden said he had "never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings." 

The next month, Biden said, "I don’t discuss business with my son." 

This summer, however, the White House made a change, and began saying Biden was not "in business" with his son during his vice presidency.

"As we have said many times before, the president was not in business with his son," White House counsel’s office spokesperson Ian Sams said in a June 29 statement.

"The answer remains the same," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a July 24 briefing. "The president was never in business with his son. I just don’t have anything else to add."

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Jordan, Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith wrote a letter to White House Counsel Stuart Delery in July to seek clarity on the shifting message, but their July 27 deadline was ignored.

Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell in September said he can "categorically" declare that the elder Biden was not involved in his son's previous business dealings and did not profit from any of them.

"I can tell you that Hunter did not share his business with his dad," Lowell told CNN in September. "I can tell you that he did not share money from his businesses with his dad. And as the evidence out there, his dad, like all good parents, tried to help Hunter when Hunter needed that help."

Meanwhile, Comer and Jordan last week threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he defied the subpoena and failed to appear for his deposition. 

Comer and Jordan had vowed to release the full transcript of Hunter Biden's deposition if he did participate. They also vowed to then schedule a public hearing for the president's son to testify in a setting for the American people to hear from him directly. 

HUNTER BIDEN MAY BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS IF HE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR INTERVIEW

Meanwhile, Comer and Jordan spoke to reporters, defending their "lawful subpoena of the president's son." 

"This is a normal process in an investigation," Comer said. "This has been a serious investigation since day one — an investigation about public corruption at the highest level." 

Comer said he still expects to depose the president's son. 

"And then we will be more than happy to have a public hearing," Comer said. 

Jordan said if a public hearing took place first, as suggested by the first son, members would filibuster and delay lines of questioning. 

"The way you get the facts is you bring people in for an interview behind closed doors," Jordan said. 

Lowell and the White House have argued that the subpoena was not valid because the House impeachment inquiry was never formalized by the full House of Representatives. 

However, a vote to do so is expected later Wednesday. 

"We think it is going to pass," Jordan said. "We'll see what their excuse is then." 

However, Jordan did say that once that vote takes place, he and Comer will, as promised, "move forward with contempt proceedings" against the first son.

Comer said that the committee has tens of thousands of documents prepared in the room where Hunter Biden was expected to testify. 

Comer said the committee has "specific questions for the president's son," and said the American people want this investigation. 

Hunter Biden faces backlash after defying subpoena with press conference ‘stunt’: ‘Hold him in contempt!’

Hunter Biden is facing intense backlash after holding a Capitol Hill press conference on Wednesday in which he refused to sit for a deposition before Congress, and declared his father, President Biden, was never "financially involved" in his business dealings.

Calls to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress began almost immediately following the end of the press conference, while other critics pointed to the claims concerning his father's relationship to his business dealings as "goalpost shifting."

"They belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass my father, who has devoted his entire life to public service," Hunter said. "For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here." 

He added that "my father was not financially involved in my business," saying he was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the United States.

HUNTER BIDEN WILL NOT SIT FOR DEPOSITION BY GOP, SAYS FATHER NOT ‘FINANCIALLY’ INVOLVED IN HIS BUSINESS

"We have moved from Joe Biden saying he never discussed business with Hunter to a new argument of Joe Biden wasn’t financially involved at all with Hunter’s business & most media haven’t covered the changing stories. Hold Hunter in contempt & impeach Joe," OutKick founder and Fox News contributor Clay Travis wrote on X.

"Hunter Biden refuses to comply with [Rep. James Comer's, R-Ky.] subpoena to be deposed behind closed doors and demands a public hearing so he can tell sob stories on TV. Reminder that Don Jr. testified behind closed doors for over 40 hours about the Russia hoax. Hold him in contempt!" conservative commentator Greg Price wrote.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee quickly reacted on social media, pushing back against Hunter's "stunt."

Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., both echoed those calls to hold Hunter in contempt, accusing him of mocking Congress with a "stunt," and calling his refusal an "obstruction of justice."

"Hunter Biden, this ain't Burger King. You can't Have It Your Way when it comes to congressional subpoenas. Quit the stunts, make your way to the deposition room, and let's talk," Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., wrote. 

CALLS GROW FOR CONGRESS TO SUBPOENA JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S FLIGHT LOGS DESPITE DEMOCRAT ‘STONEWALLING’

Donalds also responded to Hunter's claim he was being targeted by "MAGA Republicans," declaring, "'MAGA Republicans' did not impugn Hunter Biden's character. Hunter Biden did that to himself."

"What’s Hunter Biden so afraid of?" wrote Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.

"This is one HELL of a new qualifier from Hunter Biden. Hunter now says, "My father was not financially involved in my business" FLASHBACK: Joe Biden used to say he has never talked about business with his family. This is a major shift from the Bidens," GOP communications strategist Steve Guest wrote.

WH SPURNS BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ AHEAD OF LIKELY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY VOTE, HUNTER BIDEN DEPOSITION

Abigail Jackson, the communications director for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., echoed Guest, noting that "we've gone from Joe Biden claiming he never even discussed business with Hunter to Hunter claiming Joe was never *financially* involved in his business. Big goalpost shifting and lots of lies from the Bidens."

"First, Joe Biden had no knowledge, then he had no involvement, and now he has no ‘financial’ involvement. Time to explain ‘10 held by H for the big guy,’ the reported bank records showing a money trail to Joe Biden, and Hunter's messages saying Joe Biden financially benefited," Republican National Committee strategic communications director Tommy Pigott wrote.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Hunter Biden will not sit for deposition by GOP, says father not ‘financially’ involved in his business

Hunter Biden arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday, not to comply with his subpoena and be deposed at the House Oversight Committee, but to hold a press conference and again offer to testify publicly. He maintained that his father, President Biden "was not financially involved" in his business, and saying there is "no evidence because it did not happen." 

Hunter Biden offer to testify publicly is a de facto rejection of the GOP demand that he appear Wednesday for the closed-door deposition he was subpoenaed for. That deposition was scheduled to take place Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Instead, he delivered a public statement on Capitol Hill Wednesday, blasting "MAGA" Republicans who have "invaded" his privacy, "attacked" his family, and "ridiculed my struggle with addiction."

"They belittled my recovery, and they have tried to dehumanize me, all to embarrass my father, who has devoted his entire life to public service," the president's son said. "For six years I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack team. ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here." 

Hunter Biden added that "my father was not financially involved in my business," saying he was not involved in his dealings with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings, or his Chinese investments and others in the U.S.

"No evidence to support that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen," Hunter Biden said. 

The White House and President Biden have maintained that the president was "never in business" with his son. Biden has also said he never spoke to his son about his business dealings, but evidence--like email records and testimony from Hunter Biden's former business partners--presented by House Republicans in their investigations seem to contradict those statements.

The president's son went on to blast House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., who are co-leading the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. 

Hunter Biden said the chairmen had manipulated evidence and misstated personal information. 

"Republicans have lied over and over about every aspect about my personal and professional life," Hunter Biden said. "So much so, that the false facts are believed by too many people." 

He added: "They have taken the light of my dad’s love for and presented it as darkness. They have no shame." 

Hunter Biden said House Republicans have "engaged in unprecedented political interference." 

"Yet here I am, Mr. Chairmen—taking up your offer…I’ve chosen," he said. "I am here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions." 

He added: "Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say." 

"What are they afraid of? I’m here. I’m ready," Hunter Biden said. 

The president's son then left Capitol Hill. 

Comer and Jordan last week threatened to hold Biden in contempt of Congress if he defied the subpoena and failed to appear for his deposition. 

Comer and Jordan had vowed to release the full transcript of Hunter's deposition if he did participate. They also vowed to then schedule a public hearing for the president's son to testify in a setting for the American people to hear from him directly. 

Hunter's failure to appear comes as House Republicans seek to vote on a resolution that would formalize the impeachment inquiry against the president. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

House tees up vote to formalize Biden impeachment inquiry tonight

The House of Representatives is taking a vote to formalize its impeachment inquiry of President Biden on Wednesday evening, a move Republicans argue will force the White House into complying with its investigation.

The GOP-led committees on Oversight, Ways & Means and the Judiciary have been investigating Biden over accusations he had leveraged his office of vice president in the Obama administration to enrich his family through foreign businesses. 

It's been heavily centered on the president's brother James Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who is under federal investigation for tax and firearm-related charges. Hunter Biden is also scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door deposition on Wednesday, though it's unclear if he will show up.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT DEMOCRAT QUIETLY MEETING WITH GOP LAWMAKERS IN EFFORT TO QUASH IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY: SOURCES

The impeachment inquiry vote is scheduled to occur sometime in the 5 p.m. hour.

"The impeachment inquiry is necessary now…because we've come to this impasse, we're following the facts. Where they lead is hitting a stone wall because the White House is impeding that investigation," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said at a press conference on Tuesday. 

"We're not going to prejudge the outcome of this. We can't because, again, it's not a political calculation. We're following the law and we are the rule of law team. And I'm going to hold to that as my commitment."

But Democrats have accused the House GOP majority of playing politics with impeachment. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, accused Republicans of moving forward with no proof of wrongdoing on Wednesday morning before the vote.

"A mountain of evidence and deluge of independent reporting, including from numerous conservative outlets, have discredited every single allegation leveled by Republicans against President Biden in their painstaking and fruitless inquiry—from bogus smears about Ukraine to comical distortions about intrafamily auto payments to desperate and self-debunking cries of obstruction, all proven to be distortions, concoctions, and outright lies," Raskin said.

Calls grow for Congress to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs despite Democrat ‘stonewalling’

Calls are growing for Congress to subpoena convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs in order to identify possible perpetrators who may have partaken in his sex trafficking ring.

In a Monday letter to the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said there were still many unanswered questions surrounding Epstein's operation, including the identities of "America's most powerful and well-known people" who may have been involved.

"The American people have a right to know who took part in Epstein's disgusting business that ruined so many lives," Burchett wrote. "More importantly, their victims deserve justice and accountability."

GOP SENATOR MOVES TO FORCE RELEASE OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN FLIGHT LOGS, IDENTIFY PERPETRATORS IN ‘HORRIFIC CONDUCT’

Burchett also accused Senate Democrats of recently blocking an effort by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to subpoena the flight logs. In a statement following the letter, Burchett accused Democrats of "stonewalling" attempts to get them.

"This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but Senate Democrats completely disrespected my friend Marsha’s attempts to find out who participated in Epstein’s disgusting business so we can hold them accountable," Burchett said. "We should all be concerned about the horrors of sex trafficking, especially when it involves kids, but I’ll call on Republicans to show some leadership in this field if the Democrats insist on stonewalling it like this."

Blackburn first moved for the flight records to be subpoenaed in early November in response to efforts by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to target justices on the Supreme Court. She then unsuccessfully moved to force a subpoena during a hearing on Nov. 30.

WH SPURNS BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ AHEAD OF LIKELY IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY VOTE, HUNTER BIDEN DEPOSITION

The failure of that effort Blackburn blamed on Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the committee chair.

"[Durbin] BLOCKED my request to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. What are Democrats trying to hide?," Blackburn posted on X after calling it a "sad day in the history of the prestigious Judiciary Committee."

In a statement following the failed subpoena attempt, Blackburn said Democrats "don’t want to have a conversation about the estate of Jeffrey Epstein to find out the names of every person who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s human trafficking ring."

HOUSE OVERSIGHT DEMOCRAT QUIETLY MEETING WITH GOP LAWMAKERS IN EFFORT TO QUASH IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY: SOURCES

A Democrat aide to the committee told Fox News Digital that Durbin made clear he was willing to stay all day in order to allow Republicans to offer as well as debate the 177 amendments that they filed ahead of the hearing, and that the committee would vote on the subpoena authorization after.

However, several Republicans on the committee allegedly began to filibuster and didn't allow Blackburn to offer the first amendment to the authorization, the aide added.

Dubbed by some in the media as "The Lolita Express," Epstein's plane was allegedly used to fly underage girls to his private island in the Carribean, as well as his other homes around the U.S. and other parts of the world.

A number of big-name actors, politicians and other public figures have reportedly been passengers on the plane at some point, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker, Prince Andrew, billionaire businessman Bill Gates and a number of others.

There is currently no evidence to suggest anyone who flew on Epstein's plane participated in any crime.

KEY MCCONNELL ALLY MAKES ENDORSEMENT IN CRUCIAL SWING STATE RACE THAT COULD FLIP SENATE RED

Epstein pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy in July 2019 in a New York court after being accused of having preyed on dozens of victims as young as 14.

He was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell the following month. His death was ruled a suicide.

Epstein previously pleaded guilty in Florida to charges of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution.

Fox News Politics: Poison Ivy League

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What's happening:

- House Republicans try to formalize Biden impeachment inquiries

- Biden meets with Zelenskeyy as Ukraine's president requests more aid

- Special Counsel Jack Smith to use Trump's phone in election interference trial

Harvard President Claudine Gay will remain in charge of the storied university despite criticism for her testimony in the House last week, when she said calls for genocide of Jewish people required "context" violate the schools code of conduct, depending on the "context."

On top of that, a Manhattan Institute Report over the weekend looked at her academic work, which has scholars saying Gay "definitely" plagiarized almost 20 authors in four of her 11 peer-reviewed academic papers, including her doctoral dissertation. In a statement, Harvard referred to the plagiarism allegations as incidents of "inadequate citation."

House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., slammed the decision to stand behind Gay, calling it a "complete moral failure" of Harvard's leadership.

POISON IVY: Billionaire investor and influential Harvard alum Bill Ackman claimed Harvard's handling of the rising antisemitism on campus has cost the university more than a billion dollars in donations.

FIRST MEETING: Biden to meet with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas …Read more

'I AM A ZIONIST': President Biden condemns silence on antisemitism at Hanukkah ceremony …Read more

REVISIONIST HISTORY?: VP Harris's husband deletes story of Hanukkah post after being mocked …Read more

UKRAINE IN THE CROSSHAIRS: Speaker Johnson unmoved about Ukraine aid after meeting with Zelenskyy …Read more

I SPY: GOP infighting blows up plans for controversial surveillance tool's renewal …Read more

'GRAVELY CONCERNING': GOP senators sound alarm on DEI contracts in government agencies …Read more

FORMALIZE THE INQUIRY?: House Rules to consider resolution to formalize Biden impeachment inquiry, strengthen subpoenas …Read more

ALL GOOD: Top GOP rebel group picks lawmaker who voted to oust McCarthy as leader …Read more

WISCONSIN WOES: Wisconsin considers major election overhaul through ranked choice voting proposal …Read more

SPOILER ALERT: New poll shows Trump with slim lead over Biden, with RFK Jr. candidacy taking away from Dems …Read more

KEY ENDORSEMENT: Former New Hampshire governor expected to back Trump challenger …Read more

OPTIMISTIC PREDICTION: 2024 GOP presidential race: Ramaswamy predicts he’ll ‘shatter expectations’ in Iowa and New Hampshire …Read more

'BIGOTRY' IN MICHIGAN: Antisemitic sign hung outside Michigan Republican's district office …Read more

CASHING IN: Planned Parenthood received $90 million in PPP loans during COVID-19 pandemic: Report …Read more

RIGHT TO ‘BEAR’ ARMS: Florida lawmakers consider bill allowing deadly force to protect home from bears …Read more

'MODERN-DAY SLAVERY': EV batteries remain dependent on mines employing child labor: report …Read more

NOT MINCING WORDS: Bill Clinton allegedly ripped wife Hillary's campaign as not being able to sell 'p*ssy on a troop train' …Read more

FLED TEXAS: Texas Supreme Court rules against pregnant woman hours after she leaves state to obtain abortion …Read more

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