(PM.) On Wednesday morning, Hunter Biden ignored a congressional subpoena to show up for a deposition to answer for he and his family’s shady overseas business dealings. A year earlier, War Room host and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was indicted after he did not appear for his deposition before the Democrat-run January 6 committee, saying that he was covered under executive privilege.
Ignoring a Dem subpoena // Ignoring a GOP subpoena
Not very subtle, CNN. pic.twitter.com/qQEztH4NID
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) December 13, 2023
CNN posted a clip of Hunter Biden addressing reporters on Wednesday morning, in which they did not note that he was violating his subpoena in the title, but instead focused on his statement, “I have made mistakes,” later changing it to read “‘I am here’: Hunter Biden lashes out at ‘MAGA right.'”
Over one year earlier, CNN posted a clip of Steve Bannon being sentenced to 120 days in prison for contempt of Congress. CNN wrote, “Steve Bannon defied a congressional subpoena. Find out his punishment.”
Hunter Biden refused to attend the closed-door deposition, with himself and his attorneys calling for a public session, against House Rules.
According to the Committee on House Administration rules, depositions of a witness are to take place only in the presence of the “Committee, Committee staff designed by the Chairman or the ranking minority member, an official reporter, the witness, and the witness’ two designated attorneys.” Hunter Biden, however, doesn’t think this rule should apply to him.
Bannon, on the other hand, was under executive privilege invoked by Trump. Trump, in July 2022, wrote a letter finally releasing Bannon from executive privilege, after contempt of Congress charges were being considered by the January 6 committee. Bannon has since been sentenced to 120 days in prison and has appealed.
“When you first received the Subpoena to testify and provide documents, I invoked Executive Privilege. However, I watched how unfairly you and others have been treated, having to spend vast amounts of money on legal fees, and all of the trauma you must be going through for the love of your Country, and out of respect for the Office of the President,” Trump wrote in the letter.
