House Oversight Chairbilly James Comer on Friday formally and officially declined to act like a man and take up Hunter Biden lawyer Abbe Lowell on his challenge to allow Hunter to testify in an open, publicly televised hearing as opposed to a closed deposition, with Comer writing to Lowell:

“We received your letter dated November 28, 2023, concerning the deposition subpoenas issued to your client, Robert Hunter Biden. We appreciate your confirmation that Mr Biden is available and willing to testify on December 13. Pursuant to the terms of the subpoenas, the Rules of the House of Representatives, and the respective Committee rules, this testimony will occur initially in a deposition setting, as has been the consistent practice of Committees of the House of Representatives in recent Congresses – during both Republican and Democrat majorities – as well as these Committees during this inquiry. We also appreciate your confirmation that Mr Biden is willing to testify at a public hearing. We look forward to his testimony in a hearing at the appropriate time.”

“Mr Biden’s attempt to avoid sitting for a deposition pursuant to the terms of the subpoenas – by offering instead to testify at a public hearing – amounts to a demand that he receive special treatment from the Committees. Mr Biden will not succeed in attempting to dictate to the Committees how they conduct their investigation. The subpoenas Mr Biden has received compel him to appear before the Committees for a deposition; they are not mere suggestions open to Mr Biden’s interpretation or preference. Several Justice Department, FBI, and IRS officials have testified in transcribed interview and deposition settings, as has Devon Archer, Mr Biden’s business associate. Notably, other Hunter Biden business associates are also cooperating with our subpoenas and not demanding a public hearing first. Mr Biden seems to believe that he should be treated differently than other witnesses before the Committees. Nonetheless, if it helps to alleviate your stated concerns, you should be aware that, consistent with House and Committee rules and practice, we intend to videotape the deposition and release the deposition transcript soon after its completion.”