The House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment proceedings became intensely personal Thursday when Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz brought up Hunter Biden’s admitted past issues with substance abuse.
When Gaetz introduced an amendment to the articles of impeachment against President Trump, the congressman wanted to include a reference to to former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his work with Burisma Holdings, aUkrainian natural gas company.
‘An essential element on the Democrats’ case on abuse of power is that the Bidens did nothing wrong’
Gaetz called out Hunter Biden specifically for his past run-ins with police and for his personal problems with drugs and alcohol.
Rep. @RepMattGaetz says an essential part of the Democrats' impeachment case is that the Bidens did nothing wrong. So Gaetz digs into the shady dealings of Hunter Biden. pic.twitter.com/12wUkPtMws
— BlazeTV (@BlazeTV) December 12, 2019
“An essential element on the Democrats’ case on abuse of power is that the Bidens did nothing wrong,” Gaetz said Thursday. “It can only be an abuse of power and not a correct use of power if the president was pursuing something under which there was no reasonable basis to ask a question about Hunter Biden and Burisma.”
Gaetz then referenced an article in The New Yorker where Hunter Biden talked about a 2016 car accident the he was involved in. Employees at a the rental car company claimed they found a crack pipe inside the car, according to the story. The article also quoted the younger Biden talking about attempting to buy crack cocaine in a Los Angeles homeless encampment.
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“I found this very extensive profile in The New Yorker,” Gaetz said describing some of the sordid details. “I don’t want to make light of anybody’s substance abuse issues, I know the president is working real hard to solve those throughout the country, but it’s a little hard to believe that Burisma hired Hunter Biden to resolve their international disputes when he could not resolve his own dispute with Hertz rental car over leaving cocaine and a crack pipe in the car.”
‘The pot calling the kettle black is not something we should do’
Gaetz’s comments about Hunter Biden appeared to unsettle Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson, who brought up Gaetz’s own past troubles with substance abuse.
“The pot calling the kettle black is not something we should do,” Johnson responded. “I don’t know what members, if any, have had any problems with substance abuse, been busted in DUI. I don’t know, but if I did I wouldn’t raise it against anyone on this committee.”
“I don’t think it’s proper,” Johnson added.
Gaetz was arrested in 2008 for driving under the influence while returning from a nightclub on Okaloosa Island, Fla. The charges against him were ultimately dismissed.
Gaetz: Hunter Biden Testimony Will Prove Trump Had Cause to Investigate https://t.co/KYP9wXqXKh @BreitbartNews #AAG #AAG2020
— All American Girl (@AIIAmericanGirI) December 12, 2019
‘We have the ability to show that Hunter Biden is corrupt’
Focusing on Hunter Biden, Gaetz said, “It is just hard to believe this was the guy, wandering through homeless encampments buying crack, that was worth $86,000 a month to Burisma Holdings.”
“This is why the minority hearing issue is so important,” Gaetz added. “It’s because we have the ability to show Burisma is corrupt.”
“We have the ability to show that Hunter Biden is corrupt,” Gaetz said.