(NewsNation) — A transcript from the closed-door deposition of Hunter Biden has been released to the public.
Hunter Biden appeared Wednesday on Capitol Hill, marking a critical phase for Republicans in their impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, and the family’s business affairs.
Hunter Biden took questions from members of three different House committees as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry, which alleges the president profited from his son’s business dealings during his time as vice president. There is no direct evidence supporting those claims.
See Hunter Biden’s full deposition below, as provided by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability:
Hunter Biden takes responsibility for drug use
Hunter Biden acknowledged his mistakes and took responsibility for them. He said his mistakes are his own shortcomings and not those of his father, “who has done nothing but devote his entire life to public service and trying to make this country a better place to live.”
“During my battle with addiction, my father was there for me. He helped save my life. His love and support made it possible for me to get sober,” Hunter Biden said. “What he got in return for being a loving, supportive parent is a barrage of hate-filled conspiracy theories that hatched this sham impeachment inquiry and continue to fuel unrelenting personal attacks against him and me.”
Hunter says laptop information ‘fabricated’
Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, shared takeaways on X and pointed out several discrepancies from the closed-door conversation. When asked about personal data stored on his laptop, Hunter Biden said that he didn’t recall dropping a laptop off at a Delaware repair shop. However, Jordan’s post says multiple FBI and IRS officials have said that they authenticated the laptop at the Delaware repair shop as Hunter Biden’s in December 2019.
Hunter Biden claims any information pulled from his laptop was fabricated.
“There is a fabricated conversation between me and a supposed Secret Service agent in a hotel room. … The agent has sworn an affidavit and attempted to sue The Daily Mail and The New York Post over the fact that he has never met me, he has never had any conversation with me,” Hunter Biden said.
Hunter Biden’s involvement at Burisma
Hunter Biden said Joe Biden had no involvement with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
“All I know is this: My father was never involved in any of my business, ever. Never received a cent from anybody or never benefited in any way. Never took any actions on behalf in any way,” Hunter Biden said, debunking a claim that Joe Biden got a Ukrainian prosecutor fired to protect his son’s dealings in the country.
When asked to confirm his annual salary while on the Burisma board, Hunter Biden said he was making about $65,000 per month over five years.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, interjected during a conversation on Burisma and asked if he was under the influence during that time.
After a heated exchange, Hunter Biden responded, “I have been absolutely transparent about my drug use. … Was I an addict? Yes, I was an addict. What does that have to do with whether or not you’re going to go forward with an impeachment of my father other than to simply try to embarrass me?”
Wednesday’s deposition of Hunter Biden comes after the president’s brother appeared for an interview last week, during which he denied the allegations. Similar outcomes are expected from Hunter Biden’s deposition.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, House Oversight Republicans wrote, “Joe Biden has tarnished his position of public trust by allowing his family to put his power, protection, and influence up for sale. He spoke, dined, met, and had coffee with his family’s foreign associates as they funneled millions to the Bidens. This public corruption cannot be tolerated.”
In response, Democratic California Rep. Robert Garcia from California wrote, “House Republicans didn’t want a public hearing with Hunter Biden. They want to conduct their questioning in secret. Unfortunately for them, me and other members of the @OversightDems team will be in the deposition tomorrow so we can call out all their lies. The truth matters.”
Hunter Biden also faces federal charges for not paying taxes and for lying on gun purchase forms.
NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer contributed to this report.
