Former House Judiciary Chief Counsel Julian Epstein provides insight into the latest developments in the House’s impeachment inquiry into President Biden, the anticipated Supreme Court decision on the Trump ballot case, and a ruling on the Fani Willis case.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have reached out to Michael Cohen, ex-President Trump’s former lawyer, about appearing at next week’s impeachment inquiry hearing.
Oversight Chairman James Comer is leading an inquiry into President Biden over accusations of using his position as vice president for personal gain, allegations denied by Biden and the White House.
The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and Democrats hope Cohen’s potential appearance will shift the focus to Trump. They believe Cohen could provide first-hand testimony on Trump’s foreign business deals during his presidency, aiming to highlight alleged conflicts of interest.
Democrats also anticipate that Cohen’s testimony could prompt Republicans to respond to allegations of Trump’s profiting from foreign countries while in office.
Cohen, once a staunch defender of Trump, served part of a three-year prison sentence related to charges stemming from his defense of the ex-president.
Since his release in November 2021, Cohen has become a vocal critic of Trump and admitted to arranging hush money payments to women on Trump’s behalf in 2018.
House Republicans are investigating whether Biden was involved in an influence-peddling scheme, focusing on his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China and Ukraine. However, Hunter Biden declined the invitation to appear at the same hearing where Democrats are considering Cohen’s testimony.
In a letter to Oversight Committee investigators, Hunter Biden’s lawyer cited a scheduling conflict and criticized the hearing as a media event rather than a legitimate proceeding. The letter characterized the hearing as a “Hail Mary pass after the game has ended.”
The developments highlight the ongoing partisan tensions surrounding investigations into the actions of current and former government officials.
As Democrats and Republicans clash over impeachment inquiries and allegations of wrongdoing, the political landscape remains fraught with controversy and division.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is closely monitoring developments in the House of Representatives, providing comprehensive coverage of these significant events.