Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a prominent Republican, is calling for the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Biden following revelations made by an IRS whistleblower regarding Hunter Biden’s involvement in a Chinese business deal. According to the whistleblower’s testimony before Congress, Hunter Biden allegedly used WhatsApp to pressure a Chinese business partner by invoking his father’s influence and claimed that President Biden was present during these discussions.
When asked about the potential impeachment implications for President Biden, Cruz asserted that the time to act is now, citing the WhatsApp messages as direct evidence of Joe Biden abusing his governmental authority for personal and financial gain. Cruz further highlighted that the Department of Justice, under Merrick Garland, had reportedly hindered investigations into these allegations.
While Garland has denied any interference in the Hunter Biden probe, Cruz expressed his concerns during an episode of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. The senator delved into the allegations brought forth by the IRS whistleblower, Gary Shapley Jr., who claimed that efforts were made to impede investigations into Joe Biden both during the 2020 campaign and throughout his presidency.
The specific WhatsApp message mentioned by the whistleblower, dated July 30, 2017, allegedly shows Hunter Biden leveraging his connection with his father to pressure Henry Zhao, the CEO of Harvest Fund Management. Hunter Biden’s message included references to his father being present during the conversation and implied potential consequences if the Chinese business partner did not comply.
Cruz emphasized that this WhatsApp exchange directly links Joe Biden to financial dealings with China, suggesting potential obstruction of justice due to the reported lack of investigation and the alleged prohibition on asking crucial questions.
The senator went on to express his frustration with the lack of action from Senate Democrats, who he claimed showed little concern for the rule of law. He stated that if Democrats were truly committed to upholding justice, they would demand hearings, call Merrick Garland to testify under oath, and thoroughly examine all relevant documents and communications between the Department of Justice and the investigators involved.
Cruz acknowledged that the Senate Judiciary Committee is unlikely to take such actions, but expressed hope that the House would pursue the matter further. He argued that investigating these allegations was essential to uncover the truth and hold accountable those responsible for potential obstruction of justice.
The revelations in the WhatsApp message, if proven true, directly contradict President Biden’s repeated assertions that he had no knowledge of his son’s business dealings. When asked about the impact of the WhatsApp message on the president’s claims, a spokesperson from the National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator declined to comment further.
In response to the revelations, a lawyer representing Hunter Biden issued a statement attributing any actions or statements made by his client to his personal struggles with addiction, dissociating them from his family. The White House Counsel’s Office spokesperson reiterated that the President was not involved in business ventures with his son and reaffirmed the independence of the Justice Department in their investigations, emphasizing President Biden’s support for his son’s acceptance of responsibility and commitment to rebuilding his life.