The White House has officially declined a request from House Republicans for President Joe Biden to testify in the GOP's impeachment inquiry. In a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, the White House labeled the invitation as a 'partisan charade' and criticized the impeachment probe for failing to produce any evidence of wrongdoing by the president during his time in public office.
The House Republicans had sought information regarding the Biden family's business dealings, alleging an influence-peddling scheme. However, the White House's special counsel, Richard Sauber, stated that the impeachment inquiry has only revealed that the President has not engaged in any misconduct.
Sauber's impending departure from the White House next month is seen as a signal that the administration views the GOP's impeachment efforts as largely concluded. Rachel Cotton, Sauber's deputy, will be stepping into his role as he transitions back to the private sector.
In response to Comer's request for Biden to testify under oath about his involvement in the family businesses, the White House emphasized that despite extensive investigations and witness interviews, including with Hunter Biden and James Biden, no evidence has been presented to demonstrate that Joe Biden directly benefited from his family's business ventures while in public office.
The committee's allegations of the Bidens leveraging their family name have not been substantiated, with the White House maintaining that the facts do not support the claims made by House Republicans.