Swalwell May Face Discipline By House Over Presser
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is facing scrutiny and potential legal trouble after he assisted Hunter Biden in defying a congressional subpoena last week. The California Democrat, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, reserved a spot for Hunter Biden to deliver a brief speech outside the Capitol during the scheduled hearing time.
The move has raised questions of whether Swalwell aided and abetted Hunter in his contempt of Congress. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has written to the leaders of the House Ethics and Administration Committees, asking for guidance on Swalwell's actions, which he describes as "aiding and abetting contempt."
According to Issa, Swalwell's booking of the press spot on the Senate side of the Capitol was a deliberate move to prevent Hunter from complying with the subpoena. He also accuses Swalwell of "facilitating a crime and obstructing congressional proceedings."
Issa's concerns have been echoed by legal scholar Jonathan Turley, who also believes Swalwell may have assisted in a potential crime. Turley goes further by stating that Swalwell's actions may hinder the House sergeant at arms from forcing Hunter to comply with the subpoena.
However, Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that he booked the press space in order to accommodate Hunter's speech. "I actually tried to book the House side. I booked the House side at 10:30, and then I think the deposition time had moved and so the House side was no longer available," Swalwell said in an interview with Straight Arrow News.
The question now is what actions, if any, will be taken against Hunter Biden for defying the subpoena. A full House vote would need to be held to hold Hunter in contempt, and then the Justice Department would have to agree to prosecute the case.
Contempt prosecutions are not common, but the recent conviction of Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for defying the Jan. 6 committee has set a precedent for action to be taken in cases of congressional subpoenas being ignored.
Swalwell may also face consequences if it is determined that he knowingly assisted Hunter in evading the subpoena. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he should be aware of the seriousness of defying a congressional subpoena and could face repercussions from his colleagues.
The House Ethics and Administration Committees will need to review Issa's concerns and decide on a course of action. Meanwhile, attention will continue to be focused on Hunter Biden and his refusal to comply with the congressional subpoena. The question remains whether he will face consequences for his actions, and if so, what those consequences may be.