Hunter vs. the House

Hunter said he would testify only in public. On the day of his subpoenaed deposition he stood outside the Capitol and said: “Let me state as clearly as I can, my father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with the Chinese private businessman, not in my investments home nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist.” Republicans began contempt proceedings. [1][2]

He opened his February 2024 deposition with: “I did not involve my father in my business, not while I was a practicing lawyer, not in my investments or transactions, domestic or international, not as a board member, and not as an artist, never.” He also said his father “never benefited from my business.” [1]

Asked about the July 2017 WhatsApp message invoking his father, he said he had been “drunk and probably high” and had sent it to the wrong Zhao: Henry Zhao of the Harvest fund rather than Raymond Zhao of CEFC. The chairmen called that account “entirely fictitious,” citing IRS records, and said he had also falsely denied holding a position at Rosemont Seneca Bohai, where documents showed he represented himself as corporate secretary. [1][2][3]