White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced a relentless wave of inquiries concerning the escalating Hunter Biden controversy during Friday's press conference. The House Ways and Means Committee's recent release of testimony from IRS whistleblowers, alleging misconduct in the Hunter Biden tax probe, fueled the fire. These allegations include a WhatsApp message Hunter Biden purportedly sent to a Chinese business associate, invoking his father's name, which Republicans suggest points to an illicit scheme. The White House Counsel's Office reiterated its stance that President Biden was not involved in his son's business dealings and that the Justice Department operates independently.
Following National Security Council spokesman John Kirby's dismissal of a question regarding the president's involvement, Jean-Pierre fielded numerous similar inquiries. Reporters pressed her on various aspects of the situation, including Hunter Biden's presence at a recent state dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jean-Pierre declined to comment on personal family matters.
Reporters from various news outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, and the New York Post, persistently questioned Jean-Pierre about the president's potential involvement in his son's business dealings. She repeatedly referred reporters to the White House Counsel's Office and the Department of Justice, stating that she had nothing further to add to their previous statements. She emphasized that the White House Counsel had already addressed the matter and that she wouldn't comment further.
Jean-Pierre also declined to answer questions about the content of the White House Counsel's response to the allegations, directing reporters to the office itself. She maintained that the president's position on never discussing his son's overseas business dealings remained unchanged. Even when pressed on whether she had personally discussed the latest developments with the president, Jean-Pierre responded in the negative.
