On the morning of the highly anticipated appearance of former President Donald Trump at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., congressional Republicans released the full transcript from Devon Archer’s testimony earlier this week — prompting outcry from House Democrats who say the report is being used to distract from the former president’s legal woes.
The House Oversight Committee published the full transcript from Archer’s interview on Monday, during which the Hunter Biden associate testified about the extent of President Joe Biden’s involvement in his son’s business dealings. The release came just hours ahead of Trump’s scheduled arraignment at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse on four federal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: TIMELINE OF 2020 ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS
“The transcript released today shows the extent to which Congressional Republicans are willing to distort, twist, and manipulate the facts presented by their own witness just to keep fueling the far-right media’s obsession with fabricating wrongdoing by President Biden in a desperate effort to distract from Donald Trump’s third indictment and the overwhelming evidence of his persistent efforts to undermine American democracy,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the Oversight Committee.
The transcript revealed that Joe Biden joined his son on multiple phone calls with business associates over the course of his and Archer’s 10-year business relationship, according to Archer’s testimony.
Archer testified that Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, would have gone out of business had it not been for the “Biden brand” being attached to the company, according to the transcript. The released testimony prompted widespread criticism from House Republicans, who accused Joe Biden of lying when he insisted he had no involvement in his son’s business dealings.
Meanwhile, Democrats have crafted a separate narrative from the testimony, arguing the transcript proves Joe Biden’s innocence — pointing to Archer’s comment that all talks were conversational in nature, such as discussing the weather.
“[Archer] confirmed in a transcribed interview that President Biden was never involved in Hunter’s business dealings, never profited from such dealings, and never took official action in relation to these business dealings,” Raskin said. “Mr. Archer repeatedly explained that across a decadelong relationship with Hunter Biden, he was not aware of President Biden ever discussing Hunter Biden’s business. Instead, Devon Archer described how Hunter Biden sold the ‘illusion’ of access to his father — access he never actually provided.”
Each party has accused the other of using political attacks to distract from their own legal troubles.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Trump was indicted on Tuesday on four separate federal charges, including one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, one count of obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and one count of conspiracy against rights. Trump is expected to plead not guilty to all charges.
House Republicans were quick to criticize the timing of the indictment, which came just one day after Congress heard Archer’s testimony regarding Hunter Biden, whom lawmakers have been investigating over the last several months over allegations of international influence-peddling schemes.