PRESS RELEASE Contact: press@congressionalintegrity.org
For Immediate Release
Date: January 26, 2024
Comer’s House Oversight Chairmanship called “parade of embarrassments” by one GOP lawmaker
New year, same Comer. The House Oversight chairman can’t stop embarrassing himself as part of his failed, political stunt-filled investigation into President Biden. Even his fellow Republicans called him out as reported in a scathing new article. This week, like many others before, Comer touted a so-called bombshell witness only for it to blow up in his face. His committee released a transcript of a deposition with Hunter Biden’s friend and lawyer, Kevin Morris where Morris completely refuted MAGA House Republicans’ baseless allegations about President Biden and his son. Another witness is testifying today that he has no information about any wrongdoing by the President and had no contact with him.
In response, Congressional Integrity Project executive director, Kyle Herrig, issued the following statement:
“It really is amazing how much embarrassment James Comer is willing to endure to do Donald Trump’s bidding. Comer spent all of last year on this baseless investigation into President Biden and has not found a single shred of evidence of wrongdoing by the President whatsoever. Time and time again, he showed just how incompetent he is leading the Oversight Committee, seemingly unable to move without embarrassing himself and his colleagues with baseless allegations and debunked conspiracy theories. Donald Trump keeps saying ‘jump’ and all Comer does is ask ‘how high’ – all at the expense of the American people. It is far past time to end this pathetic clown show and focus on the real priorities of the American people.”
The Messenger: Republicans Turn on Their Impeachment Chairman: ‘Parade of Embarrassments’ (Exclusive) “House Republicans are increasingly disenchanted with Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., saying his leadership of the Biden impeachment inquiry has become a ‘clueless investigation’ at best and — at worst — ‘a disaster.’ Less than 10 months away from the 2024 election, his impeachment investigation is barreling toward its conclusion, with no smoking gun to bring the president to his knees. Only one thing is clear: Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has lost the trust of some in his own party.” [The Messenger, 1/24/24]
House Republican lawmaker: “One would be hard pressed to find the best moment for James Comer in the Oversight Committee…It’s been a parade of embarrassments.”
Donald Trump ally: “Comer has cast a wide net and caught very little fish. That is a big problem for him.”
Source close to House GOP leadership: “James Comer continues to embarrass himself and House Republicans. He screws up over and over and over…I don’t know how Republicans actually impeach the president based on his clueless investigation and lack of leadership.”
The New Republic: New Transcript Blows Up James Comer’s Entire Hunter Biden Argument. “The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released the transcript of the testimony of Kevin Morris, a friend of and attorney for Hunter Biden, and his statements undercut everything Republicans have said about the embattled first son […] Oversight Committee Democrats have previously accused Comer of misrepresenting witness testimony in his quest to prove the Biden family is guilty of criminal wrongdoing. Comer has for months accused the president of corruption and influence peddling, but he has yet to produce any actual evidence.” [The New Republic, 1/23/24]
The Messenger: Hunter Biden Associate Has ‘No Information’ on Wrongdoing by the President. “The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Yan’s testimony last year, claiming that Yan ‘may also know whether and how President Biden has been involved in his family’s business dealings,’ according to a letter from the committee in November. The scrutiny of Yan is part of the GOP’s questioning of a potential influence peddling scheme by the Biden family. But lawyers for Yan disputed the GOP’s line of inquiry in May, according to a letter obtained by The Messenger. ‘He has had no professional contact or communication with President Biden at any time…Mr. Yan has no information about any alleged connection between President Biden and Hunter and Jim Biden’s business endeavors.” [The Messenger, 1/25/24]
Washington Examiner: Republicans exhausted with Comer’s ‘complete failure’ to deliver on promise to impeach Biden: Report. “House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has promised more evidence in President Joe Biden’s impeachment inquiry for months, and some Republicans are growing restless about the lack of proof showing misconduct by the president. Despite formalizing the impeachment inquiry last month into whether Biden improperly benefited from his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings in Ukraine and China, Comer’s leadership in the yearslong investigation is being questioned by Republicans, as no evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors has been produced.” [Washington Examiner, 1/25/24]
Raw Story: ‘Taste of own medicine’: Analyst says Republican’s Biden probe blowing up in their faces. “That strategy, and lack of success by Comer in leading the inquiry, is reportedly making the membership sour on his machinations. One House Republican who asked to remain anonymous told the Messenger this week, ‘One would be hard-pressed to find the best moment for James Comer in the Oversight Committee. It’s been a parade of embarrassments.’” [Raw Story, 1/25/24]
Punchbowl News: GOP impeachment witness says he had no interaction with Joe Biden. “Lawyers for Mervyn Yan, the former Hunter and James Biden business associate testifying behind closed doors today, wrote to GOP investigators Wednesday that their client had no interaction with President Joe Biden […] ‘He never heard mention of President Biden with respect to any of the transactions pursued by Hudson West III and is unaware of any involvement President Biden may have had with his son’s business pursuits,’ Yan’s legal team wrote on Wednesday.” [Punchbowl News, 1/25/24]
Wonkette: Everybody Hates James Comer And Thinks He’s A Moron. Even His Fellow Republicans. [Wonkette, 1/25/24]